Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes series returning next year with fresh-faced origin story Eurogamer.net If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Frogwares' Sherlock Holmes series returning next year with fresh-faced origin story Coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and next-gen. News by Matt Wales Reporter Updated on 26 May 2020 11 comments Developer Frogwares' well-regarded series of deduction-based Sherlock Holmes games is making a comeback next year with an origin story titled Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One. Chapter One is Frogwares' first new Sherlock Holmes game since 2016's divisive The Devil's Daughter (the studio busied itself with Lovecraft-inspired The Sinking City in the interim), and it tells the story of a fresh-faced, 21-year-old Sherlock not explored in the books - a version of the character the developer calls "more raw talent than refined genius...reckless and impatient and a tad brazen, but unknowingly already on the path to greatness". Chapter One also sees Frogwares shaking things up further by making a deliberate move away from the over-familiar fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London, shifting its origin story to the altogether more sunny, Mediterranean-inspired island of Sherlock's youth, "where class divides and corruption are the foundations of this society". As Chapter One begins, Sherlock returns to the island to uncover the truth behind the death of his mother, accompanied by his then-best-friend Jonathan, whose relationship will play a central role in the game, according to the developer. "While we're getting more creative with the backstory of Sherlock, fans of the series and character can rest assured we're sticking close to the source material to keep it cohesive," says Frogwares, "Most people have a firm view of who Sherlock is. Our story isn't about changing that, but rather exploring how he could have come to be this way, exploring ideas right down to how he acquired his penchant for the violin, his distinct hat and even his addiction to drugs." Chapter One - which Frogwares stresses is a complete game - introduces the developer's new Global Investigation System, which builds upon the "no hand holding" structure of The Sinking City to give players "much more freedom in solving cases in a way that feels like genuine detective work." There's a combat system too, which might rankle those who felt The Devil's Daughter leaned too heavily on the action, but Frogwares says it's built around Sherlock's observational skills rather than brute force. Hopefully the end result will more closely mirror 2016's superbly atmospheric Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments, which struck just the right balance between pacy mystery yarn and open-ended exploration adventure, featuring a tremendously satisfying deductive focus. Frogwares says Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One will launch sometime in 2021 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and next-gen consoles. Become a Eurogamer subscriber and get your first month for £1 Get your first month for £1 (normally £3.99) when you buy a Standard Eurogamer subscription. Enjoy ad-free browsing, merch discounts, our monthly letter from the editor, and show your support with a supporter-exclusive comment flair! Support us View supporter archive More News Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Google announces cloud gaming Chromebooks less than a fortnight after Stadia shutdown GeForce Now preinstalled. 11 Latest Articles Preview Football Manager's new Console edition is the best you'll get without a PC Getting Touch-right. Splatoon 3 Amiibos will be out next month Ink-coming! 3 Fans think Phil Spencer's shelf is teasing the Xbox Game Pass streaming box UPDATE: Xbox confirms old Keystone prototype. 59 Modder dives into Demon's Souls files following PS5 jailbreak, discovers fabled Ring of the Chieftain Who knows what's nexus? 4 Supporters Only Premium only Off Topic: Take a minute to appreciate Cookin' with Coolio's incredible scallops recipe. What a great book. Premium only Off Topic: Reading City of Glass in comic form "Where exactly am I going?" Premium only Off Topic: Il Buco is a transporting film about a really big hole Underlands. Off-Topic Netflix handled Sandman brilliantly It was Dreamy. 9 Buy things with globes on them And other lovely Eurogamer merch in our official store! Explore our store