Independent horror titles continue to surprise fans with their quality and reverence for inspirational games that preceded them. Likewise, AAA horror continues to draw inspiration from that which came before it, and will likely continue to influence how horror is managed in the future. Seminal horror will always leave its mark on gaming, with such franchises to consider includingSilent Hill,Resident Evil, andDead Space.
Visceral Games and EA’sDead Spaceis an over-the-shoulder survival-horror game that puts a Plasma Cutter in the hands of the player. Lowly engineer Isaac Clarke must survive necrotic terrors within the USG Ishimura, which establishes the science-fiction setting for one of horror’s most inspired games. Fifteen years later,Dead Spacewill now be receiving an overhauled remake. Meanwhile,Dead Spaceco-creator Glen Schofield is developing a new IP,The Callisto Protocol, that bears significant resemblance toDead Spaceand may also set a precedent for current-gen horror.
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Most remakes come with an attached footnote of remastered graphics with not much else of a worthwhile change from their original games. Remakes are also lambasted when they concern games that fans believe are not already outdated or inferior, therefore making the idea of them being remade redundant or superfluous. TheDead Spaceremake, however, is making a laundry list of technologically advanced changes that seem to be overhauling the entire experience and modernizing it for next-gen platforms.
Besides detailed flesh degradation on necromorph limbs,theDead Spaceremake is also monitoring adaptive limbic responseswith the ALIVE system to create more authentic expressions for Isaac. This remake seems like it is being made with the utmost respect for the original’s claustrophobic and intimate corridors with impressive lighting, all while maintaining the original’s atmosphere and horror and accentuating it without altering it.
June’s Summer Game Fest proved thatscience-fiction horror is clearly having a resurgence in gaming recently, withFort Solis,Routine, andThe Callisto Protocolbeing featured. Even if the IP ofDead Spaceitself does not influence other horror games in the future, horror games should definitely take note on how theDead Spaceremake is iterating upon the original to create an authentic next-gen experience.
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The Callisto Protocol May Inspire New Horror IPs in the Midst of Remakes
The Callisto Protocolearns its undeniable resemblances toDead Spaceas Striking Distance Studios’ Glen Schofield is helming it. The game will also be iterating uponDead Spacein ways that distinguish it independently, such asThe Callisto Protocol’s emphasis on melee combat.
Remakes for popular games such asDead Spacehave become incredibly abundant as a recent trend where IPs can now be revived and hopefully improved upon to generate a wider and newer audience on current-gen platforms, while also implying that the remake will reinvigorate the franchise in some way and lead to more sequels. This is a clear agenda for Capcom andResident Evil, and while there is presently no indication thatDead Spacewill receive a fifth installment or revival entry any time soon, it is certainly possible that the remake’s success will lead to that.
Rather,The Callisto Protocoldepicts the potential for new IPsin the survival-horror and action-horror genres. Some fans are more excited to return to the Ishimura, while others may be excited to experience a new science-fiction horror world with its own surprises.
Now that the capabilities of next-gen gaming have arrived, it will be interesting to see howThe Callisto Protocoland other new IPs iterate upon popular mechanics in horror. Remakes will likely always be lucrative for developers and publishers, butThe Callisto Protocolwill hopefully illustrate how new IPs can be just as beloved and seminal.
The Callisto Protocolis scheduled to release Jun 04, 2025, on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
