Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno just dropped tantalizing hints about Project M, the studio’s mysterious Nintendo exclusive horror game. In an interview with Nintendo Insider published December 22, 2025, Babieno claimed fans of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and Eternal Darkness will immediately feel at home with the game. Then he dropped the real hook: Project M introduces a bold twist that no horror game has ever explored before, with gameplay that could only exist on Nintendo hardware.
The Cryptic Teases That Say Everything and Nothing
Babieno expressed genuine frustration about keeping Project M under wraps, telling Nintendo Insider that readers have no idea how hard it is for him not to reveal what the game truly is. However, he promised details would come very soon. The comparisons he made paint an interesting picture: combining the action horror of Resident Evil, the psychological terror of Silent Hill, the minimalist atmosphere of Limbo, and the reality-bending mechanics of GameCube cult classic Eternal Darkness.
That last reference particularly excited Nintendo fans. Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem remains one of Nintendo’s most beloved mature-rated exclusives, featuring a sanity meter that broke the fourth wall with effects like fake game crashes, muted audio, and deleted save file warnings. If Project M takes inspiration from Eternal Darkness’ meta-horror approach while incorporating Nintendo Switch features like HD Rumble, motion controls, or the second screen functionality on Switch, the possibilities become genuinely intriguing.
What Could Only Exist on Nintendo Hardware
Babieno’s claim that Project M features gameplay that could only exist on Nintendo hardware sparked immediate speculation. The Switch offers unique capabilities that PlayStation and Xbox lack. The Joy-Con motion controls enable gameplay mechanics impossible with traditional controllers. The portable-to-TV transition creates opportunities for horror experiences that change based on how you’re playing. And if Project M launches exclusively on Switch 2, the new console’s rumored features could unlock even more creative possibilities.
The Eternal Darkness comparison suggests Project M might mess with players through Nintendo-specific tricks. Imagine fake home screen notifications, manipulated battery warnings on handheld mode, or horror that literally follows you from TV to portable play. Bloober Team has shown willingness to experiment with unconventional horror through games like Layers of Fear, and Nintendo hardware gives them tools that simply don’t exist on competing platforms.
Bloober’s Nintendo Obsession Finally Paying Off
Babieno founded Bloober Team with the explicit dream of creating games for Nintendo platforms. That ambition took years to materialize given Nintendo’s family-friendly reputation and Bloober’s focus on mature horror content. The relationship finally blossomed with Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition coming to Switch 2 in 2025, followed by Switch 2 versions of Cronos: The New Dawn and the Silent Hill 2 remake.
Project M represents something bigger than ports though. This marks Bloober’s first game designed exclusively for Nintendo hardware from conception, developed in partnership with what Babieno described as the world’s best game creators for Nintendo platforms. The smaller budget compared to Silent Hill 2 or Cronos doesn’t diminish its importance. In fact, Babieno previously stated Project M is extremely important for Bloober’s long-term plans despite the reduced scope.
The Development Timeline and Studio Structure
Project M development falls under Broken Mirror Games, Bloober Team’s second-party subsidiary that handles co-created projects and smaller titles. Investor reports confirm Project M will receive its official premiere in 2026, with a global release planned the same year. The game launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, taking advantage of backward compatibility to maximize the potential audience across both console generations.
Broken Mirror Games simultaneously works on Project F, another codenamed title also planned for 2026 reveal. Additionally, they’re developing I Hate This Place, an isometric survival horror based on the comic series by Kyle Starks and Artyom Topilin, launching January 29, 2026 for multiple platforms. This aggressive development schedule shows Bloober’s commitment to diversifying beyond just Silent Hill remakes and original AAA horror like Cronos.
Why Horror Works on Nintendo Now
Nintendo’s reputation as the family-friendly console maker has thawed considerably in recent years. The Switch library includes Resident Evil ports, Alien: Isolation, Outlast, and numerous indie horror titles that prove the audience exists. When Emio: The Smiling Man’s creepy teaser trailer dropped, many players genuinely believed Nintendo was finally making a first-party horror game before learning it was actually a new Famicom Detective Club mystery.
Bloober Team CEO positioning himself as the studio to lead Nintendo into its horror era makes sense given the company’s recent track record. Silent Hill 2 remake earned widespread critical acclaim, proving Bloober could handle beloved franchises with respect while adding modern polish. Cronos: The New Dawn showcased their ability to create original action horror that reviewers compared favorably to Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space. That earned credibility gives Nintendo confidence to greenlight experimental horror exclusive to their platform.
The Bigger Picture for Bloober
Project M represents one piece of Bloober Team’s ambitious 2023-2027 development strategy that encompasses multiple simultaneous projects. The main Bloober Team studio currently works on Silent Hill 1 remake following Konami’s satisfaction with the Silent Hill 2 results. Rumors suggest Silent Hill 3 remake might follow for 2028, though nothing official has been announced beyond the first game.
Meanwhile, Bloober continues supporting Cronos: The New Dawn with updates like the recently added Temporal Diver easy mode. Star Trek: Infection, a VR survival horror set in the Star Trek universe, launched December 11, 2025 for Meta Quest and SteamVR. The studio’s growth from small Polish developer making psychological horror walking simulators to AAA remake studio handling legendary franchises while maintaining original IP pipelines represents one of gaming’s more remarkable success stories.
What the M Might Stand For
The codename Project M sparked immediate speculation about what the M represents. Earlier live-action teaser footage suggested Marionette could be the answer, fitting with horror themes of control and manipulation. Others theorize it references Mario given the Nintendo exclusivity, though that seems unlikely for a mature horror title. The M could also be placeholder designation rather than meaningful hint, similar to how many projects use temporary codenames during development.
Whatever the M stands for matters less than what the game actually delivers. Bloober Team has shown they can execute on ambitious concepts when given creative freedom and adequate resources. The Nintendo partnership provides unique hardware capabilities to experiment with. And the comparisons to Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and Eternal Darkness create expectations for something that blends action, psychological horror, minimalist atmosphere, and meta gameplay in ways the medium hasn’t seen before.
FAQs
What is Project M?
Project M is a codename for Bloober Team’s mysterious horror game exclusive to Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. CEO Piotr Babieno says it will appeal to fans of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and Eternal Darkness while featuring a twist no horror game has explored before.
When does Project M release?
Project M is scheduled for global release in 2026. Bloober Team promises to share first details very soon, with an official premiere planned for sometime in 2026 ahead of launch.
What platforms is Project M on?
Project M launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. The game will be available on both console generations, taking advantage of backward compatibility between the platforms.
Who is developing Project M?
Broken Mirror Games, Bloober Team’s second-party subsidiary studio, is developing Project M. Babieno stated they’re working with the world’s best game creators for Nintendo platforms on this exclusive title.
What games is Project M similar to?
According to Bloober Team CEO Piotr Babieno, Project M will make fans of Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and Eternal Darkness feel immediately at home. This suggests a blend of action horror, psychological terror, minimalist atmosphere, and meta gameplay mechanics.
Why is Project M only on Nintendo hardware?
Babieno claims Project M features gameplay mechanics that could only exist on Nintendo hardware, suggesting it takes advantage of unique Switch features like motion controls, HD Rumble, or portable-to-TV transitions that aren’t possible on PlayStation or Xbox.
What other games is Bloober Team working on?
Bloober Team is simultaneously developing Silent Hill 1 remake, Project F (another 2026 title), Layers of Fear: The Final Masterpiece Edition for Switch 2, I Hate This Place (launching January 29, 2026), and providing Switch 2 versions of Cronos: The New Dawn and Silent Hill 2 remake.
Will Project M be a big budget game?
No. Babieno confirmed Project M has a significantly smaller budget than Bloober’s main titles like Silent Hill 2 or Cronos: The New Dawn. However, he emphasized it’s extremely important for the studio’s long-term plans despite the reduced scope.
Conclusion
Project M represents Bloober Team’s boldest experiment yet, attempting to create horror exclusive to Nintendo hardware that incorporates mechanics impossible on competing platforms. The comparisons to Resident Evil, Silent Hill, Limbo, and especially Eternal Darkness set expectations sky-high for how the game might break conventions and mess with players through Nintendo-specific features. Whether Bloober can deliver on these promises remains to be seen, but their recent track record with Silent Hill 2 remake and Cronos: The New Dawn proves they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt. The 2026 premiere can’t come soon enough for horror fans curious whether Bloober Team can actually pull off gameplay that’s never been explored before while making Nintendo’s return to mature horror as memorable as Eternal Darkness was over two decades ago.