Paranormal Activity game dead after Paramount refuses to give legendary Mortuary Assistant dev more time to make it "the best it could possibly be"

Paranormal Activity: Threshold has been one of the most promising upcoming horror games on my radar since it was revealed back in 2024, and so it's with great sadness that I'm now reporting on its complete cancellation.

Brian Clarke, the legendary horror indie developer behind 2022 mortician simulator The Mortuary Assistant, took to social media to share the incredibly disappointing news of Paranormal Activity: Threshold's cancelation. The thing that makes this all the more stinging to digest is that the issue wasn't a lack of interest or direction on Clarke's part – it was license holder Paramount denying Clarke the additional time he felt he needed to deliver on his vision for the game.

"It's no secret that game development means constant change and challenges especially as a solo indie," Clarke wrote. "It became clear that the game needed more time to ensure it was the best it could possibly be. [Publisher] DreadXP stood by my need for more time and, together, we made a request to Paramount for a time extension."

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Unfortunately, according to Clarke, "Paramount did not agree to extend development," which left the developer with "two choices: Rush through development and release a sub-par product I would not be proud of or request we go our separate ways." Clark "chose the latter."

While I selfishly wish Clarke was able to ditch the Paranormal Activity association and continue making the game with a new title and world, it seems he's moving on from the project entirely, adding, "DreadXP stood by me every step of the way and we parted ways with Paramount amicably. It was an honor to even be considered to work on an IP I love so much."

The Mortuary Assistant is a fantastic horror game that didn't deserve the middling 2026 movie adaptation it got, and Paranormal Activity, despite its inconsistency as a film series, is one of my favorite modern horror franchises and one I deeply feel is ripe for a game adaptation. Clarke's involvement seemed ideal, which makes this news a huge bummer, but I take some solace in him saying he's "not going anywhere."

"I may need a small vacation, but I am excited and eager to return to my corner of horror that you all have so generously allowed me to occupy."

Here are the best horror games you should be playing in 2026.