The real arcade inspirations behind the recently-released FNAF: Security Breach have been revealed by one of the game's developers, giving fans a look into how the latest Five Nights at Freddy's game came to life. The title continues to develop the ever-growing lore of the horror series, welcoming back familiar FNAF characters in a brand-new setting.

Core games in the FNAF series have typically taken a more static approach to gameplay than Security Breach. The first Five Nights At Freddy's game, released in 2014, tasked players with resource management while guarding a pizzeria filled with possessed animatronics. Users had to track the movements of characters including Freddy Fazbear and Bonnie the Rabbit, strategically opening and closing doors to preserve power and the player's life. The core gameplay carried over into subsequent games, which have seen recurring characters, themes, and names throughout. The series has featured a different selection of pizzerias and other terrifying establishments, but FNAF: Security Breach's Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex offers the biggest playground in the franchise to date.

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In celebration of the game's recent release, Jason Topolski, creative director at FNAF: Security Breach developer Steel Wool Studios, took to the PlayStation Blog to share some insights on the game's creation - and the real-world arcades that inspired it. According to Topolski, the team "dug deep for inspiration from our childhoods, high school jobs, and parental party planning duties to build the most fantastic pizzeria to ever exist," which means much of the Mega Pizzaplex has real-life roots. The creator explains that some of the game design comes from his own experience of a Tacoma multiplex in the 1980s, which had a "flashy, shiny, neon, and impressive" surface, but underneath was a different story. Topolski describes working behind the scenes and completing tasks like cleaning and stacking as "some of the best real-world experiences I could have had to prepare for this project." FNAF: Security Breach also has Topolski's brother Collin to thank for its final Pizzaplex, with the dev's sibling owning the Ruckus Room arcade in Bellingham, WA. Describing his brother as "a great source of insider industry information on the actual Family Fun Centers," Topolski explains the specific importance of the game's carpet tiles, stating:

"He told us all about the importance of decorative carpet tiles! Apparently, new carpet designs are one of the hottest items at Family Fun center conventions. Armed with that knowledge, we knew that the Mega Pizzaplex had to have the best carpet squares in the world. So, if you look closely, every themed area has multiple personalized Fazbear carpet designs in various colors and imagery which reflects the theme of the zone."

The new FNAF game's environments and its real-world inspirations have made it one of the most compelling in the series to date. Its many features and areas include attractions such as Monty Golf, Roxy Raceway, Bonnie Bowl, and more, which is a far cry from the original static rooms seen in earlier games. The neon-rock aesthetic is also a prevalent theme, not just seen in the decor, but also in the designs of the Glamrock reimaginings of classic FNAF characters.

Freddy Fazbear's Mega Pizzaplex is a big change for the series, and its real-world inspirations are clear to see in the final product. The game arguably features the most realistic setting to date, finally giving FNAF fans the chance to explore their terrifying location at their own pace. Being based on real arcades, and being part of a series known for Easter eggs, there's likely to be lots of hidden features and references to real establishments still awaiting those brave enough to explore FNAF: Security Breach.

Next: Why FNAF: Security Breach Isn't On Xbox Or Switch At Launch

Source: PlayStation Blog