DEAD RISING 2

Capcom brought Dead Rising back earlier this year with Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster earlier this year, which was a remake in nearly all but name, and we’d love for the company to do the same with Dead Rising 2. Whether or not that happens will, of course, depend entirely on whether the aforementioned Deluxe Remaster’s commercial performance matches the critical acclaim it enjoyed, but our hope is that it does, not only because it would mean more Dead Rising, but also because we’d love to play an enhanced form of Dead Rising 2, an excellent game in its own right.

So anyway, it’s reportedly not getting a sequel any time soon. That distinction is important, by the way, but Motive Studios is allegedly not working on a Dead Space 2 remake or a follow-up to last year’s remake.

Let’s go back a few days. Motive is already confirmed to be working on Marvel’s Iron Man in Unreal Engine 5. It was recently announced that the studio would also assist on the developer-hungry machine that’s the Battlefield franchise, building a new team for the same.

After the failure of Battlefield 2042, a massive structure change was announced, with Respawn Entertainment founder Vince Zampella becoming the boss of all things Battlefield. Since then, Ridgeline Studios has shut down, and Criterion is now leading development on single-player Battlefield content. Marvel’s Iron Man continues, having reached a “major internal milestone” earlier this year.

Amid this, Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb reported on the Game Mess Mornings podcast that a Dead Space 2 remake was in the works at Motive but had been shelved due to “lackluster sales” of the first game’s remake. As for whether it ever happens or not, Grubb was unsure, but that it was in the concepting phase, “definitely in pre-production”, and now that work has been sidelined in favor of Iron Man and Battlefield.

At this point, you’re probably thinking, as most would, “EA bad”, but then a twist occurred: EA responded to the report. Did it assure fans that it still loves the Dead Space franchise and that they shouldn’t worry about the future? No. Instead, a spokesperson told IGN outright, “We don’t normally comment on rumors, but there is no validity to this story.”

You’d think that would be the end, but Grubb responded and effectively doubled down. “I give you my permission to believe EA if you want, but whenever a company says ‘that isn’t true’, but they don’t specify which part of the story they are talking about, well … yeah.

“Dead Space 2 was definitely being planned. It had a code name. And they aren’t making it now.” Regardless of whether you believe the publisher or Grubb (who has a pretty good track record with rumors and industry happenings), he does raise a good point. Which part of the story wasn’t true? That sales were lackluster? That a Dead Space 2 remake was in the concepting phase or at least considered?

Here’s where things get about as confusing as the decision to put microtransactions in Dead Space 3. Grubb pointed to a tweet by Motive responding to a user about whether Dead Space would be seen again. “We will continue to operate as a two-project team, and we’re focused on the development of Iron Man and collaborating on the future of Battlefield.”

So, while it isn’t a straight-up “Never” in the style of Ralph Bighead, it pretty much confirms that a Dead Space 2 remake isn’t happening. Case closed? Not quite.

Enter Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier. After speaking to sources that couldn’t be named, he reported that the Dead Space series is on ice again and that this decision was made in Spring 2023 – a few months after the Dead Space remake’s launch. Sales allegedly didn’t meet EA’s expectations, and while Motive reportedly looked into some ideas for a new entry in the series, nothing was greenlit.

Plans essentially “fizzled out before they could get very far,” and the team began “exploring other ideas” last Summer. Meanwhile, its developers moved on to other projects, as seen with Iron Man and now Battlefield (and it wouldn’t be surprising if they’re working on other titles at other EA studios).

Schreier would then address Grubb’s rumor and EA’s response directly. “People familiar with the project tell Bloomberg that EA’s statement is correct,” said Schreier on Twitter. “Motive has been on other projects for nearly a year.” If that wasn’t clear enough, he added that not only was it “never greenlit” but that “the project’s leaders wanted to do a brand new game, not another remake.”

Grubb would respond to Schreier’s report, stating that it all lined up with what he was told. That a Dead Space 2 remake was considered “in the months leading up to” the Dead Space remake’s and that it was ultimately “put on the shelf.”

Schreier would then clarify one point of contention – the supposed code name that the project had. He revealed that “Motive used the same code name to describe *whatever project* that the Dead Space team was working on next, hence the confusion on Jeff’s part. It was never really a Dead Space 2 remake, and for nearly a year, it’s had nothing to do with Dead Space.”

If that wasn’t enough, as if this whole tale wasn’t already confusing, Schreier clarified what he meant by “plans fizzled” on Resetera. “Plans fizzled, but they mostly involved a Dead Space sequel. A Dead Space 2 remake was not seriously considered.”

Consider that statement for a second. It doesn’t make too much sense, right? Was Motive looking to work on Dead Space 4? Wouldn’t a remake of Dead Space 2 technically be considered a sequel since it’s following last year’s release? We now get into spoilers for the first game’s remake, so if you haven’t finished it or even engaged in New Game Plus, skip ahead. You have been warned.

After completing a playthrough and starting a New Game Plus run, you had the optional task of collecting 12 Marker Fragments throughout various chapters. Isaac can then go to the Executive Quarters, access the captain’s room and interact with his creepy display. After some spooky shenanigans, the Marker Fragments would be on the table, and the player can complete the game.

However, a different ending would play, with Isaac interacting with the hallucination of Nicole and talking about building “a little something first,” promising that she would like it. Meanwhile, the ship’s interior is covered in Marker symbols, hinting at a potentially different story in the sequel.

There you have it. Motive wasn’t reportedly looking to remake Dead Space 2 but to create a sequel to the Dead Space remake. When asked on Resetera if this was the case, Schreier responded, “Now imagine having to explain this to your non-gaming news editors.”

Of course, everything is all rumors and reports, and regardless of who you believe, the common thread is that the Dead Space remake didn’t perform well. This all culminated in the best possible response from a Resetera member: “I’m going to keep it a buck with y’all. Dead Space 2 Remake, Dead Space Nu or Dead Space 4 – I don’t care, I just wanted more Dead Space and now I’m” replace the last two words with spicier language.

If we take Schreier’s wording at face value, this would have been a brand-new game. A new start to the franchise, even. If you’re hopeful, like me, it would mean a new plot for Dead Space 3, and then we could wipe the awful original from our memories. Unfortunately, that’s not happening, and at this point, it’s impossible to predict when a new Dead Space, remake or otherwise, will ever happen.

Is it the fans’ fault for not being dedicated enough to the series to ensure the remake’s success? Is it the fault of Electronic Arts for not marketing the title and attracting enough newcomers or outright killing interest in the franchise with Dead Space 3 before putting it on ice for so long? Was it bad timing, with so many other big releases in that quarter?

We may never really know or even understand the publisher’s expectations. However, one thing is for sure – it views titles like Battlefield and Marvel’s Iron Man as more worthy of devoting resources to. Whether you think that’s right or wrong, it’s a safe choice when it comes to pleasing the shareholders. Try convincing them to pour more money into another remake that may not perform as well as its predecessor, then try to explain that it’s actually a sequel to the first game’s remake and not the second game’s remake.

There’s a lot more to be said about this, but as The Start Menu editor-in-chief, Lex Luddy, noted on the same podcast with Grubb, “How have we gotten to a point where remakes are no longer a safe bet?” Where remakes of beloved titles, even after receiving so much care and attention, are no longer viable in today’s market? The original Dead Space sold one million copies after the first four months of release, yet it was also a commercial disappointment for Electronic Arts.

Time is a flat circle, yada yada, but you would think that the sequel, which shipped nearly two million units in the first week alone, would also have built enough goodwill over time, right? Or at least created enough fans that they’d like to be a part of the revival all these years later. Sadly, just because Dead Space 2 shipped more units in its first week doesn’t necessarily mean it did better.

EA CEO Andrew Wilson revealed in October 2017 that the sequel sold four million units since launching in 2011, which should be great, but it cost $65 million to make. After factoring in all the costs (like storefront fees for Xbox and PlayStation), it was also considered a commercial failure. The less said about Dead Space 3, the better. All of this is enough to make you wonder – was a Dead Space remake really the best call, at least from a publisher’s standpoint?

Did it make sense to pour so much money, potentially more than the original games, into a property that isn’t a proven money-maker? Or is it a consequence of the current triple-A development cycle, where a $70 title debuting as the second best-selling title of the month in the United States isn’t a recipe for success?

One could point to 2019’s Resident Evil 2 going on to sell 13.6 million units by December 2023, as an example that they work, but the same trend of success can’t apply to other titles so easily. It’s ironic because the remakes of Resident Evil 2 and 3 reportedly inspired Dead Space to make a comeback. Meanwhile, EA’s remake languishes.

There’s a lot more one could say about the franchise outside of this entire Dead Space 2 remake confusion. I’ve already said plenty about the multi-studio approach to Battlefield, which, despite forming over two years ago, has yet to announce any new titles or really anything at all apart from other studios that are joining the fray.

How Motive will get mixed up in that remains to be seen, and whether it leads to success – that too by modern, unsustainable triple-A standards – is another scary question. Here’s hoping that the superhero well hasn’t dried up in the games industry and that Marvel’s Iron Man becomes a success if nothing else.

Horror games – and their remakes – come and go. We’re due for a remake of Silent Hill 2 from Bloober Team at some point, and despite misgivings, it could end up a commercial success. Then again, maybe it won’t. Worst of all, that success may not be enough. Regardless, as far as Dead Space is concerned, it’s probably best to savor the memories of the original two games and the remake and ultimately let go. As much as I want to see a continuation and maybe even a definitive conclusion where Isaac finds peace, perhaps it’s just another dream with a monster at the end of it.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves 

After a strong start with the first game, Naughty Dog really came into its own element with the sequel. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves told an enthralling story punctuated with thrilling set pieces and memorable characters, and it’s a game that surprisingly holds up well to this date. A PlayStation 5 remake could take full advantage of current-gen horsepower and deliver stunning visuals and smoothed-out gameplay, making for an experience that would feel completely new and fresh.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Metal Gear Solid is making a comeback with an upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, but the entry that is in the most desperate need of a remake has to be Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. And that’s not just for introducing the game to a new audience, but also because Metal Gear Solid 4 is locked on the PS3 and there is no legitimate way for current-gen console owners to enjoy this classic. We are hoping that the next remake after Delta Snake Eater will be this one, so there’s no harm in keeping your fingers crossed as well.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West 

Before Ninja Theory worked on Hellblade and eventually got acquired by Microsoft, it delivered an amazing action adventure in the form of Enslaved: Odyssey to the West. Released in 2010, Enslaved was a game that provided a fresh take on the classic novel Journey to the West. With its interesting gameplay ideas based on cooperation and fresh world design, Enslaved was a game that had plenty of merits to its name. Of course, it wasn’t a flawless experience by any means – which is why we need a remake for this classic. Ninja Theory could use its current-gen technology and learnings from subsequent projects to create a game that’s bigger and better than the original in every regard.

Red Dead Redemption

Rockstar Games delivered an amazing Wild West epic with Red Dead Redemption. John Marston’s tale of redemption is worth experiencing through to the end, but sadly it’s a game that’s locked on the PS3 and Xbox. While there is a remastered version available for current-gen consoles, it’s a barebones port that is in dire need of substantial improvement. As such, having a ground-up remake for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S would be really appreciated by both returning fans and those who played Red Dead Redemption 2.

Dead Space 2

EA Motive delivered an excellent reimagining of the first Dead Space with its recent remake, and we can’t help but ask for a similar remake of the second game as well. Fans of the franchise would agree that Dead Space 2 was the series at its absolute peak, and getting to experience all that through a new lens is something that has us salivating at the very thought of it all. Given the success of the first remake, it’s obviously possible that something like this might happen in the near future – so keep your fingers crossed. 

Fallout 3

Set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic US, Fallout 3 takes players on an unforgettable journey filled with tons of meaningful quests and characters that will stay with you long after the credits roll. Despite those merits, it’s not easy to play Fallout 3 for players accustomed to modern gaming conveniences – which is why we so desperately need a remake of this classic. With no new single-player Fallout game in sight, we could do with a reimagining of Fallout 3 for the time being.

Sleeping Dogs

Sleeping Dogs might feel like a cheap GTA clone at first glance, but the moment you look past that initial veneer – you will find a surprisingly fun open world with a complex web of different mechanics that come together to create something special. It’s well and truly a game of its time, and it deserves to be re-introduced to a brand new audience with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a difficult task considering that the original developer United Front Games closed its doors in 2012, but there’s no harm in having some hopes. Right?

Resistance: Fall of Man

Insomniac Games’ Resistance series was Sony’s answer to Microsoft’s Gears of War, and the similarities ranging from a post-apocalyptic backdrop to the opposing alien forces are readily apparent. But despite those similarities, Resistance: Fall of Man is a solid first-person shooter with plenty of spectacle and set pieces which makes it such a great game to remake at a time when PlayStation is known for its cinematic blockbuster experiences. Apart from that, Sony has a very evident lack of first-person shooters in its roster of exclusive IPs, so bringing Resistance back would also help diversify its portfolio.

Vanquish 

PlatinumGames is known for its slick action and spectacle like seen in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and Vanquish is a game that’s emblematic of those very strengths. This third-person action game features a rather unique gameplay loop that makes cover-based shooting an extremely fun activity through the use of power slides and slow motion, and it’s a game that has surprisingly stood the test of time. That being said, not many people actually tried Vanquish back in the day – and a full-fledged remake with modern graphics and smoother animations would be right up the alley of many gamers.

Dark Souls 1

FromSoftware perfected what they started with Demon’s Souls with 2011’s Dark Souls, and it instantly became a game for the history books. Thanks to a meticulously crafted world with distinct levels and memorable boss fights, Dark Souls was able to win the hearts of thousands upon thousands of fans. But it would be wrong to say that Dark Souls doesn’t have its fair share of problems, both stemming from the technology at the time and also a few quirks related to its design. But with a full-fledged remake, FromSoftware can take its learnings and create a game that’s better than before. 

inFamous 1

Sucker Punch Productions of Ghost of Tsushima fame made its reputation as one of Sony’s top talents through the inFamous series, which provided a thrill ride through an open-world filled with interesting missions and side activities alongside a morality system that significantly changes your playstyles and skill trees. The first game has arguably aged the worst, which is why it would require a full-fledged remake for the PS5. 

Motorstorm

Motorstorm was a rather unique offroad racing experience where players get to choose from different vehicle types to win the race. It combines high-octane racing with destruction mechanics to make for an experience that’s unlike anything, and it retains that status even after all these years. Between this and the fact that not a lot of players actually picked it up back in the day, Motorstorm is the perfect candidate for a full-fledged remake that could introduce this experience to a brand-new audience.

L.A. Noire 

L.A. Noire is undoubtedly one of the most creative games in Rockstar’s wide array of open-world offerings, and a lot of that falls down on the impressive detective work that players get to do in the myriad of cases available to solve across its vast space. The developer used cutting-edge facial modeling to make conversations with subjects more meaningful, but many of those ideas were obviously limited by the technology of the time. But now that we have modern engines like Unreal Engine 5 with features like MetaHuman toolkits, a remake of LA Noire could finally fulfill its complete creative vision in earnest.

The Elder Scrolls: IV Oblivion

The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion is an expansive RPG with a complex web of systems and dozens of quests for players to complete. It’s safe to say that it was also ahead of its time in so many ways, which is why it is the perfect fit for a full-fledged remake for current-generation systems. Getting to explore the mystical beauty of its world in high definition will be a dream come true for fans of the genre, and while the chances of it all happening anytime soon are pretty slim – we can at least hope.

Batman Arkham Asylum

Rocksteady’s debut Batman Arkham game might just be its most focused game in the series. Each room in the asylum is meticulously designed, and the interconnected nature of the levels combined with memorable boss fights really makes it feel like a living, breathing place. But it’s also true that the game hasn’t aged all that well after so many years and subsequent entries in the series, so a remake that brings the features and mechanics from modern games would result in an instant hit.

The online service shutdown page on EA’s website states that the decision was made to shut down these servers because less than 1% of peak online players across all EA titles were playing these games, and that it was no longer feasible for the company to continue supporting these games.

It is worth noting that, since the games part of these shutdowns are primarily single-player titles, they will still be perfectly playable for most players. Features like leaderboards or multiplayer game modes, however, will no longer be available. Games part of this wave of server shutdowns are also still available to purchase owing to their breadth of single-player content.

Grand Theft Auto 5

Rockstar Games’ most successful title, Grand Theft Auto 5 redefined how detailed and lifelike open-world games could be. On top of its gorgeous visuals and intricate world, it pushed the boundaries of the franchise’s established formula with three protagonists, heists, activities like sports, hunting and racing, and memorable side stories. The fact that it achieved all of this on seventh-gen console hardware is a feat, that too without considering GTA Online.

And as many may have predicted, it looks like more remakes are part of the plan. As shared on Twitter by @TafferKing451, EA has been sending out a survey to fans that inquires whether they’d be interested in similar remakes of Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3.

This comes off the back of multiple statements by developer Motive Studio about wanting to continue working on the franchise, and that it already has ideas about how to proceed with the series going forward. Interestingly, an easter egg in the Dead Space remake’s New Game Plus mode has also pointed to a remake of Dead Space 2.

Dead Space is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Pfft. The survey EA is sending out. On the wall – the writing. pic.twitter.com/o2f1OPC1zM

— Dillon Rogers (@TafferKing451) February 25, 2023

While the studio has a team that’s currently busy with an Iron Man game, the Dead Space team is going to take a vacation- but is “passionate about the brand” and wants to keep working on it.

“We’ve said both internally and externally that we’d be interested in continuing our work on the Dead Space franchise,” the developer wrote. “Our Core group is passionate about the brand and we need to discuss what’s the right next step for us. There’s numerous factors that need to be taken into account at a studio and company level but first, the team will take a well deserved vacation before determining what’s next.

“We have an amazing team at Motive that has started working on Iron Man and you you can rest assured that it’s in great hands!”

Meanwhile, in separate responses to other questions, Motive Studio has also confirmed that it currently has no plans to add new difficulty modes to the game. In another comment, it said that it’s “investigating” the idea of adding suit-related DLC, but nothing is set in stone yet.

In our review of Dead Space, we awarded it a 10/10, saying, “Dead Space is one of the best survival horror games ever made, and one of the greatest remakes of all time. It takes a masterpiece of the genre and allows its biggest strengths to shine brighter than they ever have, while also improving upon it in meaningful ways with smart changes and additions. Motive Studio has delivered an instant classic and a true giant of the genre.” Read the full review through here.

Dead Space is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

Though debut physical sales in the UK haven’t exactly been amazing, averaging less than half of The Callisto Protocol’s at launch, it still topped the charts. We’ll have to wait for more data and see if the higher price helped offset lower physical sales.

Thankfully, it seems that Motive is already interested in what’s next. Dead Space producer Phil Ducharme told GQ it hopes to discuss the franchise’s future with Electronic Arts. There’s interest in “exploring Dead Space more,” with Ducharme stating that there are “ideas, for sure.” But for now, the team is fixing technical issues and then going on vacation before sitting down with the publisher. With the remake garnering praise for both expanding on what made Dead Space great while retaining the core and being amazing in its own right, the future looks bright.

But where does the franchise, which was on ice after the failure of Dead Space 3, go from here? To discuss that, we need to look at how the remake ends and how this could factor into the future, if not a potential remake of Dead Space 2. Spoilers ahead, so be warned.

For those who played the original 2008 sci-fi survival horror, the canon ending is pretty similar but has some neat twists. In the remake, protagonist Isaac Clarke speaks to horticulturist Elizabeth Cross. She tells him of the Leviathan and how to weaken it before setting off to find her boyfriend, Jacob Temple. In the original game, the two never speak directly, and though Cross reunited with Temple, the two would be captured and eventually killed by antagonist Challus Mercer.

The remake does things slightly differently. Kendra Daniels, who arrived with Isaac as part of the Kellion’s crew, works for Earth Government and knows all about the Marker on Aegis VII. It was set up on the planet hundreds of years ago to serve as an experiment, and now the government wants it brought back to Earth. Isaac and Nicole take it to Aegis VII, which is on the verge of destruction.

They encounter Kendra, who attempts to take the Marker. She then reveals that Nicole, as in the original, is dead. However, it turns out that Isaac was imagining Cross as Nicole, while Cross had been seeing Isaac as Temple due to the Marker’s hallucinations. Cross is shot by Kendra, but before the latter can transport the Marker to Earth, she’s killed by the Necromorph Hive Mind. Isaac battles the monstrosity and defeats it before escaping the planet. Aegis VII is destroyed, taking the Marker with it as Isaac flies off to safety in space.

While stopping short from viewing Nicole’s final message again, Isaac looks to his right and sees her sitting next to him. She then quickly attacks as the screen cuts to black, just like in the original. As Dead Space 2 would reveal, this was a hallucination caused by Isaac’s exposure to the Marker.

New Game Plus becomes available in the remake, and players will discover new logs in the Ishimura, including a discussion between two characters about the ship’s decommissioning (before the Necromorph outbreak, of course). There’s talk about seeking new jobs, and the Sprawl on Titan Station comes up. This is the setting for Dead Space 2, and while it could simply be Motive inserting a clever secret to tie both games together, it’s a clever way to tease the sequel’s remake if it ever happens.

Once again, however, a remake of Dead Space 2 isn’t confirmed. Besides, that’s not the only new story-related content in the Dead Space remake. Throughout the story, the player discovers various Marker Fragments, some in plain sight and others are more carefully hidden. Collecting all 12 and entering New Game Plus lets you place them in Captain Mathius’s room in the Executive Quarters on the Crew Deck. Upon activating, the lights go out, and the pieces light up, humming with a strange energy.

When finishing a New Game Plus playthrough, players experience a different ending. Instead of Nicole suddenly being next to Isaac and attacking him, the two enjoy a pleasant conversation about seeing Ishimura in its prime. Nicole asks if they’re “going home”, and how there’s “so much work to do.” Isaac responds that they will soon, but he has to “build a little something first,” and it’s a surprise that he thinks Nicole will like. The ship’s interior is covered in Marker writings, indicating that Isaac has completely given himself over to it.

From a canon standpoint, this is an alternate ending and can’t directly connect to the sequel as we know it. Isaac’s dementia led to director Hans Tiedeman using the data in mind to recreate the Marker on the Sprawl. Memory blockers were used to prevent the data from permanently damaging Isaac’s mind and causing him to lose his sense of time. He’s still plagued with hallucinations, this time much more vivid, of Nicole as the Marker attempts to complete Convergence.

However, in this alternate ending, Isaac is lucid and at peace with Nicole. The implication of building something seems to indicate that he’ll recreate the Marker himself, and then he’ll go home, potentially to spread its influence on Earth. It would have dark consequences for humanity’s future and significantly alter the timeline.

It’s possible that the Marker Fragments and makeshift shrine in Mathius’s room were a failsafe created by the Aegis VII Marker. Should it fail to “go home,” it would distil the data into the mind of a single individual, who would then carry it forward.

Let’s say, for a moment, that Motive decides to completely upend the story of Dead Space 2 when remaking it. Isaac has to escape confinement on the Sprawl and destroy the recreated Marker created using data in his mind. Memory blockers prevent him from knowing how he got there or what he was doing till that point.

However, the big twist would be that Isaac himself worked with the Sprawl to recreate the Marker and that he’s directly responsible for the outbreak on the station.

This could lead to two outcomes. One could see him having second thoughts and trying to halt Convergence, battling his hallucinations of Nicole. The other sees him giving in and spreading the Necromorphs to Earth, perhaps the entire Solar System.

It would be an incredible set-up for a Dead Space 3 remake, which would be a far more drastic remake and completely undo the original’s events. It certainly seems more likely than, say, creating a spin-off based on the alternate ending that doesn’t connect to Dead Space 2 in any way.

Of course, Motive could also create other games in the Dead Space universe that don’t star Isaac. The potential is there. It could also simply greenlight Dead Space 4 and build on the universe in new ways, having it take place several years later with a new protagonist and setting. The potential is limitless unless Electronic Arts isn’t impressed with the remake’s sales and does nothing with the franchise for several years again.

Regardless, it’s nice to bask in the fact that Dead Space is back, even if Motive focuses only on Marvel’s Iron Man for who knows how long. Whether the alternate ending is just a fun little bit or a sign of things to come, Isaac Clarke lives on.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

With that in mind, what does the future hold for the series? Sure, the Dead Space remake is only just a few days old at this point, but it’s not surprising that long-suffering fans and freshly turned enthusiasts are already eager to find out where EA is going to take Dead Space from here. And assuming that the game is successful enough from a commercial point of view (which its critical reception suggests it has a very good chance of being), there’s a couple of directions that EA could take the series in.

Obviously, the company could always greenlight a remake for Dead Space 2. That seems like a very likely scenario for multiple reasons. Even a cursory glance at Dead Space and the context surrounding the recently-released remake makes it abundantly clear that EA has borrowed heavily from how Capcom has approached Resident Evil over the last few years, to the extent that it would be fair to assume that if not for Resident Evil 2’s critical and commercial success upon its launch in 2019, it’s highly likely that EA would never have greenlit a Dead Space remake. And if EA does see encouraging signs in the game’s critical and commercial performance, it wouldn’t be a leap to imagine that it would want to replicate that success with another similar project, much like Capcom has done with Resident Evil remakes.

It’s also undeniable that a Dead Space 2 remake would be a very safe project for EA and Motive Studio to take up- or at least as safe as a major AAA production can be in this day and age. Since its launch in 2011, the game has been widely regarded as one of the best survival horror games ever made (much like its predecessor), and unlike its sequel, it holds a special place in the hearts of series fans- which is to say there’s no shortage of people who would love to see Motive Studio building upon it and enhancing it as it has done with the original Dead Space. A faithful remake that builds upon an already incredible foundation is always going to have high chances of succeeding on all fronts, and EA is obviously going to be very aware of that fact- it has very recent evidence of that, after all.

But as exciting as it would be to see a Dead Space 2 remake, there’s surely going to be a sizeable contingent of series fans who would rather see a completely new instalment. It’s been a decade since we last got a new mainline Dead Space game, and given the way Dead Space 3 ended, it goes without saying that series fans have been desperate to see the story to move forward for quite some time. A new instalment with a new setting and a new story would indeed be something that would be very hard to say no to, and now that Motive Studio has the experience of developing a Dead Space game, perhaps the studio might feel it is better positioned to deliver something completely new in the franchise rather than going back to its greatest hits.

Regardless of which of the two EA decides to greenlight next, there will, of course, be some interesting questions that it will need to give some thought to. For instance, if a Dead Space 4 is something that it does want to move ahead with, how will it tackle the story? Dead Space 3 was not only not a massive seller, it’s also a decade old at this point (and will, of course, be even older by the time the next game comes out). With that in mind, would EA be more inclined to develop a sequel that’s more of a soft reboot? One that is set in the same continuity, perhaps, but doesn’t have too many overt links to the original trilogy- similar to, say, 2018’s God of War. Or would a completely new protagonist be a better choice?

On the other hand, if a Dead Space 2 remake is the next project for the series, will Motive Studio approach it the same way it approached Dead Space and deliver a largely faithful experiences that makes additive changes rather than drastic ones? Or, now that the studio has made itself at home with the franchise and got to better grips with it, will it be inclined to take more risks and do something that’s more similar to what Capcom has done with its recent Resident Evil remakes?

And if a Dead Space 2 remake does get made, will Dead Space 3 be next? Many might argue that out of the original trilogy, that’s probably the game that’s always been more in need of a remake than the other two. Perhaps Motive Studio could take its larger story beats and shelve everything else in an attempt to reimagine Dead Space 3 as a proper survival horror game? That’s surely something a lot of series fans would be more than a little interested in seeing- not least because it would also provide an excellent platform for a full-fledged sequel.

Regardless of what EA and Motive Studio decide to do, it does seem like the future is going to be bright for Dead Space. It’s still early days for the remake, of course, which means we don’t yet have a good sense of how it will perform from a commercial viewpoint, and whether that performance will be enough to warrant a sequel in EA’s eyes, but given the popularity of the survival horror genre and the incredibly positive reception that Dead Space has enjoyed, it seems safe to assume that it’s going to do rather well.

Interestingly enough, it looks like there are already signs of what the future might hold for Dead Space. A new easter egg discovered in the remake’s New Game Plus mode seems to be pointing to a Dead Space 2 remake being next up, while recently, the remake’s developers also said that they are interested in exploring the franchise further, and already have ideas for how to do that, with discussions planned within EA about the series’ future.

Of course, Motive is also busy with a single player action-adventure Iron Man game, so it remains to be seen whether it will be taking on any other projects in the immediate future. Hopefully, however, it won’t be too long before we get some idea of where Dead Space will be headed from this point forward.

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That’s according to Dead Space producer Phil Ducharme, who said in a recent interview with GQ that he – and others at Motive Studio – are interested in exploring the franchise further, and already have ideas for how to do that. As per Ducharme, discussions about the series’ future will be had within EA in the near future.

“For sure, it’s a hope that we have,” Ducharme said when asked about whether Motive Studio has plans to keep working on Dead Space. “There’s interest on my side and I think on Roman’s [Campos-Oriola, creative director] side in exploring Dead Space more. There are ideas, that’s for sure. We’re finishing this week, we’re going to be making sure that that launch goes well and that there are as few technical issues as possible. We’re gonna be heading out on vacation and then we’ll sit down and we’ll have those discussions within EA to say, ‘Well, what’s next?'”

Interestingly, there’s a chance that Motive Studio has already started to drop hints for what it plans to do with Dead Space going forward. A recently-discovered easter egg in the remake’s New Game Plus mode seems to hint at plans for a remake of Dead Space 2.

Dead Space is only a few days old, but it seems to have got off to a solid start where sales are concerned, seeing a sizeable playerbase on Steam at launch while also performing well in the platform’s weekly sales charts.

In our review of the game, we awarded it a score of 10/10, saying, “Dead Space is one of the best survival horror games ever made, and one of the greatest remakes of all time. It takes a masterpiece of the genre and allows its biggest strengths to shine brighter than they ever have, while also improving upon it in meaningful ways with smart changes and additions. Motive Studio has delivered an instant classic and a true giant of the genre.” Read the full review through here.

Dead Space is available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.