It's fair to say that over the next few months, horror game fans are going to have a lot of content on their hands. Between the likes of The Callisto Protocol and a host of titles aiming for this year’s Halloween, players looking for scares and suspense are going to be spoiled for choice. One game that arguably stands out from that crowd is EA's Dead Space remake. That's because, after years of demand, the Isaac Clarke-helmed series is finally getting the resurrection it deserves.
However, the horror genre’s current renaissance isn’t the only phenomenon that the gaming industry has been experiencing lately. Thanks to a concentrated effort from several publishers and developers, there’s been a real push for increased inclusivity as well. Games like The Last of Us Part 1 have placed a spotlight on modern accessibility options to help make this happen, and EA’s upcoming Dead Space remake is one of the latest games to confirm that it will also be getting in on the progressive movement.
Accessible Dismemberment
When it comes to the Dead Space remake’s confirmed accessibility options, concrete details are still few and far between right now. With over 5 months to go until the game’s expected January release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, it stands to reason that Motive Studio is keeping most of its cards close to its chest while it finalizes development. During an interview with IGN back in 2021 though, the game’s Creative Director Roman Campos-Oriola did confirm one area that will definitely feature options that enhance inclusivity.
While Campos-Oriola was discussing the Dead Space remake’s gameplay improvements, the Creative Director made a point to say that the studio has been hard at work making this aspect of the game accessible for more players. Although specific details as to how Motive Studio plans to achieve this are vague at this point, it was then confirmed that the series’ famous dismemberment mechanics will be improved along these lines. Considering how Isaac’s ability to chop Necromorphs into pieces is one of the Dead Space series’ biggest selling points, this revelation will likely be welcomed by plenty of fans.
Even though Motive Studio hasn’t discussed the specific options it's working on, it’s possible to speculate on some of the avenues it could potentially go down. For example, aim assists and slow motion options both feel like safe bets that could help a lot of players. Beyond those, it's possible that a Colorblind Mode will be on the studio’s wishlist as well. Highlighting enemies against the dark backgrounds of the USG Ishimura could allow visually impaired players to get in on the action more.
Motive Studio’s Accessibility Pledge
Although it’s easy to get caught up in visual and mechanical updates, improved accessibility options are often some of the biggest benefits that a video game remake can explore. It can’t be understated just how important these modernized settings can be, as they frequently end up opening an experience to millions of players for the very first time. Based on interviews that developers from EA’s Motive Studio have taken part in, it sounds as though the development team is acutely aware of this.
During the same interview where he revealed how accessibility options are going to be a part of the Dead Space remake's gameplay mechanics, it was reiterated by Campos-Oriola that the studio is taking the concept to heart more broadly speaking. One of the core principles that has driven Motive Studio’s efforts is a desire to utilize technology to implement features that weren’t possible 14 years ago when the original game launched. Although nothing concrete was confirmed at the time, 3D audio was name checked prominently.
This suggests that accessibility options for hearing impaired players will be part of the Dead Space remake’s suite of settings. Considering how being able to hear the game’s Necromorphs is a big part of its survival horror charm, it’s easy to imagine something like a Fortnite-style audio visualizer potentially being added. With rumors circulating right now that EA is gearing up to talk about the survival horror game soon, hopefully fans won’t have to wait much longer for more details to be confirmed.
Dead Space will release on January 27, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.