Dead Space Creator Tries to Revive Series After EA’s $55 Billion Deal—And Gets Shut Down

Glen Schofield, the mind behind the original Dead Space, isn’t giving up on reviving his franchise, even as Electronic Arts undergoes a massive $55 billion acquisition. Schofield says he’s been in talks with EA’s soon-to-be new owners to make Dead Space 4, and claims he could save the company millions if they let him take charge. EA, for now, has slammed the door.

In an interview with IGN at Gamescom Asia, Schofield detailed his failed pitch. “I went to [EA] recently and they’re like no, we’re not interested anymore,” he said. “I said, I can get back the leadership team. I need the models from EA Motive [who built the Dead Space remake in 2023], and I can save you 30 to 40 million dollars on the idea that I have. And, they’re like, ‘no.’”

Schofield Wants to Lead Dead Space 4, but EA Has Other Plans

Schofield, who served as executive producer on the first Dead Space in 2008, has seen a mixed career since. He wasn’t part of the official Dead Space sequels, but did launch the spiritual successor, The Callisto Protocol, in 2022 with Striking Distance Studios. The game flopped, and Schofield left the studio just a year later. Since then, he’s been looking for a way back into the survival horror franchise he helped create.

EA’s ongoing private acquisition, a buyout led by a group that includes Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and Affinity Partners (the latter led by Jared Kushner), is reshaping the company’s future. There’s already speculation that some divisions or IPs could be sold to help pay off the enormous debt from the deal.

“I have quite a few ideas that I’m ready to go with, and one of them is Dead Space 4,” Schofield said. He sees EA’s changing ownership as an opening: “The fact that EA just got bought, I think there’s an opportunity. I’m already making calls.” For Schofield, the dream isn’t just more games. He’d like to see Dead Space turned into movies or a TV series. “Dead Space needs to be adapted to different mediums, movies, TV series, it would be great,” he told IGN.

Financial Wounds and Lingering Optimism

Despite his enthusiasm, Schofield is realistic about EA’s concerns. “I don’t know where EA’s head is right now, I don’t think they made money on [the Dead Space remake],” he admitted. EA Motive’s remake hit current-gen consoles in 2023, receiving critical praise but, by Schofield’s account, not making much of a profit for EA.

The private acquisition has created uncertainty across the industry. Some are even hoping EA’s new ownership could mean a fresh start for stagnant franchises. But workers at EA aren’t thrilled; a group of unionised video game employees has already launched a petition in protest of the takeover.

Schofield, meanwhile, has faced his own struggles securing funding for new games. Earlier this year, he went public on LinkedIn with the harsh reality of the modern games industry. The post hinted that after his recent run of bad luck and trouble finding backers, his days in the creative lead chair might be over.

Still, he’s not ready to give up on Dead Space. With big investors circling EA and key assets potentially up for grabs, Schofield is keeping the phone lines open. “I am more optimistic [since the sale of EA], because somebody new could buy [the Dead Space IP].” For now, though, all he’s gotten from EA themselves is a firm “no.”