The Dead Space remake takes the original cult horror game and gives it a whole new coat of paint. Perhaps that's underselling it, given that the folks over at Motive Studio have completely rebuilt it from the ground up. That means everything from visuals, to lighting and sound design have been updated, in keeping with the game's original ethos. You don't have all that long to wait before it releases either, given that it's one of the first big games coming out in 2023.
Now that we're so close to launch, EA has started to give us more and more information on Dead Space remake. We've now seen the game's opening, as well as a look at Isaac's new design. Thankfully, it all still seems to be a faithful remake of one of the most iconic horror games around. Even with all of the new bells and whistles, this is still Dead Space, after all.
EA will likely release even more details on Dead Space in the coming weeks. For now, here's everything we know about the game so far, including all of the latest news and trailers.
Dead Space remake: cut to the chase
- What is it? A remake of 2008 survival horror Dead Space
- When’s it out? January 27, 2023
- What can I play it on? PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC
Dead Space remake: release date and platforms
Dead Space remake will release on January 27, 2023 for PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.
The release date was confirmed during a May 2022 developer livestream (opens in new tab), with developer EA Motive stating that development was “progressing very well”. After a recent gameplay showcase, EA once again confirmed the release date to be holding true.
Dead Space remake trailers and videos
We’ve rounded up all the latest Dead Space remake trailers so you can watch them in one place. We’ll continue to add more trailers of the upcoming survival horror game below, so sit back, turn the lights down low, and get reacquainted with the world of Dead Space.
First look at gameplay
EA Motive finally showed off Dead Space Remake in October 2022. It included cinematic, as well as an extended gameplay segment. Things are certainly looking good, with the updated graphics really giving the horror classic a fresh coat of paint.
Crafting the Tension, art developer livestream
In a May 2022 development deep-dive, the EA Motive art team offered a look at the game's immersive environments, characters, visual effects. They also confirmed that the game's release date is to be January 27 2023, with a further look at the game expected in October 2022.
Weapon Sound Effects Comparison development video (Audio Deep-Dive Part 3)
This development video sees Technical Audio Artist Mike Dominiuk discussing the game's weapon sound design, including examples of updates to the Plasma Cutter and Pulse Rifle. “The goal is to bring the audio quality of the iconic weapons you know and love from the first Dead Space game up to a modern level,” the video description reads. Check it out below:
Audio Occlusion development video (Audio Deep-Dive Part 2)
The second part of EA Motive's Audio Deep-Dive video series focuses on the technical improvements made specifically to Dead Space's occlusion and obstruction audio effects. “This system aims to provide players with an unparalleled audio experience by creating a sense of realistic audio projection,” the description reads. Check it out below:
The A.L.I.V.E. System development video (Audio Deep-Dive Part 1)
The first entry in Motive's Audio Deep-Dive video series sees Senior VO Designer Terry Calico discussing Dead Space remake's A.L.I.V.E. System, which controls Isaac’s heart rate, breathing, and dialogue. Check it out below:
The Sound of Fear Reimagined development video
In a March 2022 developer deep dive, members of the game's development team dug into how the team are updating the audio design for the Dead Space remake, with specific references to the A.L.I.V.E. System, audio occlusion and weapon sounds.
Early development prototype livestream
This video from August 2021 provides an early look at the development of the Dead Space remake and features developers Philippe Ducharme and Roman Campos-Oriola as well as community content creators Kahlief Adams and Jackie Butler. Check it out below:
Dead Space remake official teaser trailer
We got our first look at the Dead Space remake with a teaser trailer at EA Play Live 2021. You can check it out below.
Dead Space series gameplay
The Dead Space remake aims to recreate the intense and unnerving third-person horror action that the series was renowned for. Claustrophobic and narrow space station corridors can potentially house all sorts of nasties, known as Necromorphs. Thankfully, the best way of stopping these sinewy fiends will still be by amputating their limbs with the Plasma Cutter (after peeling off their skin). Additional weaponry should keep these hostile creatures at bay, too.
Another tool in Isaac’s arsenal is the environment itself. The Dead Space series has always encouraged players to use explosive canisters, airlocks, and other crude means to turn the tide against encroaching enemy creatures. Especially when you consider ammo is always scarce. Just don’t forget to drive your foot through the head of any fallen enemies, or risk them coming back to haunt you at a later date.
One new mechanic in Dead Space remake is how you can expose the innards of necromorphs via a new technique called ‘peeling’ – which is exactly what it sounds like.
Previously, players could dismember the limbs of enemy necromorphs using Isaac Clarke’s plasma cutter and other weaponry. But in the remake, you’ll need to peel back the flesh of Isaac’s sinewy adversaries and expose the bone before you can lop off a leg or flailing arm like some sort of deranged surgeon. This adds extra steps to taking on enemies, adding more pressure as enemies rush you. It's also a mechanic that's sure to make use of the new-gun technology being targeted by the game.
Dead Space remake story
If you’re new to Dead Space, the premise is that Humanity has exhausted all of Earth’s natural resources, heading into space to find new materials. Researchers discover a mysterious alien artifact known as the Marker, a limitless source of energy that could solve Earth’s ongoing ecological crisis. Inevitably, things don’t go to plan, and you’re left fighting to survive in the dark reaches of space against hostile aliens.
In Dead Space, Isaac boards the USG Ishimura, only to make a horrific discovery. The ship's crew has been slaughtered by an alien scourge, and Isaac's partner Nicole is somewhere on board. Isaac has to rely on his engineering skills and tools to uncover exactly what has happened on the USG Ishimura, while clinging onto his own sanity.
Dead Space remake: new-gen improvements
In an interview with IGN (opens in new tab), Motive Studio has outlined how the Dead Space remake will take full advantage of the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and latest PC hardware.
“In terms of visuals, sound, gameplay, everything, we are rebuilding all of these assets,” said creative director Campos-Oriola. “We are not porting them, it's not uprezzing the texture or adding more polygons to the model. It's really rebuilding all these elements, shooting all the animations, et cetera.”
Campos-Oriola also said that the Dead Space remake will utilize the super-fast SSD storage available on PS5 and Xbox Series, creating a seamless experience from start to finish.
“We want to make that immersion even deeper with a fully interactive experience, from the start screen to the end credits. We don't want anything to pull you out of the experience and we don't want any cuts,” Campos Oriola said. “[The faster SSDs should mean] there's not going to be any loading. There's not going to be any moment where we're going to cut your experience, where we're going to cut your camera. You can play it from the start screen to the end credits seamlessly.”
The new Dead Space also features evolved dismemberment mechanics, a famed feature of the original. In the original, players could slice off limbs of the various Necromorphs that Isaac encountered. In an August 2021 livestream, EA Motive explained how this combat pillar will become gorier and evolve further via a new technique called ‘peeling’ – which is exactly what it sounds like.
In the remake, you’ll need to peel back the flesh of Isaac’s sinewy adversaries and expose the bone before you can lop off a leg or flailing arm like some sort of deranged surgeon. The ‘dynamic flesh peeling system’ acts as a damage indicator for when you’re using weapons that don’t revolve around amputation, like the pulse rifle. So, it should be more obvious when you’re about to finish off your foe – handy with ammo being so scarce.
It’s clear that peeling mechanic will impact how Dead Space plays. Campos-Oriola explained it should encourage players to use different weapons to get the job done. “For us what is interesting is this opens a whole new layer of shooting and combat loop, where you can have some weapons that are better at carving through the enemies and some that are better at cleaning them and removing their flesh.”
Dead Space remake: news and rumors
Want to know the latest Dead Space news and updates? We’ve gathered up all the big details you need to be aware of below, as well as information on the team making the game.
IGN reveals the first 18-minutes of Dead Space
As part of IGN First, EA showed off 18 minutes of Dead Space. You can watch the full thing by heading over to IGN's YouTube channel (opens in new tab) (opens in new link). The footage shows the opening of the game, following Isaac as he defends into the depths of the USS Ishimura.
Full voice cast revealed
EA has finally revealed the full voice cast for the Dead Space remake. Tanya Clarke is back as Nicole, having leant her voice and likeness to the character in Dead Space and Dead Space 2. You can view the full list in the Tweet embedded below.
Node 4 Unlocked 🔓Meet some of the talented voice actors bringing #DeadSpace to life:@tanyaclarke22 is Nicole Brennan@anthonyalabi is Zach Hammond@brigittekali is Kendra Daniels@farantahir_ is Challus MercerVisit The Bench on Instagram for more ➡️ https://t.co/lkQhjNqXio pic.twitter.com/99A6FLxVuDNovember 10, 2022
PC requirements revealed
The PC requirements for Dead Space remake have appeared on the Steam page for the game. Head here to check them out. (opens in new tab)
Dead Space remake will be designed with fan feedback in mind
In a move that's sure to please Dead Space fans, the team at Motive Studio has said that the community will be involved in actively helping guide the development process.
Speaking to IGN, senior producer of Dead Space Phillipe Ducharme said: “We don't want to be in siloed and create our own bubble of the game we're making. So from the conception, we've reached out to members of the community to create a community council to be a sounding board for what we were making. Making sure that if we're deciding to make a change, we want to be able to explain it and get told if, ‘No, what are you doing? What were you thinking? You're actually breaking the game, why are you changing this,'” Ducharme explained.
And it seems like the team has already benefited from this community-led approach.
“…we've received some extremely valid feedback from that group. We're trying to meet with them on a two, three-week basis to show them content and have that ongoing discussion. And they've had access, unfiltered access, to what we're making from a very early point in production,” Ducharme continued.
Having early feedback on the title will prove invaluable, according to Ducharme, who noted that fan feedback often comes when a game is almost done or already shipped. By striking up a constant dialog with fans, Ducharme believes the Dead Space remake will benefit greatly.
“Usually, when we receive feedback, the game is almost shipped or done and you're like, ‘Aw, I wish I knew that. I could have fixed this, what they're saying, that it's not good,’” Ducharme said.
Creative director Roman Campos-Oriola went on to say: “There's always that element of being a little scared of showing [your work], but like Phil said, what's really cool is you discover a thing that otherwise you might have discovered reading Reddit two weeks after launching the game,” Campos-Oriola said. “But also it's really energizing for the team… because when you show something and you get feedback and good reactions on what you're doing, it gives you that energy to go, “’Okay, that's cool. Let's keep pushing that.’”
Dead Space remake won't include microtransactions
Developer Motive Studio has said that the Dead Space remake won't include microtransactions, a controversial aspect of Dead Space 3 which arguably led to the series' downfall.
Speaking to IGN (opens in new tab), senior producer of Dead Space Phillipe Ducharme said: “We're also learning from mistakes such as microtransactions, which we will not have, for instance, in our game,” and reiterated that the team “never” has plans to introduce microtransactions in any way to the remake.
It's encouraging to see that EA is stepping back from its past trend of stuffing microtransactions into its games, something which Star Wars Battlefront 2 was heavily criticized for upon release.
Play the Dead Space series today
New to Dead Space and can't wait for the remake to release? You can play the entire series on EA Play, which is included as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Dead Space, Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3 are all available as part of the subscription on Xbox consoles and PC, so if you're curious about the series, you can give it a go before the remake releases.
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