Overview

• In a new FRVR podcast interview, writer Dion Lay says the Xenomorph evolved during development, reacting to player tactics and raising the difficulty.
• He explains this shift pushed play sessions longer than planned, with main-campaign averages commonly cited around 18–20 hours.
• Some players reported 35–40 hours for fuller playthroughs, fueling perceptions that the pacing ran long for a horror game.
• Lay adds that removing late-stage systems or content would have “upended everything,” leaving little room to cut length before launch.
• He now says he would “shrink it down” and accepts runtime critiques as fair while still liking the finale, and it remains unclear whether the announced sequel will better align AI behavior with intended length.