The new horror game from the creators of Little Nightmares did not wait for the Xbox Partner Preview broadcast to make noise: ReAnimal has locked in its release date and confirmed that a demo is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, giving players an early taste of this sibling-focused co-op descent into hell.

For a while, THQ Nordic kept official messaging relatively vague, but storefronts did the talking long before a press release landed. Listings on Steam and other platforms clearly indicate that ReAnimal is scheduled to launch on February 13, 2026, setting it up as one of the first big horror releases of the year and a natural follow-up for anyone who loved being terrified by Little Nightmares.

At the same time, the developers have opened pre-orders, and although their early posts stopped short of spelling out the date, the promotion on Valve’s platform is quite telling. A 10-percent pre-purchase discount is already available on Steam, and it conveniently ends on February 13, which lines up perfectly with the now widely reported launch day. If you want in from day one, this is the moment to secure your ticket to the island.

Store pages on GOG and Xbox also lay out the different editions. The Standard Edition comes with the full game and two cosmetic masks, Foxhead and Muttonhead, while the Digital Deluxe Edition adds a Season Pass that will deliver three DLC packs expanding the story and gameplay over time. From the outset, it is clear that ReAnimal is designed as a horror experience that will keep growing after release.

On top of that, Tarsier Studios has confirmed that a new demo is on the way for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. Until now, only PC players could get hands-on with ReAnimal, but the console trial will finally let a wider audience feel how the game plays. The demo is expected to go live around the time of the Xbox Partner Preview feature, effectively turning the trailer into an invitation to jump straight into the nightmare.

According to the official description, ReAnimal is a co-op horror adventure where a brother and sister are forced to traverse a warped version of the island they once called home to rescue their missing friends. You explore on foot and by boat, sneaking past or confronting twisted, animal-like abominations while solving environmental puzzles. The game blends survival horror, stealth, and cinematic platforming in a stylized world that uses childhood trauma as the seed for its most disturbing imagery.

The core philosophy is summed up in the tagline “share the scare”. ReAnimal is fully playable solo, but it also supports local and online co-op with a shared, directed camera that is specifically designed to crank up the claustrophobia and tension. If you play alone, the sibling is controlled by AI, but in co-op, every choice is negotiated, and every narrow escape or fatal mistake belongs to both players.

The latest Xbox Partner Preview trailer showcases new locations, boat sequences, and fresh gameplay mechanics, including how the shared camera and dual-protagonist setup work in tight interiors and more open shorelines. Visually, the game channels the grotesque, storybook vibe of Little Nightmares into a more grounded setting, where half-remembered childhood fears and guilt are turned into physical monsters that stalk the siblings across the island.

With THQ Nordic promising more details on the narrative and structure in the run-up to launch, ReAnimal is already positioning itself as a headline co-op horror title for early 2026. The only real question is how many players will have the nerve to see this journey through to the end, and how many will bail before uncovering every cursed corner of the island, whether they are alone or sharing the scare with someone else.

Source: Xbox Wire