Code Violet is now available on the PlayStation 5, but its early reviews are underwhelming at best and indicative of deep, systemic issues at worst. As such, the first PS5 exclusive of 2026 launches with a whimper.
Another year, another slate of video games coming to the PS5. If everything releases as scheduled, 2026 will be a solid year for gamers. However, not every release is going to be amazing, and that includes the first PS5 exclusive of the year, which players were hoping would be a regarded spiritual successor to the beloved PS1 series, Dino Crisis.
That PS5 exclusive is none other than Code Violet, a third-person action horror game developed and published by TeamKill Media. What drew players to the game when it was originally revealed was its similarities to Dino Crisis, Capcom’s dinosaur survival horror game. According to reviews, the new release doesn’t even come close to being a worthy successor to the PS1 classic.
As of this writing, there are three critic reviews of Code Violet on Metacritic, which means there isn’t a Metascore available just yet. However, the scores are not promising. Each outlet has it rated at 40 out of 100, which is a 4 out of 10 on our scale. The review aggregate site OpenCritic has a few more reviews submitted, but still averages the same score. It seems pretty clear that this game is a huge mess.
For the morbidly curious, here is a description of Code Violet, giving players an idea of what to expect:
“In the 25th century, a cataclysm has left Earth uninhabitable, driving humanity’s survivors to Trappist 1-E. Facing extinction due to sterility, the Aion colony harnesses cutting-edge time-travel technology to abduct women from the past to be surrogates in a dark yet desperate bid to save mankind. But their mission conceals a sinister conspiracy. As Violet Sinclair, torn from your time, you awaken in the Aion Bioengineering Complex, swarming with ferocious prehistoric dinosaurs and hostile forces. Carefully manage your inventory, uncover Aion’s dark secrets, fight to survive, and escape during a chaotic evacuation protocol.”
Code Violet launches for PS5 on January 10.
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Just before it was supposed to release on PS5, developer TeamKill Media announced that it would delay its upcoming game, Code Violet. Luckily, players looking forward to the upcoming release won’t have to wait too long to get their hands on it.
In a new X (formerly Twitter) post from TeamKill Media, Code Violet will now launch on January 10, 2026. According to the developer, the decision to prolong the game’s release is due to “stubborn technical roadblocks” with the deluxe and preorder editions of the game. As a result, the developer has decided to release one Standard Edition, which will include everything from the preorder and deluxe editions.
We are thrilled to announce that Code Violet has gone GOLD as we put the final polish on the game ahead of release. We have some exciting news to share—and, unfortunately, a bit of a hiccup along the way.
— TeamKill Media (@TeamKillMedia) December 3, 2025
During certification, we hit some stubborn technical roadblocks related to… pic.twitter.com/UYgGkULEcF
“During certification, we hit some stubborn technical roadblocks related to unlocking entitlements for the deluxe and pre-order editions,” says the post. “Our four-person team pulled 20-hour days for weeks, exploring every possible fix, but it pushed back our plans for gameplay and story trailers, as well as getting review codes out the door.”
“Though this shift impacts our revenue, the choice was clear: we couldn’t bear to keep our fans waiting,” continues the post. “So, we’re moving forward with one unified Code Violet edition, where every purchase includes all the bonus outfits, items, and perks—no tiers.”
This means Code Violet will now be $49.99 and include all of the content from the deluxe edition. It is currently not listed on the PlayStation Store as the original listing has been removed. TeamKill Media confirmed in replies to fans that it should be back up tomorrow, and users should be able to preorder the game.
When Code Violet was originally announced, it was slated for a July 2025 release. Then, in July 2025, TeamKill Media announced the game would release on November 14, 2025. However, a month after that reveal, the developer announced it would be delaying the game further, to December 12, 2025, to avoid competing with Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
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