The Outlast Trials Introduces PvP Mode with Imposters and Knife-Wielding Betrayal

The Outlast Trials is about to become even more unsettling with the arrival of its first-ever PvP mode. Developer Red Barrels announced that the upcoming Invasion update will launch on October 21, introducing player-versus-player mechanics where players can hunt, deceive, and eliminate one another inside the same trials.

Previously, players only had to survive the violent experiments and grotesque enemies like Mother Gooseberry, Coyle, and Grunts. Now, survival will depend just as much on who you trust. The Invasion update introduces knife-wielding Reagents—real players disguised as others—who can infiltrate a trial and kill fellow survivors from within.

According to Red Barrels, Invasion functions as a standalone mode within The Outlast Trials, separate from standard co-op sessions. Players can choose to enable PvP and determine how many imposters will appear, depending on the total number of participants. More players mean a higher chance of deception, turning each trial into a tense mix of paranoia and survival.

In the Invasion mode, one or more players take on the role of imposters. These infiltrators can monitor surveillance feeds to track targets before entering a trial wearing a skin mask of another player. This disguise allows imposters to blend in with the group and gain the trust of others before striking.

The weapon of choice is a knife, offering two distinct attack options. A quick slash performs a fast but weak strike, while a stab deals heavier damage but must be charged for several seconds. Timing becomes essential for the imposter to land a lethal attack, particularly when isolating victims who have strayed from their team. The mechanic encourages stealth and patience, reflecting the same tension that defines the rest of The Outlast Trials experience.

For those playing as standard Reagents, the threat multiplies. Enemies like Mother Gooseberry and her puppet, or the hulking Grunts, continue to roam the map, targeting everyone indiscriminately. Even imposters are not immune to these dangers, which adds another layer of tension to encounters. Players must remain alert not only to human deception but also to the ever-present AI monsters that could expose their location or end their run entirely.

The update effectively expands the psychological side of The Outlast Trials. While previous updates focused on cooperation and survival against AI-controlled enemies, Invasion introduces a new social threat where teamwork can collapse in seconds. Players can no longer rely solely on voice chat or familiar usernames. The presence of imposters with nearly identical tags makes it difficult to distinguish friends from enemies until it’s too late.

The idea of player impersonation isn’t entirely new to the game. Even before Invasion, players occasionally encountered lookalike NPCs that mimicked real users, creating confusion during encounters. However, the upcoming update transforms that illusion into a fully functional system powered by real players, intensifying those deceptive moments.

Invasion’s design also rewards both sides of the experience. Imposters can use stealth and surveillance to execute ambushes, while survivors must cooperate closely to detect anomalies, coordinate responses, and protect each other. Yet the unpredictability of betrayal means that coordination itself might become a liability.

While no major balance changes or new environments were detailed beyond the mode itself, Red Barrels confirmed that the Invasion update will be available for all existing players when it goes live on October 21. The studio has not yet shared information about whether PvP progression will connect to existing character upgrades or trial rewards.

The Outlast Trials, first released in early access in May 2023 and later fully launched in 2024, already featured cooperative gameplay centered on surviving Murkoff’s psychological and physical experiments. Players, known as Reagents, must complete horrific tasks while avoiding monstrous pursuers in contained, semi-open environments. The addition of PvP marks the first major expansion of its core systems since the full release, signaling an attempt to diversify the tension between players and AI threats.

Although the main campaign and existing trials remain unchanged, the inclusion of Invasion transforms the social dynamic of the game. It introduces an entirely new style of fear — the fear of betrayal by familiar faces. Each match now carries the risk of a sudden, knife-wielding surprise from someone wearing your own skin.

The Outlast Trials’ Invasion update releases October 21, bringing a new level of paranoia, deception, and danger to Red Barrels’ multiplayer horror experiment. Players on PC can expect the patch to roll out globally across all regions on the same date, adding PvP options alongside existing cooperative trials.