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There’s a lot to take in at the end ofThe Alters.Between life-and-death decisions with unknowable consequences and, in most cases, a last-ditch race against the clock to escape the deadly exoplanet, it’s understandable if you just want to stop and take a breath as the credits roll.
If you’re up for one more challenge, though, the game offers a final puzzle to solve on your own time; an encrypted message appears on Jan’s computer just as he leaves the room, visible only for a few seconds. Decoding it reveals one final message, based on your previous choices.
This article contains spoilers. We recommend finishing The Alters at least once before reading further.
Who Is The Encrypted Message From?
Jan’s computer has a dual-monitor setup; the encrypted message appears on the right, and his email inbox on the left. You can see by matching up the times (and the most recent message) that the encrypted message is from a sender simply called “J.” It’s pretty clear that this is meant to indicate the message is from one or more of the surviving Alters.
Regardless ofthe ending you get, Jan and the Alters do not meet again after saying goodbye at the base; he hasn’t seen them since putting them into cryosleep.
The sender remains the sameeven in endings where Jan betrays the Alters they are presumed imprisoned or dead, suggesting that at least one of them has escaped the fate to which you left them.
Message Translations
The message on the screen changes depending onwhether Jan betrayed the Alters, turning them over to Maxwell or Agatha, or hehijacked the rescue ship, risking jail time to give the Alters a chance to escape into obscurity on Earth. TheGamer Video Producer Grant Walkup was able to crack the code, providing these translations:
If The Alters Escape
If Jan hijacks the rescue ship to ensure the Alters' safety, the decrypted message reads:
What you lost… may yet be found.
But only if you keep going.
Coupled with the postcards signed “J2J” on the desk, this suggests that the Alters are rooting for Jan wherever they are, and encouraging him to persevere on Earth like he did during their trials on the exoplanet. It expresses hope that the group could one day be reunited.
If Jan Betrays The Alters
The message is much more curt if Jan turns the Alters over to Maxwell or to Ally Corporation:
Now we will remain behind.
This is your path alone.
The surviving Alters reproach Jan for betraying them, reminding him of all they did for him, but theydon’t seem vengeful.Instead, they just say that now he’s on his own because of the decisions he made.
