Russian development studio Ice-Pick Lodge has unveiled the newest addition to the Pathologic series: a sequel to 2019's Pathologic 2, aptly named Pathologic 3. The studio has also confirmed that supporters of the franchise who backed Pathologic 2 through its initial 2014 Kickstarter campaign will receive Pathologic 3 at no additional cost. The announcement was accompanied by a trailer and a link to the game's forthcoming Steam page, where players can add it to their wishlists.
Although Ice-Pick Lodge has not yet specified a release date, they have confirmed that the next installment in the Pathologic saga will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2025. The trailer hints that Pathologic 3 will revisit the events of Pathologic 2, but this time through the perspective of Danil Dankovsky, also known as 'The Bachelor.'
Set in a small Russian town in the early 1900s, Pathologic follows the stories of three main characters: Artemy Burakh ('The Haruspex'), a local healer returning home to confront a recent calamity; Danil Dankovsky ('The Bachelor'), a city doctor seeking a scientific breakthrough; and Clara ('The Changeling'), a enigmatic young girl with the power to save or end lives with a mere touch, yet unaware of how or why she came to the town. While there is no word yet on when players might experience Clara's narrative, the announcement of Pathologic 3 suggests that her story is also in development.
The original Pathologic, released to critical acclaim in Russia in 2005, garnered a cult following worldwide. It was later followed by a remastered version with enhanced graphics and a better English translation. Both versions allow players to complete each protagonist's story, revealing more about the mysterious disease ravaging the town. Each protagonist must use their unique abilities to find a cure while uncovering the truth behind the outbreak. However, the game's characters face challenges far greater than the plague itself, including deceitful NPCs, the breakdown of law and order, and an impending military invasion that threatens the town's destruction.
The series was rebooted in 2019 with Pathologic 2, focusing solely on Artemy Burakh's storyline, with promises of the other protagonists' stories in development. Unfortunately, complications arising from Russia's conflict in Ukraine, which the developers have publicly condemned, led to delays in the release of Danil Dankovsky's storyline. Fans have eagerly awaited news about the next chapter in the Pathologic series, and now, nearly five years later, they finally have it.
