Key Highlights:
- Frogwares announced Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments in February 2013 for PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
- The detective adventure introduced Unreal Engine 3 and a greater emphasis on deductions and moral choices.
- Eight cases were originally announced, although the finished game ultimately launched with six.
Frogwares announced Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments in February 2013 as the next entry in its detective adventure series, with PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 initially confirmed as the target platforms.
The game represented a substantial technical change for the series. Frogwares moved development to Unreal Engine 3 and redesigned Sherlock Holmes with a more contemporary appearance, while retaining the Victorian setting and investigation-focused gameplay. Contemporary previews later highlighted the improved environments and visual detail made possible by the new engine.
Crimes & Punishments was also designed around player judgement rather than simply finding a single predetermined solution. Investigations involved gathering evidence, questioning suspects and combining clues into deductions, with players eventually deciding both who they believed was responsible and whether that person should be condemned or absolved.
At the time of the announcement, Frogwares described the game as containing eight cases involving crimes such as murder, disappearance and theft. By Gamescom 2013, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments was being shown with its revamped presentation and Unreal Engine 3 visuals, giving a much clearer look at Frogwares’ new direction for the series.
That plan changed before release. The finished game ultimately contained six cases, with multiple suspects and possible deductions allowing players to reach different conclusions based on the evidence they chose to connect.
The platform line-up also grew. PlayStation 4 support was officially confirmed in January 2014, with Xbox One joining the final release alongside PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Sherlock Holmes: Crimes & Punishments eventually launched on 30 September 2014 across those five platforms.
