Key Highlights:
- The Into The Madness trailer focuses on Derceto Manor, its residents and the different experiences awaiting Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood.
- Creative director Mikael Hedberg described Derceto as central to Alone in the Dark because the game is fundamentally a haunted-mansion story.
- Residents react differently depending on the chosen protagonist, with Edward and Emily also experiencing different scenes during the story.
With its March 20 launch approaching, a new Alone in the Dark trailer turned the spotlight on Derceto Manor, its unusual residents and the different ways they respond to Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood.
Released by THQ Nordic on February 28, 2024, the Into The Madness trailer combines new footage with comments from creative director Mikael Hedberg, Jodie Comer and David Harbour about the importance of Derceto to the story.
Hedberg explained that the location sits at the core of the game because Alone in the Dark is fundamentally a haunted-mansion story. Recreating Derceto was therefore an important part of Pieces Interactive’s re-imagining rather than simply providing a backdrop for combat and puzzles.
Derceto is a home for the mentally fatigued in 1920s Louisiana, where Emily arrives in search of her missing uncle, Jeremy Hartwood. Private investigator Edward accompanies her, bringing the pair into contact with the manor’s residents as the boundary between reality and increasingly nightmarish environments begins to break down.
Those encounters also change depending on the protagonist.
Residents can react differently to Edward and Emily, while the two characters experience different scenes as their respective versions of the mystery unfold. The game’s official site goes further, confirming that their perspectives include completely different cutscenes and levels.
That gives a second playthrough more purpose than simply selecting another character model. Edward approaches Derceto as an outsider hired to investigate Jeremy’s disappearance, while Emily enters with a personal connection to both her uncle and the Hartwood family.
Players deciding which perspective to experience first can read our guide on whether to choose Edward or Emily in Alone in the Dark.
The trailer arrived less than three weeks before release. Alone in the Dark had previously been delayed to March 20, 2024 to avoid potential Christmas crunch at Pieces Interactive, and that final date ultimately held.
Alone in the Dark launched on March 20 for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
