Oblivion Remastered’s Shadow Looms: Indie Game ‘Post Trauma’ Gets a Hilarious Re-Release Strategy
When Bethesda surprise-launched The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered on April 22nd, it sent ripples through the gaming world. But not everyone was celebrating. Indie publisher Raw Fury, who happened to release their PS1/PS2-era inspired horror game Post Trauma on the same day, found their launch overshadowed by the Bethesda behemoth. Now, they're taking a humorous approach to reclaim the spotlight.
With Bethesda claiming over 4 million players have jumped into Oblivion: Remastered, it's safe to say many indie titles struggled for attention. Raw Fury, known for its quirky marketing, decided to turn lemons into lemonade. They announced a "spiritual re-release" of Post Trauma, cheekily titled Post Trauma: The Re-Release Except We're Not Un-Releasing It First, and It's Pretty Much the Same, slated for June 23rd. The campaign is being promoted with the hashtag #PleaseNoShadowDropThisTime, a clear jab at Bethesda's stealth launch.
"Due to unforeseen circumstances, we're going to be spiritually re-releasing Post Trauma in about 8.5 weeks, which is a completely random number we just chose," a Raw Fury employee joked in a video announcement, referencing the time it takes to beat Oblivion Remastered. The re-release will include giveaways, streams, and celebrations – all happening, of course, after players have had their fill of Oblivion.
But Post Trauma isn't the only game affected. Several titles saw their release dates coincide with Oblivion Remastered's surprise drop via game pass; however, as GeForce Now users found out on April 22nd, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered arrived on the service alongside Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Sunderfolk, and Ace Attorney Investigations Collection which may have helped to add to that game's shadow. This highlights the growing challenge for smaller studios vying for attention in an increasingly crowded market.
Speaking of hits, Raw Fury is also celebrating the success of Blue Prince, which has garnered critical acclaim. As for Post Trauma, the game puts players in the shoes of Roman, a train conductor navigating a surreal dimension plagued by horrifying architecture and nightmarish creatures. Players must choose to defend themselves with an array of weapons or find paths of least resistance in this surreal experience. According to the game's description, Post Trauma blends fixed camera angles with stunning visuals through Unreal Engine 5 to capture classic horror experienes of the genre.
Will this tongue-in-cheek re-release strategy work? It's a clever way for Raw Fury to generate buzz and remind people that Post Trauma exists. Whether or not it translates into sales remains to be seen. The gaming landscape continues to evolve, and developers are increasingly getting more creative in finding ways to stand out from the competition. What are your thoughts on shadow drops? Share your opinions in the comments below!
