Pathologic 3 devs keen to avoid “premature promises” about bringing back the Changeling in Pathologic 4

Ice Pick Lodge has revealed more details about the upcoming Pathologic 3, likening it to a plague doctor administering leeches. They explained how their plans for the cult epidemic-battling series have evolved since the release of Pathologic 2.

Pathologic 2 was a remake of the original Pathologic and was intended to have three distinct playable characters – the Haruspex, the Bachelor, and the Changeling. Each character was tasked with saving a town from a deadly infection.

The Haruspex was released in 2019, with the Bachelor and the Changeling planned as DLC expansions. However, due to the extended development time for the Haruspex route, the Bachelor will now have his own standalone game. It remains to be seen if the Changeling will also get her own game with unique gameplay.

Ice Pick Lodge stated on Steam, “The game simply grew beyond our concept of DLC. Instead of one game with three playthroughs, we are creating three fully developed games with distinct gameplay and narrative differences.”

They added, “Now, these are truly three separate protagonists with unique worldviews, perceptions of reality, and distinct tools. This means three different approaches and a complete rethinking of the original scripts.”

Regarding the Changeling route, it is suggested that she may be the focus of Pathologic 4, but the developers are cautious about making premature promises.

The post also highlights the differences between the Bachelor and the Haruspex, emphasizing their unique gameplay mechanics and objectives.

Backers who supported Pathologic 2’s development will receive keys for Pathologic 3, with console launches expected after the PC release in 2025. The game will likely be available on all the same platforms as its predecessor.

Stay tuned for more details as the release date approaches.