FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JANUARY 19th, 2026
Busan, South Korea / Turin, Italy — Loan Shark, the atmospheric psychological horror experience from indie developer Studio Ortica, is coming to PlayStation 5 on January 20th, 2026. Originally released on PC via Steam on August 8, 2025, Loan Shark has built a strong player following and earned Very Positivecommunity reviews, with approximately 83% overall positive feedback and continued praise in recent months.
PlayStation Store Link
https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10017396
In Loan Shark, players step into the worn boots of an indebted angler trapped in a cycle of obligation he cannot escape. A single night at sea, meant to be routine, becomes something else entirely. The water feels heavier. The silence stretches. And when the nets finally come up, they carry more than fish.
That is when you meet Cagliuso, a one-eyed, talking fish whose strange gift promises salvation. His offer is simple, almost reasonable. Too reasonable.
What follows is not a power fantasy, but a slow, unsettling negotiation where every gain seems to leave something behind. Time, certainty, morality — all become part of the exchange.
Drawing on classic “deal with the devil” storytelling, Loan Shark unfolds as a compact psychological horror experience focused on pressure, choice, and consequence. The sea becomes both workplace and threat, and the ticking approach of unseen creditors ensures that nothing ever feels truly safe. The horror lies less in what is shown, and more in what is implied — the sense that something is watching, waiting, and counting the cost alongside you.
Key Features
- Compact yet memorable experience — A focused narrative horror adventure, approximately 30 minutes in length
- Underwater eye-cam mechanic — Track bites from below the surface while eerie watchers lurk in the depths
- Fish & gut gameplay — Catch fish and carefully gut them under pressure, missteps have consequences
- Surreal dialogue & choices — Bargains from Cagliuso force players to weigh risk versus reward
- Time pressure & looming threats — With creditors closing in, every second counts
- Atmospheric psychological horror — A restrained, unsettling tone driven by sound design and implication
Studio Ortica created Loan Shark in roughly three months as both a horror-focused experiment and a narrative exercise, demonstrating what concise, tightly designed storytelling can achieve within the medium.
Critical Reception
Since its Steam launch, Loan Shark has received widespread acclaim from players and reviewers alike. Its Very Positive reception highlights the game’s effectiveness as a brief yet intense psychological horror experience.
PlayStation 5 Launch
Loan Shark will be available digitally on PlayStation 5 beginning January 20th, 2026, bringing its distinctive blend of psychological horror and surreal narrative to console audiences.
For review assets other than whats in the shared drive, please contact:
office@darkproduct.com
About Studio Ortica
Studio Ortica is an independent game development team based in Turin, Italy, dedicated to crafting evocative, narrative-driven interactive experiences that blend atmosphere, emotion, and experimentation. Founded by Nicola Dau, Luca Folino, and Tremotino, the studio focuses on small but impactful games developed with creative intent and agile production philosophies.
Their debut commercial title, Loan Shark, exemplifies their commitment to concise storytelling, distinctive mechanics, and psychological depth.
About Dark Product
Dark Product is an independent games publisher based in Busan, South Korea, focused on bringing distinctive, creator-led titles to market across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Founded by Scott Millard, the company works hands-on with developers to deliver high-quality console releases, managing porting, platform compliance, publishing operations, and go-to-market execution.
Dark Product takes a practical, results-driven approach to publishing, helping games reach new audiences through disciplined release planning, strong platform relationships, and clear commercial focus. Its catalogue is built around projects with strong creative identity and long-term value.
https://www.darkproduct.com/