Pathologic 3, the highly anticipated survival horror game from Russian developer Ice-Pick Lodge, has just had a completely surprise release on the Brazilian PlayStation Store this Monday, January 12, 2026. The move, which also made the title available for PC as planned, caught PS5 and PS5 Pro players off guard, as the console release was only scheduled for the 23rd of this month. This way, with its early arrival, the game technically earns the title of the first “console exclusive” of the year for PlayStation, since its Xbox Series X version still does not have a confirmed date.
The surprise release, or “stealth release,” is an increasingly common strategy in the market. However, it still manages to generate great excitement among fans, especially for a cult franchise like Pathologic. Originally announced in 2024 with a planned release for 2025, the third chapter of the series finally reaches players after a considerable hiatus. The series, which began in 2005, only had a sequel in 2019, which increases the anticipation for this new installment. Therefore, even without critical reviews or a Metacritic score at the moment, the game already shows a solid 86% approval rating on Steam, based on more than 150 user reviews.
A Race Against the Plague and Time
In Pathologic 3, players take on the role of the young doctor Daniil Dankovsky, who travels from the capital to a remote town ravaged by a mysterious plague. The mission, however, goes beyond saving lives, as the protagonist seeks nothing less than the secret to immortality. The central premise imposes a frantic pace: the town has only 12 days to live, and you must use this limited time to avert total catastrophe. Thus, the game blends elements of horror, deep narrative, and survival into a package that promises to challenge even the most experienced players of the genre.
The good news for PS Plus subscribers is that the game arrives with a launch discount. While the full price is R$ 174.95, Sony service members can secure Pathologic 3 for R$ 139.96. Despite this, there is an important note for owners of the more powerful console: the game does not have specific optimizations for the PS5 Pro at the moment. This situation, however, is not a surprise, as many new releases still take time to receive patches that fully utilize the latest hardware. With the Xbox Series X version coming soon, the question remains: will the surprise move by Ice-Pick Lodge and publisher HypeTrain Digital heat up the race for horror gamers early this year? The Brazilian community can already download the title and form their own opinion.
