Summary
- Clickteam is teasing a new Five Nights at Freddy's (FNAF) game built in the original software, hinting at a return to the franchise's simple roots and scary experiences.
- Modern FNAF games have shifted away from their original sit-and-survive gameplay, incorporating open-world, VR, or AR elements and leaving fans to piece together the lore and narrative.
- Fans can expect Clickteam's teased FNAF title to offer classic experience, appealing to both veteran fans and newcomers to the series.
In the years since the original Five Nights at Freddy's took the world by storm, the franchise has garnered a massive cult following. The first 6 entries in the FNAF series featured relatively simple sit-and-survive gameplay, save for FNAF World, which was an open-world RPG. This original era is referred to as the Clickteam Series, due to its use of the Clickteam development software. While this era seemingly concluded with Steel Wool Studios' modern string of titles, the Cooperative Series, last month saw Clickteam post a series of cryptic messages across social media, teasing a new game built in the software. While teaser images appear to portray references to both the original FNAF and FNAF World, fans of the series can expect Clickteam's teased Five Nights at Freddy's title to deliver an experience steeped in the franchise's simple roots and jarring scares.
Five Nights at Freddy's has gone through quite a shift in the years since, marked by a dramatic departure from the horror of its sit-and-survive roots. Modern Five Nights at Freddy's games, books, and free PC titles don't tell stories outright; they reference or confirm fan theories while leaving breadcrumbs from which fans piece together a new narrative. As it pertains to gameplay, modern Five Nights at Freddy's titles leave fans to explore each entry's environments, using open-world, VR, or AR gameplay, asking them to piece together the lore and true narrative behind a presented central plot. Should Clickteam's teased FNAF title align with the games created using its software, it would present a much simpler experience for both veteran fans and newcomers to enjoy.
Clickteam is Teasing a Brand New FNAF Title
2023 has been an enormous year for FNAF fans, as the franchise has celebrated a string of highly satisfying releases and reveals, including a return to true horror in FNAF: Security Breach RUIN, the conclusion to the Tales from the Pizzaplex book series, and the surprise announcement of FNAF: Help Wanted 2. October 2023 marked perhaps the most significant release of the year, as fans readied themselves for the release of Blumhouse's Five Nights at Freddy's film in theaters and on Peacock. However, October featured another notable headline, as, to the fandom's shock, Clickteam seemingly revealed that a new entry in the FNAF series is being made with the original software.
On October 10, 2023, Clickteam posted an ad on their X account, looking for people for at-hire work. The post called for Unreal Engine programmers, 3D character artists, and 3D environment artists for an undisclosed project. However, the post was accompanied by a never-before-seen screenshot of Lolbit working as a shopkeeper, a role the character played in the oft-overlooked FNAF World RPG. One week later, on October 17, Clickteam posted a follow-up message, thanking those who applied for their overwhelming response alongside the promise of an upcoming reveal for fans. Accompanying this post was original art, depicting an in-universe construction sign, which Clickteam claimed to have "found" in the meantime.
What Fans Can Expect from Clickteam's Teased FNAF Title
On Halloween, Clickteam posted a cryptic video to their YouTube page, featuring over two minutes of footage focused on a shelf of FNAF-themed items. Featured among the items are a Freddy mask and a deteriorating Bonnie plush, though the design of each is original to the teaser video. The aesthetic of the video is highly reminiscent of early FNAF titles, particularly FNAF 3 and FNAF 4, as it features a dark and decrepit location that has been abandoned for quite some time. As a glimpse into what Clickteam's teased title may include, all signs point to an original sit-and-survive style title, featuring the return of a former Freddy Fazbear's or Fazbear Entertainment venue.
While Clickteam's teased Five Nights at Freddy's title is still shrouded in mystery, all signs point to a return to the series' roots. Clickteam's title will likely feature a back-to-basics approach, focused on horror above all else. With Help Wanted 2 due to release by the end of the year, it's likely fans won't get a true glimpse of Clickteam's title until 2024. Fans are hopeful that a new entry in Five Nights at Freddy's Clickteam Series can capture the magic of the original classics, and open the door to more sit-and-survive gameplay in the future.
Five Nights at Freddy's
- Created by
- Scott Cawthon
- Creation Year
- 2014
- Developer(s)
- Scott Games, Mega Cat Studios, Steel Wool Studios, Illumix
- Publisher(s)
- Scott Games, Clickteam LLC USA, Illumix
Five Nights at Freddy's is a first-person survival horror and resource management game from Scott Cawthorn that raced to popularity thanks to its creepy animatronic enemies and its array of panic-inducing jumpscares. Bringing life to a cavalcade of well-known characters like Freddy Fazbear, Chica, Foxy, Bonnie, and more, Five Nights at Freddy's has seen immense success, spinoffs, and fan games.
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