Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Alone in the Dark is getting a Resident Evil 2-esque reboot

George Yang
By
Summer Gaming Marathon Feature Image
This story is part of the Digital Trends Summer Gaming Marathon series

During THQ Nordic’s 2022 digital showcase, the publisher announced that a reboot of Alone in the Dark by developer Pieces Interactive is coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Recommended Videos

The game revisits the classic 1992 title in all its Southern Gothic horror glory. The player can assume the role of series protagonist Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood. Alone in the Dark takes place in the U.S. during the 1920s and focuses on the disappearance of Emily’s uncle. She teams up with Edward to search for Hartwood’s uncle through the mansion of Derceto, a psychiatric asylum filled with monsters and surrounded by an evil conspiracy.

Alone in the Dark | Announcement Trailer

So far, a release date for the game has not yet been revealed. According to Steam, Alone in the Dark‘s story is written by screenwriter Mikael Hedberg, who also wrote SOMA and Amnesia.

The reveal trailer shows that the reboot is similarly styled to the critically acclaimed Resident Evil 2 remake that was released in 2019. The gameplay is in the third-person this time around instead of first-person like it was in the Alone in the Dark 2008 reboot.

The 2008 reboot was initially released on PC, PS2, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. It came to PS3 several months later as Alone in the Dark: Inferno. The most recent entry in the franchise was 2015’s Alone in the Dark: Illumination, which was only released on PC. Unfortunately, the game was received very negatively by critics.

The developer of this upcoming reboot, Pieces Interactive, is best known for the Titan Quest franchise. the studio was acquired by the Embracer Group in 2017.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
George Yang
George Yang
George Yang is a freelance games writer for Digital Trends. He has written for places such as IGN, GameSpot, The Washington…
AEW: Fight Forever delivers N64 nostalgia at a cost
A Wrestler knees his opponent in the face.

The rise of All Elite Wrestling hasn’t just been great news for wrestling fans looking for an alternative to WWE; it also stirred up excitement for fans of wrestling games. Those who grew up with playing games like WWF No Mercy on Nintendo 64 have been waiting for a return to arcade-style wrestling, something that 2 K’s simulation-focused take on WWE doesn’t deliver. All Elite Wrestling: Fight Forever, the promotion’s debut game, looks to return us to those nostalgic glory days.
AEW: Fight Forever | Showcase Trailer 2022
But don’t get too excited just yet. While new footage premiered this week showing off a full match was promising, playing it was a different story. I took the game for a spin at Gamescom and walked away unsure of what to expect from the final product. While its approach to arcade wrestling has potential, AEW: Fight Forever is going to need a fair amount of polish before it hits the ring. A good gimmick can only get you so far with a crowd.
Taking bumps
To properly test the game, I pit Kenny Omega up against Adam Cole -- a dream match, no doubt. What’s immediate off the bat is that AEW: Fight Forever really isn’t trying to emulate the live TV experience. Wrestler entrances aren’t recreated, as the camera only shows the character models walking down the ramp for a moment before hitting the bell. There’s no ringside commentary, so you’ll just hear the roar of the crowd and some bumps while playing.
Some fans may enjoy that stripped-down approach, especially if they don’t really care about the simulation aspect of games like WWE 2K22, but that lack of extra detail does leave the experience feeling a little empty. If large ideas like that are missing from the final game, what others might get cut from the roster?

None of that would matter if the core wrestling was spot on, but I’m not entirely sold on the game’s N64-throwback style. During my match, it felt like I was mostly just throwing strikes as I mashed the attack buttons. The right trigger is a dedicated Irish whip button, hilariously, but I otherwise found it difficult to stumble into a big spot. If I ever got onto the top rope, it was an accident. And if I ever managed to jump off it, I could not tell you how to reproduce that.
(I'd return to the demo later in the week with the intent of treating it like less of a pick-up-and-play experience. When I took a more deliberate approach in my Hikaru Shida vs. Paul Wight match, I still came out with similar feelings. The game's reliance on grappling to set up flashier moves particularly stands out, as it makes most big moments feel telegraphed. I don't think that's bad and WWF No Mercy fans might adore it, but it does feel a little at odds with the explosive, unpredictable nature of the actual wrestling show its based on. WWE 2K22 feels like an AEW game and AEW Fight Forever feels like a WWE game.)
My match didn’t look nearly as fluid or clean as the one THQ Nordic showed off at Gamescom.

Read more
What is Embracer Group? Gaming’s new megapower, explained
The Lord of the Rings Return of the King Extended Edition

You might not have heard of Embracer Group, but you’ve probably played something a studio it owns developed. Have you played Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, Valheim, Elex II, or Shadow Warrior 3 recently? Then you’ve been enjoying a game from Embracer.
While Embracer’s name might not be on the box or store page, this European holding company has subtly become one of the biggest companies in the gaming space. If there’s a AA game launching, this studio likely has a hand in it. The company made a big move earlier this year when it acquired major franchises like Tomb Raider after buying Crystal Dynamics, Eidos Montreal, and Square Enix Montreal. Now, it's continuing to assert its dominance with the acquisition of physical game manufacturer Limited Run Games and the rights to The Lord of the Rings IP. 
These acquisitions speak to the continued growth of Embracer Group, which looks like it will become a bigger player in the AAA gaming space in the years to come. While Embracer Group has fallen under the radar for many people over the past decade, it’s worth paying attention to in the years to come.
Starting the embrace
“Embracer Group is a parent company of businesses led by entrepreneurs in PC, console, mobile and board games, and other related media,” the company boasts on its website. “The group has an extensive catalog of over 850 owned or controlled franchises.”

Embracer Group is a holding company that continuously buys a lot of new studios and IP, making it the somewhat obscure parent company of several notable publishers and developers. It doesn’t help that Embracer Group has actually gone by many names over the years.
Originally known as Nordic Games, the company has steadily acquired various IPs and studios since 2011. A significant shift happened in 2016 when the company rebranded to THQ Nordic AB after acquiring the trademark for, and many assets of, the defunct classic publisher at auction.
"Embracer is the best-kept secret in gaming."

Read more
Everything announced at THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022
Spongebob Squarepants riding a seahorse.

In a year when its parent company Embracer Group is making some major moves, THQ Nordic also clearly has some big plans for the future. The European publisher owns the rights to a lot of classic series like Alone in the Dark, Darksiders, and Gothic, and it has a reputation for reviving or rereleasing these classic franchises. As a result, it's always surprising to learn what the eclectic publisher has in the works.
Last year, THQ Nordic held its first digital showcase and announced follow-ups to Destroy All Humans, Outcast, and SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom. Its second annual showcase aired earlier today featured updates on titles we already knew about, like Outcast 2, confirmed a new Alone in the Dark reboot, and revealed some impressive new games such as Wreckreation. If you're curious about what THQ Nordic has in store, we've rounded up everything announced during THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022.
THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2022
Alone in the Dark is back
Alone in the Dark | Announcement Trailer
Alone in the Dark was one of the first 3D survival horror games, trailblazing the formula that Resident Evil would popularize. While Resident Evil continues to be popular, Alone in the Dark faded into obscurity. During this stream, Pisces Interactive and THQ Nordic revealed a reboot of the franchise that looks and plays like the reboot of Resident Evil 2. Alone in the Dark is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Wreckreation gives players a giant racing game playground
Wreckreation | Announcement Trailer
Developer Three Fields Entertainment, which was founded by developers known for their work on Burnout and Need for Speed, announced Wreckreation. It will feature a gigantic 400-square-kilometer open world for players to explore. Players can also create wild-looking tracks that they can race on alone or with friends. It is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. 
AEW: Fight Forever gives WWE 2K some competition
AEW: Fight Forever | Showcase Trailer 2022
After a split between 2K and former WWE 2K developer Yuke's, AEW decided to partner with Yuke's to create the first AEW console game. We got a more in-depth look at it during the show from commentator Tony Schiavone and former AEW Women's Champ Britt Baker that showed the game in action. It will feature tag team matches, a career mode, create-a-wrestler, online co-op play, and more, giving 2K a run for its money. We'll see whether or not AEW: Fight Forever is better than the WWE 2K series when it releases for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It will also be playable at Gamescom. 
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake looks great
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake | Showcase Trailer 2022
Purple Lamp and THQ Nordic shared more details about SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake at the end of the showcase. We saw some gameplay from various worlds showcasing different costumes and gameplay mechanics that players will encounter within them. The game will feature more than 30 different outfits for SpongeBob to wear and shares a voice cast with the show, unlike SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom - Rehydrated. SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake will be released for PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
Everything else

A HandyGames sizzle reel showcased the sister company's Gamescom 2022 lineup.
Destroy All Humans 2: Reprobed got a trailer ahead of its release later this month.
Space for Sale, a new base-building and resource-gathering simulation game, is coming to PC.
Gothic 1 Remake got a new trailer showcasing the mining colony.
Jagged Alliance 3 got a new trailer showing its turn-based strategy gameplay. 
The Valiant got a new trailer featuring its tactical RTS campaign and multiplayer modes.
3D Realms and Slipgate Ironworks announced RTS Tempest Rising, which launches in 2023.
Grand strategy game Knights of Honor 2: Sovereign got a new trailer.
Outcast 2 got a new trailer showing how players can fly through the air and explore.
Way of the Hunter got a launch trailer ahead of its release next week.
Stuntfest -- World Tour got a new trailer.
THQ Nordic is working with South Park Digital Studios on an unannounced game. 

Read more