Glen Schofield, the co-creator of the popular horror game series Dead Space, has revealed he recently pitched a concept for a fourth installment to Electronic Arts (EA). Despite his proposal, which he claims could save the company up to $40 million, EA declined the offer. Schofield remains hopeful that the franchise could be revived under new ownership following EA's pending sale.
Key Takeaways
- Glen Schofield, co-creator of Dead Space, has developed a concept for Dead Space 4.
- He presented his idea to EA, suggesting he could save the company $30 to $40 million on development.
- EA rejected the proposal, stating they were not interested in pursuing another Dead Space title at this time.
- Schofield believes EA's pending $55 billion sale could create an opportunity for another company to acquire the Dead Space IP.
- He also expressed his belief that the 2023 Dead Space remake was not financially successful for EA.
Schofield's Proposal to Electronic Arts
In a recent interview with IGN, Glen Schofield confirmed he is actively exploring ways to develop a new Dead Space game. "I'm already making calls," he stated, indicating his serious intent to continue the sci-fi horror series he helped create. His efforts included a direct approach to the franchise's current owner, Electronic Arts.
Schofield detailed his pitch to the publisher, which centered on efficiency and cost savings. He proposed reassembling the original leadership team and utilizing existing assets from the 2023 remake developed by EA Motive.
"I went to [EA] recently and they're like, 'No, we're not interested anymore,'" Schofield explained. "I said, I can get back the leadership team. I need the models from EA Motive... and I can save you 30 to 40 million dollars on the idea that I have."
Despite the potential for significant budget reductions, EA's response was definitive. According to Schofield, the company simply said, "no." This rejection suggests EA may have moved on from the franchise, at least for the foreseeable future.
Background on Schofield and Dead Space
Glen Schofield was a key figure in the creation of the original Dead Space, released in 2008. The game was a critical and commercial success, praised for its atmosphere and innovative gameplay. However, Schofield departed from the development team before the creation of Dead Space 2 and Dead Space 3.
EA's Pending Sale and the Franchise's Future
A major factor influencing Schofield's renewed interest is the pending sale of Electronic Arts. The publisher is in the process of a $55 billion acquisition by an investor consortium. This corporate shift, expected to be finalized in 2026, could lead to significant changes in EA's strategy and portfolio.
Schofield expressed optimism that this transition could benefit the Dead Space series. "I am more optimistic [since the sale of EA], because somebody new could buy [the Dead Space IP]," he said. The theory is that EA, which reportedly faces $20 billion in debt related to the sale, may look to sell off some of its intellectual properties to raise capital. This could open the door for another studio or publisher to acquire the rights to Dead Space.
This speculation is not limited to Dead Space. Reports have suggested that other major EA studios, such as BioWare, could also be considered for sale as part of the company's restructuring.
Views on the 2023 Remake and IP Expansion
In 2023, EA's Motive Studio released a full remake of the original Dead Space. While Schofield was not involved, he told VGC he played "just a little bit" of the game and enjoyed the experience. However, he also shared his belief that the remake did not meet EA's financial expectations.
Beyond Gaming
Schofield believes the Dead Space universe has significant potential outside of video games. He suggested that the franchise could thrive if it were adapted into film and television series, expanding its reach to a broader audience.
His assessment that the remake may have underperformed financially could explain EA's current reluctance to invest in a new title. High-budget horror games can be a commercial risk, and if the recent remake did not generate substantial profit, the publisher may be hesitant to fund another large-scale project in the series.
Schofield's Career Post-EA
After his initial work on Dead Space, Glen Schofield's career has taken him through several major game development studios. He joined Activision and co-founded Sledgehammer Games, where he contributed to the Call of Duty franchise.
In 2019, he established a new company, Striking Distance Studios. Under his leadership, the studio developed and released The Callisto Protocol in 2022, a space-horror game that drew many comparisons to his work on Dead Space. Following his departure from Striking Distance, Schofield is now a director at Pinstripe Games.
His continued passion for the genre and the Dead Space IP is evident. While EA has currently closed the door on his proposal, the changing landscape of the video game industry and EA's own corporate future mean the possibility of a Dead Space 4 remains, even if it is uncertain.