‘Budget Cuts’ Halloween Update Twists Stealth Action into Stalker Horror

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Budget Cuts (2018), the stealth action game, has always been about taking pensive steps, hiding in the darkness and not tipping off the killer robot guards on your way through the game’s liminal office space. Now developers Neat Corporation released a spooky update that flips the script, turning the game’s stealth action into stalker horror.

The studio today unleashed what it calls ‘Nightmare Mode’, bringing the main foe ADAM to the campaign levels of Budget Cuts Ultimate (2023), which includes both Budget Cuts and Budget Cuts 2: Mission Insolvency (2019).

Like Alien: Isolation (some are dubbing the update ‘ADAM: Isolation’) players must navigate what the studio calls “spookified levels while being relentlessly pursued by killer bot ADAM.”

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Normally the game’s unique portal-teleportation mechanic is great for thoughtfully warping around the map and looking for safe purchase amid a sea of overpowered robot foes. In the latest update, players will need to sneak, hide and quickly warp around like never before, as weapons have zero effect on ADAM.

If you’re not up for the challenge though, the update also lets you play through the regular campaign as normal without ADAM stalking you so you can enjoy the addition of the mode’s spooky seasonal decor just the same.

The game’s Nightmare Update is now live on Budget Cuts Ultimate across all supported platforms, including Quest, PSVR 2 and Steam.

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Well before the first modern XR products hit the market, Scott recognized the potential of the technology and set out to understand and document its growth. He has been professionally reporting on the space for nearly a decade as Editor at Road to VR, authoring more than 4,000 articles on the topic. Scott brings that seasoned insight to his reporting from major industry events across the globe.
  • Chills, what an amazing idea

  • dextrovix

    Eeek!

    Looking forward to trying this out, bought both on Steam when they first released.

  • Ad

    Wish you got Ultimate if you already owned both 1 and 2.

    • Shy Guy

      Yes, it would have been nice, since it’s just an extra mode not really worth a full price buy to those who already have 1 and 2.

      Steam has a Budget Cuts Complete Set Bundle (1, 2 and Ultimate), which it offers to me for €11.60 since I have 1 and 2 already. Might be worth that to some?

  • Andrew Jakobs

    Still wished we hot a native VR version of Alien Isolation, they were working on it long ago, but never finished it which is a shame.

    • CrusaderCaracal

      Alien isolation is hot garbage on flat screen putting it in VR isnt going to make it any better champ

      • Andrew Jakobs

        And a lot of other people disagree with you. From what I’ve already seen as a VR-mod, it’s already fun, but having further developed VR with actual motion controllers would make the game a great VR game. I guess it’s just not your type of game.

        • CrusaderCaracal

          You’re the only person disagreeing with me. Are any other disagreers in the room?

  • CrusaderCaracal

    Vrchat furry alert