Recently, Dead Space has once again been a topic of discussion with the release of a Dead Space-themed crossover update in Battlefield 2042’s Season 7: Turning Point. With this new update, Dead Space fans have once again brought up the possibility of EA working on a Dead Space 2 remake following the successful release of the Dead Space 1 remake in 2023. Before a Dead Space 2 remake is developed, however, there’s one other past Dead Space entry that could be remade in a new, exciting way to attract fans new and old. This is a virtual reality (VR) remake of Dead Space: Extraction.
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Dead Space: Extraction Explained
Following the successful release of the original Dead Space in 2008, EA Redwood Shores, later rebranded as Visceral Games, was tasked with developing a Mature-rated game for the then relatively new Nintendo Wii console. According to Extraction’s producer Steve Papoutsis, the decision to make a Dead Space game for the Wii was in response to Shores’ interest in developing a game that was “intuitive and fun” for Wii owners. However, hardware limitations forced Extraction to have lower quality graphics than its predecessor and be locked into an on-rails shooter, first-person perspective. Despite these issues, Dead Space: Extraction debuted worldwide in 2009 and would later be ported to the PlayStation 3 in 2011 for its motion controlled PlayStation Move interface.
Set a couple of weeks before the events of Dead Space 1, Extraction details the retrieval of the Red Marker from Aegis 7 and the beginning of the Necromorph outbreak on both the planet and the orbiting Ishimura Planet Cracker ship. Unlike Dead Space 1, however, Extraction features multiple playable protagonists, including Engineer Sam Caldwell, Detective Nathan McNeill, Doctor Karen Howell, and Sergeant Gabe Weller. Together alongside Concordance Extraction Corporation (CEC) Surveyor Lexine Murdoch and CEC Executive Director of Colonial Mining Affairs Warren Eckhardt, the group struggle to survive against the growing Necromorph horde as they attempt to help other survivors and escape.
References to Eckhardt, McNeill, Murdoch, and Weller can be found in the Dead Space remake in the text log Unexpected Visitors, which is automatically added to players’ inventory when playing New Game+.
Dead Space: Extraction’s VR Remake Potential
Being a first person rail shooter, not a lot of control is available for players in Extraction beyond shooting Necromorphs and crazed humans. While Extraction is made with a set path for players to view, there are weapons, logs, and ammo players can pick up throughout the game. This often kept players from not focusing on discussions between characters and instead worrying about missing out on some items if not paying attention to the background. If Dead Space: Extraction is remade in VR, players could move freely in the game and allow them to look around areas without fear of missing out on items or dialogue.
A VR remake could further improve Extraction’s gameplay in terms of combat. In most instances, Extraction will have players stand still and attempt to shoot as many Necromorphs as they can. However, due to the on-rail nature of Extraction, it’s often difficult to tell how close Necromorphs are to players or if Necromorphs are at a safe distance away to not get hit by them. With a VR remake, players could be able to run away from Necromorphs or better position themselves for brief firefights. This could additionally allow for more hectic fight scenarios with Necromorphs overwhelming the player instead of waiting for the player to kill every single one in short sections before moving on.
Dead Space: Extraction VR’s Graphical Potential
EA’s Motive Studio could be selected to develop the Dead Space: Extraction VR remake based on their prior game experience. In addition to developing the Dead Space 1 remake, Motive developed 2020’s Star Wars: Squadrons, which had the option to be played in VR. Motive could use their VR experience and assets from the Dead Space 1 remake to develop Extraction VR. This could make the horrific beginning of the Necromorph outbreak in Extraction one of the most grotesque and terrifying events portrayed in the entirety of the Dead Space franchise.
Dead Space (2023)
Dead Space (2023) is a new-age remake of the iconic 2008 survival horror masterpiece. The title is seeing revamped graphics, tuned gameplay elements, and more courtesy of EA Motive. Players will once again step into the shoes of engineer Isaac Clarke as he battles against terrifying enemies.
Survival Horror
- Franchise
- Dead Space
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , PC , PlayStation 5
- Released
- January 27, 2023
- Developer(s)
- EA Motive
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- ESRB
- Rated M for Mature for Blood and Gore, Strong Language, and Intense Violence.
- How Long To Beat
- 12 Hours
- X|S Enhanced
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 31 GB (November 2023)
- Metascore
- 89
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Games
- Dead Space
- Dead Space (2023)
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