The game is built in Unreal Engine 4 using the newest version that showcases new levels of fidelity for scanning an actor's face to a near 1:1 likeness. The entire voice cast lended their likeness to their respective character.
There is no traditional HUD for the player. Instead the Health and Telekinesis meters are displayed via a neuro implant in the back of the protagonist's neck. A nod to the developers prior work on the Dead Space franchise which had the meters on the spine and shoulder of the protagonist.
The player menu is a hologram projection that displays in real-time. Meaning at any moment the protagonist can be interrupted by enemies. Another nod to Dead Space.
Developer Trademark: The protagonist Jacob is forced to free fall in a spacesuit and avoid various obstacles while aiming for a door to enter. This occurs throughout the developers prior work on Dead Space.
The developer Striking Distance Studios was founded by CEO and Game Director Glen Schofield the Co-Creator of the Dead Space video game franchise with the intent to make a spiritual successor. Of the 150 staff, between 25-30 worked on the original Dead Space trilogy according to Glen are working on The Callisto Protocol.