Digital Lighthouse is developing a cinematic first-person horror adventure game (working title “Encryption”) that combines exploration, puzzles, and stealth mechanics. The game is scheduled for release in late 2026, on PC and consoles. Set in a near future, only a few years from now, the story unfolds in Matera, Italy — a city devastated by wildfires triggered by climate change. The game follows a father’s desperate search for his missing daughter. But in this haunting journey, nothing is as it seems. To uncover the truth, the protagonist must explore the city’s darkest corners, solve intricate puzzles, evade threats, and face his deepest fears in a race against time and despair.

Developed in Unreal Engine 5, the game leverages cutting-edge 3D imaging technologies such as photogrammetry and laser scanning to create photorealistic environments inspired by real locations from Matera and the surrounding region.

The project behind the game originated in 2018, building upon the historical and scientific research “Matera: The Thousand Faces of a Layered City” (published by RCE Multimedia), conducted by Digital Lighthouse in collaboration with researchers from the University of Basilicata, the National Research Council (CNR), and the UNESCO Youth Committee.