Dead Space developer working on new IP

By Fred Dutton Published 23 January, 2012

"Thrilling online action shooter" coming from Visceral.

Visceral Games, the studio behind the Dead Space franchise and God of War pretender Dante's Inferno, is working on a brand new IP.

According to a job advertisement spotted by OXM, the EA subsidiary needs "a lead multiplayer designer to help create a thrilling online action shooter game."

"This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a bold new franchise which is a cornerstone for a new EA Games Studio," the listing added.

Visceral's only recent foray into online gaming - Dead Space 2's multiplayer mode - wasn't met with a great deal of enthusiasm.

Recent reports also suggest that Visceral is hard at work on a third installment in the Dead Space franchise, as well as a possible FPS spin-off.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 4 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kenichi-san #1 4 months ago

    Why online?... why?

  • Haroldinho41 #2 4 months ago

    Why action shooter? ...why?

  • seeafish #3 4 months ago

    Why anything?

  • BigDannyH #4 4 months ago

    I really enjoyed both Dead Space games. One of the better new IPs of the last few years.

    Also both were very well polished games. Had excellent UI, solid mechanics and minimal load times (masked by doors opening). I'd definitely take a look at their next offering.

  • Syrette #5 4 months ago

    Wahey!

    Let me guess, it's another co-op FPS. Just what the market is crying out for. Get in.

  • Machetazo #6 4 months ago

    Any idea of how there will be another EA Games studio. A cornerstone game - I thought those were designated after the place is known. The term puts me off. It's like they're using the game to sell people on the studio. I'd sooner they focus on making the best game. Who are they likely to staff it with?

  • Slipstream #7 4 months ago

    Well if they think they can refresh the genre with something new then by all means do try, Many were rather impressed with Dead Space so at the very least give them the benefit of the doubt.

  • Mister-Wario #8 4 months ago

    Why is it always a shooter or action game that these studios announce next? Why can't they surprise and say something like "instead of doing a gritty first-person shooter, we're making a game where a chef rolls a giant salami down a motorway"? Or something equally left-field.

  • MrWonderstuff #9 4 months ago

    Oh well...those who shout loudest...bet there were scores of people after multiplayer Dead Space.

  • wattsn26 #10 4 months ago

    As if there weren't enough shooters already.....
    -Call of Duty
    -Halo
    -Resistance
    -Killzone
    -Battlefield
    -Medal of Honor
    -Homefront
    -Crysis

    We definitely could use a few more *sarcasm*

  • kinky_mong #11 4 months ago

    Poor game developers, they get whinged at if they announce a sequel, and now they get whinged at for announcing a new IP because it isn't some obscure genre that only 10 people care about.

    Reading comments from gamers with such a deluded sense of entitlement really makes me loathe sharing a hobby with them.

  • madjim #12 4 months ago

    There is no need to complain and fill with negativity some news coming from a great developer. I have no interest in online multiplayer games, but that doesn't mean the game won't be good or even great. Let's wait and see. Surely those guys deserve some trust.

  • oceanmotion #13 4 months ago

    Next years headline....EA closes Visceral Games.

    Do you really think they are going to care when they have Battlefield, Medal of Honor and the ex Infinity Ward devs new IP.

    Best of luck but if this isn't an instant hit, goodnight Visceral Games.

  • Machetazo #14 4 months ago

    @kinky_mong "Reading comments from gamers with such a deluded sense of entitlement really makes me loathe sharing a hobby with them. "

    point of SATURATION. When gamers say they've played enough, or own enough of one style of game, and would prefer to try something else...As unreasonable as that sounds.

    The post says "franchise", so may indicate existing IP...Mercenaries (inc.)?

  • Machetazo #15 4 months ago

    Visceral and Mercenaries. That's a good match, and it's said that when Pandemic were closed they had several projects of that series in development. It fits the description. Although it could always be something different altogether.

  • Architect_z #16 4 months ago

    Make a 6 player online co-op Dead Space, like Res Evil 6. ^_^

  • apoc_reg #17 4 months ago

    Wow... a online shooter, that's what the world needs. Can't people have a little originality!?

  • Po1ymorph #18 4 months ago

    If it is "a bold new franchise" then I'll be interested.

    But if it's a case of "Hey that Call Of Duty sell's a lot, lets just copy that and surely we'll see those sales figures too?" then I'm out.
    Edited by Po1ymorph at 23/01/12 @ 19:34

  • Derblington #19 4 months ago

    @Mister-Wario

    Because that's the way, with EA, the publishing labels divide up the studios - they work in the label that makes the shooting action games.

  • DiGiTALiZ3D #20 4 months ago

    Why not just wait and see before jumping on the "crybaby wagon"? I mean, we know almost NOTHING about this upcoming game yet. Just because they're making a online shooter doesn't mean there is no room for innovation and a possibilty for something fresh that does not copy COD/GoW/BF3.

    Splinter Cell also had multiplayer part that you could call a online shooter. But was it a clone of every other game out there? Absolutely not. So, I will personally wait for some more info before I pass judgement blindly like some other on this site.

  • Diogo_Ribeiro #21 4 months ago

    "Press RT for American History X"

  • Slipstream #22 4 months ago

    After reading the majority of these comments perhaps they should've said nothing and surprised you lot with a reveal instead.

  • mr2ange #23 4 months ago

    Hope all goes well,

    Dead Space 1 was better though, imo

  • ronecvan_is_here #24 4 months ago

    @kinky_mong, it puts other gamers in qqual disgust when you don't care about a talented studio being forced into a saturated market that is full of Doom clones, surely an 'obscure genre' is better than another shooter with co-op mechanics, and in game text saying 'press R1/RB to shoot.

  • triple_a #25 4 months ago

    One can always hope that the online shooter in the ad is referring to the online component of a single player game.

    I really hope that is the case. I enjoy good, solid and engaging singleplayer experienses that allow me to immerse in the game. I don't get that immersion with multiplayer games.

  • metroid455 #26 4 months ago

    wow just what the gaming market needs ANOTHER SHOOTER ugh I don't think so -__-
    Edited by metroid455 at 24/01/12 @ 00:51

  • FeralYouth #27 4 months ago

    Cool, nothing better than dead online communities after 2 months.