EA Rejected Dead Space 4 Proposal from Original Creators

The Long-Awaited Dream: Dead Space 4

Fans of the Dead Space franchise have been eagerly anticipating the release of Dead Space 4 ever since the third installment debuted over a decade ago. The excitement surrounding a new sequel faced significant setbacks, particularly after the closure of Visceral Games in October 2017 during the development of the Star Wars project, codenamed Ragtag. However, hopes were briefly revived with the release of a critically acclaimed remake of the original game by Motive Studios in early 2023. Unfortunately, disappointing sales figures led publisher EA to shelve the franchise once more.

Original Creators’ Bold Proposal

In a recent video interview with YouTuber Dan Allen Gaming, the original creators of the Dead Space series—Bret Robbins, Glen Schofield, and Christopher Stone—shared that they had pitched the idea of Dead Space 4 to Electronic Arts in 2024. Their proposal, however, did not gain traction.

Glen Schofield: “We tried, actually, you know, the three of us, for Dead Space 4. I mean, we’re talking this year. We didn’t go too deep; they just said we’re not interested right now, we appreciate it, blah blah blah. We know who to talk to, so we didn’t go and take it any further, and we respected their opinion. They know their numbers and what they have to ship and all that, so yeah.”

Christopher Stone: “The industry is in a weird place right now, and people are really hesitant to take chances on things, so you got to, you know, take it with a grain of salt. Who knows, maybe one day. I think we’d all love to do Dead Space 4.”

The timing of their pitch might have been too soon after the lackluster performance of the remake. The trio was motivated to pursue the sequel as they were all available, each having faced challenges with their recent projects. Bret Robbins, who founded Ascendant Studios, served as Game Director for Immortals of Aveum, a title that struggled significantly upon release, culminating in widespread layoffs. Similarly, Glen Schofield and Christopher Stone, who were involved with Striking Distance Studios on The Callisto Protocol, experienced disappointing results relative to their expectations.

Current Endeavors of the Creators

As of September 2023, all three creators have moved on to new ventures:

Bret Robbins – Joined Absurd Ventures, a studio founded in 2021 by Rockstar’s Dan Houser, as Game Director on an undisclosed project.
Christopher Stone – Took on the role of Studio General Manager at VOID Interactive, the team behind the tactical FPS game Ready or Not, in August.
Glen Schofield – Working on a smaller, yet exciting project where he serves as executive producer, seeking funding while embarking on this new creative journey.

Glen Schofield: “I have been working on a smaller project. We’re trying to get funding right now. It’s a pretty exciting project. It’s smaller, and I’m not directing; I’m going to be executive producing it. When you hear what it’s about, if we get the funding, you’ll understand. It’s something kind of special for me.”

Given their current commitments, it appears it will take time before the creators can once again approach EA with the prospect of Dead Space 4. Although fans might need to brace for an extended wait, the intention to eventually create this long-desired sequel remains intact—pending the will of EA, of course.

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