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Rumors are that Electronic Arts is looking to expand Dead Space beyond the claustrophobic survival-horror of its first three outings, reports Kotaku. An “insider” within EA says new management within the company, having considered axing the cult series, will now be going ahead with Dead Space 3 – but that once that game's done, plans are afoot to develop the property beyond its signature third-person claustrophobia.
Above: Isaac might not be around too much longer, but the handsome devils on the right are keepers
Series protagonist Isaac Clarke will stay on for one more adventure, says the source, with Dead Space 3 to be set in a snowy ice-world to provide contrast with the games' signature darkened corridors. However, just as Clarke was absent from spinoffs Dead Space: Extraction and Ignition, so further titles will feature other characters within the Dead Space universe.
These new adventures will most likely branch out into genres such as FPS, spaceflight, and Uncharted-esque action-adventure, with EA's new management reportedly keeping a tighter eye on the bottom line and focusing on genres which sell well and achieve high brand recognition. It's easy to see the success of Drake's Deception as a contemporary example of what a tentpole franchise ought to look like – and while that series' rollicking adventure might not be exactly what Dead Space fans look for in a game, requesting an “Uncharted-like” title from the Dead Space team may be a prescription for exactly the sort of inventiveness the series is known for. Then again, Dead Space 2 was pretty Uncharted-like already, so we're not too sure what else they can do besides giving Isaac a half-tucked shirt.
Where would you like to see the series go next? Strategy? RPG (again)? Worst-case scenario, Isaac Clarke crops up in a go-kart – which, come on, would actually be pretty adorable.
