Developer Motive Studios has promised to “honor the legacy” of the originalDead Spaceas it continues moving forward toward the release of its remake. It’s a precarious position for any game developer to find itself in. Not only isDead Spaceseen as one of the best modern horror games ever made, but it’s less than 15 years old. It can still be purchased and played with ease on PC and consoles. HonoringDead Space’s legacy is all but expected, but also just one part of making the remake a success.The idea that Motive wants to embrace, according toDead Space’s creative director Roman Campos-Oriola, is the contradictory mesh ofDead Spacefeeling both familiar and new. The experience, says Campos-Oriola, should be one of rediscoveringDead Space"as if for the first time." However, it should also feel “familiar and recognizable.” It’s what could be an impossible task, but it’s something that Motive has decided to work its hardest to make true.RELATED:EA to Reveal More on Dead Space Remake Soon"First, we honor the legacy," ofDead Space, is the promise that Campos-Oriola makes to the fans of the original game. Motive will do this by looking at the original game with the “utmost respect,” a view necessary to maintain authenticity. Thefoundations of theDead Spaceremakewill, as a result, be the same as that of the originalDead Space. Campos-Oriola believes thatDead Spaceis “iconic” for many fans, even going so far as to call those fans a cult following.
From that foundation, Motive will focus on making “several enhancements” to theDead Spaceexperience that will make it enticing both to new and old players. Some of these enhancements are obvious and make perfect sense, like giving theDead Spaceremake a complete overhaul in modern visuals. Other changes are riskier, like expanding the lore within the game to include references to material fromDead Space 2,Dead Space 3, and even theDead Spacecomic books.
Suffice to say, while there’s a reverence for the originalDead Space, the new game isn’t accurately described as an authentic recreation. In Campos-Oriola’s own words, Motive started with theoriginalDead Space, but the ultimate product will see Motive “giving you a lot more.”
Campos-Oriola wants theDead Spaceremake the “definitive Dead Space experience,” in that it’s the same experience as the originalDead Space. But that it also plays, looks, and sounds like a modern game – and maybe leaves the door open formoreDead Spaceprojects in the future.
Dead Spacereleases June 23, 2025, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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