Dead Space is dead again, and this time it might be permanent. According to Mike Straw from Insider Gaming, EA has officially put the Dead Space franchise on ice with zero plans to bring it back in the near future. All internal messaging within the company points to the IP being shelved indefinitely, and with current leadership showing no interest in reviving the series, employees don’t expect it to be picked up whatsoever. The only glimmer of hope? Some people inside EA are reportedly hoping leadership will sell the IP to recoup costs once Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund completes its acquisition of the company.
What Went Wrong With Dead Space
The Dead Space remake launched in January 2023 to critical acclaim and solid commercial performance by most standards. It topped sales charts in both the United States and United Kingdom during its first month, becoming one of the best-selling horror games in the UK. The game sold over 2 million copies, which would typically be considered a success, especially for a horror title with an estimated production budget of around $60 million. Critics praised the remake for its faithful yet enhanced recreation of the 2008 original, and fans genuinely loved it.
But EA expected more. Much more. The company reportedly anticipated around 5 million sales for the remake, despite the original Dead Space only selling about 1 million copies in its lifetime (with Dead Space 2 reaching 4 million). When the remake failed to meet those inflated expectations, EA shelved plans for a Dead Space 2 remake. Jeff Grubb reported in April 2024 that EA Motive was working on Dead Space 2 in the concept phase but cancelled it due to what EA internally described as lackluster sales of the first remake.
The Saudi Arabia Connection
EA is currently in the process of being acquired by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in a massive $55 billion leveraged buyout announced in October 2025. According to filings with Brazil’s antitrust regulator, the PIF will own a staggering 93.4% of EA once the deal closes, with Silver Lake controlling 5.5% and Affinity Partners holding just 1.1%. The acquisition includes $36.4 billion in equity funding and approximately $20 billion in debt.
The deal is expected to close by the end of June 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approval. The PIF has been interested in EA for years, having purchased securities since 2020 and currently holding 9.9% of the company’s shares before this acquisition. The fund’s financial situation reportedly isn’t great right now, and that’s where Dead Space comes in. Insiders quoted by Straw suggest some EA employees hope the new ownership will sell off underperforming IP like Dead Space to raise capital and recoup costs.
EA’s Pattern of Franchise Mismanagement
Dead Space is far from the first beloved franchise EA has killed through unrealistic expectations. The publisher has a long history of acquiring studios with passionate fanbases, setting impossible sales targets, and then shuttering the franchises when they inevitably fall short. Visceral Games, the original creator of Dead Space, was closed by EA in 2017 after the company cancelled their single-player Star Wars game because it wasn’t a live service title that could generate ongoing revenue.
The problem with Dead Space specifically is that horror games have a built-in audience ceiling. Horror is a niche genre that rarely reaches blockbuster status, and the original Dead Space trilogy never sold at Call of Duty or FIFA levels. Expecting a horror remake to suddenly quintuple the sales of the original game shows a fundamental disconnect between EA’s financial expectations and market reality. The remake did its job by bringing Dead Space to a new generation and selling respectably, but in EA’s eyes, respectable isn’t enough.
What Happens to Isaac Clarke Now
With Dead Space officially on ice and EA Motive fully committed to developing Iron Man and supporting the next Battlefield, the franchise’s future looks bleak. Series creator Glen Schofield expressed interest in pitching Dead Space 4 to EA following the Saudi acquisition, but based on Straw’s reporting, that pitch either didn’t happen or was immediately rejected. The Callisto Protocol, Schofield’s spiritual successor to Dead Space, sold similar numbers to the remake (around 2 million copies) but was considered a failure due to its much higher $162 million budget.
If EA does decide to sell the Dead Space IP, potential buyers would likely be smaller publishers or indie studios that understand the franchise’s actual market value. A company like Krafton, Focus Entertainment, or even a resurgent THQ Nordic could potentially give Dead Space the attention it deserves without expecting it to compete with mainstream AAA blockbusters. However, EA has historically been reluctant to sell IP even when they have no intention of using it, preferring to let franchises rot in their vault rather than potentially create competition.
FAQs
Is Dead Space 2 remake cancelled?
Yes. Jeff Grubb reported in April 2024 that EA Motive was working on a Dead Space 2 remake in the concept phase, but it was cancelled or shelved due to what EA called lackluster sales of the first remake. EA Motive is now focused on Iron Man and Battlefield support.
How many copies did the Dead Space remake sell?
The Dead Space remake sold over 2 million copies according to multiple reports. It was the best-selling new game in the United States in January 2023 and topped UK sales charts. However, EA reportedly expected around 5 million sales.
Will EA sell the Dead Space IP?
Possibly. According to Mike Straw, some employees inside EA are hoping leadership will sell the IP to recoup costs once Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund completes its acquisition of the company. However, nothing has been officially announced.
When will the Saudi Arabia EA acquisition close?
The $55 billion acquisition by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is expected to close by the end of June 2026, pending regulatory approval and shareholder vote. The PIF will own 93.4% of EA once the deal is finalized.
What is EA Motive working on now?
EA Motive is currently developing an Iron Man game and providing support for the next Battlefield title. The studio has no plans to work on Dead Space projects in the foreseeable future.
Why did the Dead Space remake fail to meet expectations?
The remake didn’t fail commercially, selling over 2 million copies and topping sales charts. EA’s expectations were simply unrealistic. The company expected around 5 million sales for a horror remake when the original game only sold about 1 million copies lifetime.
Could Dead Space 4 still happen?
Extremely unlikely. Series creator Glen Schofield expressed interest in pitching Dead Space 4 to EA, but Mike Straw reports that EA has zero plans to bring back Dead Space in the near future. The IP is officially on ice with no active development.
Conclusion
The Dead Space situation perfectly encapsulates everything wrong with modern AAA game publishing. EA took a franchise with a dedicated but modest fanbase, created an excellent remake that performed well commercially, and then killed it anyway because it didn’t magically transform into a mass-market blockbuster. The remake sold more than twice what the original managed, satisfied critics and fans alike, and likely turned a profit given its reasonable budget. But in EA’s world, profit isn’t enough. You need astronomical returns or you’re a failure. Now Dead Space sits frozen in EA’s IP vault alongside dozens of other beloved franchises the company refuses to use but won’t let anyone else touch. Maybe Saudi Arabia’s acquisition will shake things loose and someone who actually cares about horror gaming can give Isaac Clarke another chance. But don’t hold your breath.