I’ll be honest: few things get my heart rate up like a new Outlast update. Red Barrels never plays it safe, and with The Outlast Trials Season 3.1 “PRIME TIME” live now, they’re doubling down on what makes their particular brand of horror work: unpredictable multiplayer chaos, twisted game modes, and a delightfully sadistic sense of humor. Plus, with legacy Outlast titles getting permanent price cuts, horror fans have fewer excuses than ever to skip out on Murkoff’s demented therapy sessions.
Key Takeaways:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Red Barrels |
| Release Date | June 3, 2025 (Season 3.1 update) |
| Genres | Psychological Horror, Survival, Cooperative, Multiplayer |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox |
Let’s cut through the blood-soaked marketing speak: Red Barrels is braving the ongoing live-service gauntlet by actually delivering on player requests and expanding The Outlast Trials in interesting ways. The “PRIME TIME” event is more than just a seasonal reskin; it’s a perilous remix of the core Trials formula. Franco Barbi is now in the tormentor rotation, and that means even veteran players who’ve survived countless jump scares will need to rethink their strategies. Suddenly, being hunted by multiple sadists in the same match is the norm, not the exception. It’s brutal, and that’s the point.
The two new MK-Challenges—“Fumigate the Factory” and “Redeem Your Freedom”—sound uniquely Outlast: retire Murkoff’s “workers” with gas, or frantically collect tickets for your shot at freedom. Events like these are what keep Trials from getting stale, especially for those of us who think we’ve seen every disgusting scare Red Barrels can dream up. If you’re a cosmetics hunter, just know: the event’s reward tokens disappear when it ends, so don’t hoard them. This is classic FOMO design, sure, but at least the rewards are genuinely exclusive.
One thing that genuinely improves quality of life is the new Group Finder system. Anyone who played Trials’ Quickplay knows the pain of endless matchmaking with players on totally different pages. Now, you can actually find a team that wants to do the same challenge—or at least wants to use voice chat for once. It’s a small change, but for a co-op horror game where coordination matters, it’s a big deal.
The Genesis Program’s overhaul is also worth highlighting. For completionists and new players alike, having every Trial and MK-Challenge properly organized and accessible is a huge step forward. It’s the kind of “library clean-up” you rarely see in ongoing multiplayer games, and it shows Red Barrels isn’t just cranking out content—they’re tending to the game’s foundation. Pair that with the new pause menu (now split into Menu, Tasks, and Loadout tabs for in-the-moment clarity) and it’s clear the devs are listening to the community’s survival horror gripes.
What really caught my eye though, is the permanent price drop for the legacy Outlast games. This isn’t just some summer sale—these are permanent, and frankly, overdue. Outlast and its expansions have been gateways to horror gaming for a decade. By lowering the barrier, Red Barrels isn’t just chasing new players—they’re inviting horror newcomers to catch up. It’s a shrewd move, especially with Trials bringing multiplayer attention to the series’ roots. With Outlast now $14.99, Whistleblower at $4.99, and Outlast 2 at $19.99, there’s never been a better time to see where Murkoff’s nightmares began.
From a broader industry perspective, The Outlast Trials is becoming a rare example of a multiplayer horror game that doesn’t just chase trends—it creates its own. Red Barrels has always delivered horror with a signature edge, and here, they’re fusing escape room tension with co-op unpredictability. The roadmap tease of upcoming Routine Therapy “Nostophobia” and a Halloween event shows the studio is doubling down on ongoing updates—something a lot of other horror games promise, but few actually deliver in meaningful ways.
For gamers, here’s what this all means: If you’re already running the Trials gauntlet, there’s a genuine reason to come back—new threats, new teamwork possibilities, and smart tweaks that make the chaos more manageable. If you’re Outlast-curious or want to introduce friends to multiplayer horror, the lowered prices and accessibility improvements are a huge win. The only caveat? If you’re the type to wait for “complete” editions, know that Red Barrels is clearly in it for the long haul—expect more updates, more events, and probably more sadistic surprises down the line.
TL;DR: The Outlast Trials “PRIME TIME” update isn’t just more content—it’s a meaningful evolution for one of the most creative multiplayer horror games out there. Whether you’re hunting event rewards or just want a less frustrating matchmaking experience, this update is worth your time. And with the Outlast legacy titles now permanently cheaper, it’s a great moment to get lost (and probably dismembered) in the Murkoff universe all over again.
Source: Red Barrels via GamesPress