Team Clout CEO defends Ill's graphic trailer, cites Ravenholm as inspiration
Ill’s story trailer has drawn attention for extreme gore; Team Clout CEO Max Verehin says the visuals support a narrative and were inspired in part by Half-Life 2’s Ravenholm, updated for modern standards.
A recent story trailer for horror game Ill has attracted attention more for its gruesome images than its plot — scenes include eye-scoopings, skull-stompings and a zombie baby being struck. The trailer follows an earlier, debut clip shown at the 2025 Summer Game Fest; Verehin says that initial versions were even more extreme.
Max Verehin, CEO of developer Team Clout, told us there is a story behind the visuals and defended the creative choices. “Our entire team has extensive experience in the horror genre, spanning games, movies, art, concept design, and so on,” he said, adding that it’s increasingly hard to surprise audiences and that the team wanted to build something fresh that could reignite strong emotions. He also cited Half-Life 2’s Ravenholm sequence as an influence, aiming for a similar effect with modern standards.
If you’re sensitive to graphic violence, the trailer may be upsetting.
