Former Ubisoft Artist Goes Solo with Hybrid Survival Builder AIRLOCK

Henry, a veteran environment artist who previously contributed to titles at Ubisoft, Gunzilla, nDreams, and Rebellion, has announced his solo project, AIRLOCK. Developed under his new studio Ironbridge Games, this post-apocalyptic survival title combines a unique 'ant farm' style bunker builder with immersive over-the-shoulder 3D exploration—a vision he’s wanted to bring to life for 15 years.

Set 300 years after a devastating 'sonic war' forced humanity underground, AIRLOCK tasks players with establishing and managing a subterranean settlement. The core loop involves venturing to the ruined surface to rescue survivors, bringing them back to your growing bunker, and assigning them roles based on their skills—from medics and engineers to farmers and gunsmiths. Every rescue expands the settlement, and on higher difficulties, these survivors face permadeath.

Adding a layer of intense survival, the 'Altered' creatures hunting on the surface are blind but acutely sensitive to sound, making every gunshot a calculated risk. Players can seamlessly switch between the side-on planning view, reminiscent of Fallout Shelter but with added depth, and the full 3D environment to walk the corridors they’ve just built, all from any in-world terminal.

Currently in pre-production, Henry is working towards a free playable demo of AIRLOCK within the next couple of months. He describes his development process as catering to his own ADHD, fostering a quiet, focused approach to building the game one settler at a time. Players interested in following the project and offering feedback can now wishlist AIRLOCK on Steam.

While a Kickstarter campaign for AIRLOCK recently launched, Henry is also actively seeking community feedback on what makes a base-builder truly engaging. Further insights into the game and Henry's journey can be found in a recent 80 Level interview. The solo developer is keen to integrate player thoughts as he moves towards the upcoming demo release, shaping a game that resonates with the survival and base-building community.