- The Escape Story of an Auditor Who Uncovered Corruption… Tracking Prison Secrets Through Information Deals
- A dark and tense prison infiltration experience with a demo approximately 25 minutes long.
PROCEDURE ZERO, a first-person stealth action game developed by Polish solo developer Łukasz Twardowski, will be officially released on PC Steam on November 12.
‘Procedure Zero’ features tense stealth gameplay set in a dark and realistic prison. Players take on the role of a protagonist unjustly imprisoned after uncovering corruption within a massive organization, and must attempt a daring escape.
The core of the game lies in strategy-oriented gameplay involving thorough intelligence gathering, covert deals, and precise tracking of guards’ patrol routes, rather than simple armed conflict. Players can experience the catharsis of breaking through tight surveillance and taking control of the prison zone by zone.
Ahead of the official release, a ‘free demo’ is currently available on Steam, allowing players to experience the game’s early flow and core mechanics, and to try out the first two missions in advance.
The Auditor Who Uncovered Corruption Becomes a Nameless ‘ZERO’
‘Procedure Zero’ stands out for its immersive story that goes beyond a simple prison break to uncover a massive conspiracy hidden deep within the prison.
The protagonist, an upright auditor, discovered top-secret documents that were not supposed to be revealed to the public while conducting an audit as usual and made copies; however, just a few days later, he is imprisoned in a dark prison without knowing why. His prison record contains neither a name nor specific charges, but only the word ‘ZERO’.
A bizarre and eerie secret is hidden in the prison where he is confined. Whenever the lights in the cell block turn off and on simultaneously, a single bed is repeatedly found empty without a trace. None of the owners of the vanished beds ever return.
A situation permeated by extreme fear that one’s turn might come next. The protagonist must secretly dig inside the prison to uncover the truth lurking behind the missing prisoners and attempt a life-or-death escape.
A prison where cigarettes are the currency, an infiltration that takes control without killing.
The core of ‘Procedure Zero’ is interaction utilizing the surrounding environment and deep first-person stealth gameplay.
Players must start by analyzing the guards’ patrol routes and precise timing. They can distract the guards by making noise with a radio or setting a box on fire, and the game captures the essence of authentic stealth action by stealthily approaching a guard coming to check the scene, knocking them unconscious with a police baton, and isolating them in an empty room.
In particular, the protagonist never uses lethal weapons such as firearms and adheres to a ‘no-kill’ principle of not killing anyone. However, not every situation can be resolved peacefully.
In some missions, the use of physical force is unavoidable, and trespassing into another prisoner’s territory will result in hostile attacks. Conversely, it is also possible for the player to break through the situation by initiating a fight.
The unique economic system within the prison also catches the eye. In the game, ‘cigarettes’ and ‘coins’ serve as currency. Players can use these to buy useful information, gain the favor of other inmates, and even recruit them as accomplices for an escape.
Fulfilling trade promises based on trust earns you powerful alliances, and the areas you control are gradually marked on the map with each completed mission. Documents found throughout the prison serve as crucial clues to uncover the hidden truth.
The developer introduced the title as offering a familiar yet appealing experience to users who enjoy making independent decisions and utilizing the surrounding environment, much like classic stealth games such as ‘Thief’ or ‘Dishonored’. Currently, tags such as stealth, story-driven, conspiracy, investigation, dialogue-driven, resource management, and black comedy are registered on the Steam page, foreshadowing a diverse range of genre-specific enjoyment.
The Dilemma of Light and Darkness, Realistic Sound and Direction Utilizing AI Tools
The newly released free trial version includes a unique mission where you must pass through a blackout zone, maximizing the game’s tension.
The player must use a flashlight to see in the pitch-black darkness, but the moment the light reaches the guard’s line of sight, their location is immediately revealed. The light, which is essential for survival, paradoxically becomes a weapon that puts them in danger.
The scale of localization for global users is also substantial. Character voices (audio) support a total of six languages, including English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. Text is provided in 23 languages worldwide, and a Korean interface and subtitles are also supported.
Meanwhile, the developer transparently disclosed via Steam that AI tools were utilized in the game’s production process. AI technology was introduced for character voices, sound effects, the opening scene, and the Polish translation.
However, the developer stated, “All AI-generated elements were personally and meticulously selected and edited to enhance their quality, and new AI content is not generated in real-time while the user plays the game.”
“Implementing a prison where information is the most valuable”… Collecting developer feedback
DELANIVO GAMES, the creator of ‘Procedure Zero’, is a one-man indie game studio in Poland run by Łukasz Twardowski. Twardowski single-handedly handled the entire process for this new title, from narrative composition and game design to programming development and final publishing.
Regarding the backstory of the development, Łukasz Tvardovsky revealed the planning intention, stating, “I wanted to create a unique prison environment where information becomes the most valuable asset and weapon.”
He went on to describe the work, saying, “It is a game where players can experience the fun of mastering the guards’ patrol routes and timing, strategically trading their resources, and, if necessary, boldly fighting with physical force to gradually take control of the prison zone by zone.”
Finally, he added that he is awaiting valuable opinions and feedback from users around the world who have played the free demo currently available on Steam.
Introduction by overseas media, trial version and reactions
‘Procedure Zero’ is garnering attention in the global market even before its official release. A free demo was introduced through major overseas media outlets, including the famous Japanese game publication 4Gamer and Taiwan’s Bahamut GNN, and it also made an impression on global gamers by participating in ‘Steam Next Fest,’ which took place from October 19 to 26.
The free demo released on September 14 is about 25 minutes long and offers the game’s first two missions. Players take on the role of a ghost prisoner with no incarceration record, arrive at Block C, and begin a full-scale infiltration, such as finding a hidden key and luring a guard out of the guard post with radio noise.
Next, you must move stealthily to Zone A while avoiding the gaze of the guard who has come to investigate the noise. Afterwards, in the darkness caused by a power outage, you must use cigarettes as currency to find out the number of the isolation cell, and the demo concludes with a dramatic scene where an unidentified figure knocks on the door.
The official launch price remains shrouded in mystery. However, the developer announced that it has fully permitted live streaming and monetization of game footage for individual content creators, stating that no separate prior permission process is required.
“Procedure Zero,” an original new indie game where you take over factions and zones within a prison without killing a single person based on thorough infiltration and clever deals, will officially launch on Steam on November 12.
Users who prefer stealth action can experience the game first through the free demo on the Steam store before its release.
Information regarding ‘PROCEDURE ZERO’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Game name | PROCEDURE ZERO |
| Developer/Publisher | DELANIVO GAMES (Lukász Tvardovsky) |
| Genre | First-person stealth adventure |
| platform | PC (Windows, Steam) |
| Release date | November 12, 2026 |
| price | Undecided |
| Trial version | Free, first 2 missions about 25 minutes (released September 14, 2026) |
| AI Usage Notice | AI tools used for character voices, sound effects, opening scenes, and Polish translation |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
