EA Squashes Rumours of Cancelled Dead Space 2 Remake

Key Highlights:

• EA has denied reports of a Dead Space 2 remake being in development at their Motive studio before being cancelled.
• Journalists had claimed Motive was working on concepts for a Dead Space 2 remake, but it was shelved due to poor sales of the previous Dead Space remake.
• However, EA has firmly stated there is “no validity” to these rumours, with Motive confirming they never actually considered remaking Dead Space 2.
• Despite the original reports, it seems EA Motive is now fully focused on supporting the Battlefield franchise and continuing work on their upcoming Iron Man game.

In the funny old world of video game remakes and reboots, rumours can often swirl about projects that may or may not be in development. However, when it comes to the popular Dead Space franchise, EA has moved quickly to shut down any speculation about a potential remake of the second game in the series.

Recently, reports emerged claiming that EA’s Motive studio, the team behind the critically acclaimed Dead Space remake released earlier this year, had been working on concepts for a remake of Dead Space 2 before ultimately shelving the project.

The reasoning, according to the rumours, was due to the first remake’s supposedly “lackluster” sales performance.

[Game Mess Mornings]

According to @JeffGrubb, EA Motive was working on a 'Dead Space 2' Remake which was in concept phase but got cancelled/shelved because of the lackluster sales of the first Remake.

They are now working on Iron Man and Battlefield.https://t.co/iqv0EGNXJX pic.twitter.com/LziW0qx72X

— Knoebel (@Knoebelbroet) April 10, 2024

But EA has firmly refuted these claims, with a spokesperson telling the gaming news outlet IGN that “we don’t normally comment on rumours, but there is no validity to this story.”

This strong denial from the company has been further corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier, who stated that while Motive did spend some time “conceiving ideas for a new entry in the series,” none of these were ever officially greenlit.

Instead, the team shifted its focus to exploring other projects, with the “bulk of the developers who worked on Dead Space” moving on to different assignments.

So, for now, it seems the hopes of Dead Space fans to see a remake of the beloved second instalment in the series have been dashed.

EA Motive appears to be fully committed to supporting the Battlefield franchise and continuing the development of their upcoming Iron Man game, with no plans for a Dead Space 2 remake on the horizon.

The Success of the Dead Space Remake

While the news of a potential Dead Space 2 remake being shelved may disappoint some fans, it’s important to note that the recent remake of the original title has been widely praised and commercially successful.

Released in early 2023, the Dead Space remake earned strong reviews from critics, who praised its visual fidelity and the creative ways in which it expanded upon the original’s narrative and gameplay.

In fact, the remake was the best-selling new game in the United States in January of this year, a testament to its popularity among both new and returning players.

However, there have been some reports suggesting that the remake may have missed internal sales targets at EA.

While the company has not released official sales figures, it’s clear that the reboot’s performance, while positive, may not have fully met the publisher’s expectations.

They’re not a company to mess around in the gaming industry, with the publisher constantly shutting down servers and switching between titles that follow the trend.

Motive’s Future Focus: Battlefield and Iron Man

With the Dead Space 2 remake rumours now put to rest, it’s evident that EA Motive’s focus is firmly on other projects.

The studio has announced that it is forming a new team to support “single-player and multiplayer objectives for the Battlefield Universe.”

This suggests that the Battlefield franchise, which has long been a cornerstone of Electronic Arts portfolio, will be a key priority for Motive going forward.

The studio’s expertise in creating immersive, narrative-driven experiences could potentially breathe new life into the Battlefield series, which has faced its fair share of challenges in recent years.

Alongside their Battlefield efforts, Motive has also reaffirmed that the development of their upcoming Iron Man game which will be made using Unreal Engine 5 remains an “important priority.”

While details on this project remain scarce, the studio’s commitment to the Marvel superhero title indicates that they are diversifying their portfolio beyond the Dead Space and Battlefield franchises.

Despite the disappointment surrounding the apparent cancellation of a Dead Space 2 remake, the future of the series remains uncertain.

Fans of the franchise will no doubt be hoping that the series’ compelling blend of survival horror and sci-fi storytelling will eventually find its way back into the spotlight, but they may have to wait a little longer before any concrete plans are revealed.