Something is happening to my Prey save file and I’m scared ;_;

Like there are Greater Mimics roaming around right out the gate, I’ve met like Thermal Phantoms already and I haven’t even been to the GUTS yet I’m that early in the game. I’ve checked my difficulty settings like three times and I’m still playing on Story difficulty so what the heck? Is it like Oxenfree that it recognises that you’ve played it before and adds more shit? But I’m not even playing a New Game + I’ve started a new game from the scratch, I’m scared ;_;