He is actually a clone of a younger version of Athetos, created by the Rusalki to be their ultimate weapon.
As Trace explores, he recovers fragmented memories and learns the unsettling truth: Axiom Verge Switch NSP (RF) (UPDATE) (eShop)
The Official Nintendo eShop page highlights that Trace's journey is not just about survival, but about unearthing his role in a "mysterious and compelling sci-fi plot" that ties his own existence to the fate of the universe. He is actually a clone of a younger
Distorted by centuries of isolation and a desire to secure technological dominance for humanity, the original Trace turned into a conqueror, nearly wiping out the Sudrans with a deadly pathogen. Axiom Verge Switch NSP (RF) (UPDATE) (eShop)