Trent Reznor’s industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails has a long history of being involved in video games dating back to Reznor composing the critically acclaimed soundtrack for Quake in 1996. That fusion is alive and well as NIN guitarist Robin Finck is teaming up with veteran game designer Cory Davis to create Los Angeles-based arthouse developer Eyes Out.
Davis, who is a co-founder of the studio alongside Finck, is known for his role as creative director and designer on 2012’s acclaimed Spec Ops: The Line. He also played a role in such horror games like F.E.A.R. and Condemned during his time at Monolith Productions. He’s also contributed to softer games like The Unfinished Swan and What Remains of Edith Finch, too. Davis then went on to be a founding member of Tangent Games in 2014 to work on the horror title Here They Lie. It was during this project that the two bonded.
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“When I was finishing up work on Here They Lie, Robin wandered into our studio and I felt a very strong connection to his open, creative view of existence, and the power of music,” said Davis. “We instantly started working on some prototypes I had in development at the time and together we launched straight toward something unexpected. Robin’s vibrant and boundless approach to the creative process drives our work far beyond my previous experience. It’s such an exhilarating trip to venture into the darkness together.”
Finck has been a musician for Nine Inch Nails since 1994 (although took a hiatus from 2001 to 2008) and was even recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2020. But he’s also worked on some games, including No Code’s well-received horror game Observation and Revolver Digital’s NOCT, which was taken off Steam in March. Finck also had nice things to say about Davis.
“Cory is a true and impassioned artist,” Finck said. “He’s a visionary leader who draws the highest and best from each person on the team, no matter their position. He’s capable and dedicated and he’s open to forces unspeakable. He’s rare. Weird, even. We connected about films and games and music and all the minutia and it was a really positive charge colliding with him. We have a simpatico work ethic and drive, and we see each other soul to soul. Our play together is inspired.”
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Eyes Out’s first title still doesn’t have an official name but it will be a single-player “cosmic horror” game with “strong environmental storytelling elements” with an emphasis on combining music, story, and the interactivity of the medium. Eyes Out will reveal more in the months to come.
