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Returning to the origin of survival horror with Alone in the Dark meant creating a faithful love letter for long-term fans, but also an accessible entry point for new players. Crafting a reimagining that modern gamers will love while staying true to the original experience takes time, and we’re happy to reveal that the wait is almost over – Alone in the Dark will release on PlayStation 5 on October 25.
The team at Pieces Interactive are die-hard Alone in the Dark fans, and knew exactly where to turn when it came to reimagining the game that gave birth to a genre. Creatively led by Mikael Hedberg, writer of horror classics Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA, with creature designs from legendary Guillermo Del Toro collaborator Guy Davis, their vision for Alone in the Dark was a dream (or is that nightmare?) come true for us.
As with any good survival horror game, we of course have mind-bending puzzles and clues you’ll need to explore to find, with a twist. If you want to really flex your investigative muscles, choose our difficulty that offers less assistance, or you can select an option which provides more tips, hints, and overall guidance.
Today, we fully unveiled this new, nightmarish vision to the world in our Alone in the Dark Spotlight stream. Across 11 nerve-jangling minutes, we revealed our starring talent of David Harbour as Detective Edward Carnby and Jodie Comer as Emily Hartwood, gave you a look at all-new gameplay and cutscenes, and dove into how the haunting Doom Jazz soundscape of Derceto Manor was brought to life. We also launched our playable Prologue, where you can get a short glimpse of the horrors that await you in the full game, today.
A new generation of classic horror
The power of modern hardware has unlocked new possibilities, especially when it comes to our lead character performances. Being able to capture more emotion in faces meant we could bring our dual protagonists Detective Edward Carnby (David Harbour) and Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) to life like never before. Whoever you choose to play as, you’ll experience the entire adventure through a performance from one of Hollywood’s most talented actors in their first ever videogame role.
While Edward and Emily may go through the same overall events in Alone in the Dark, both characters will interpret their journey differently through their reactions to their environments – and a few unique story moments. They each have their own strong personalities and backstories, and the residents of Derceto will treat them in their own way.
A-list in the Dark
Edward and Emily are brought together by the same quest – finding out what happened to Jeremy Hartwood, Emily’s uncle. Be it the promise of work and professional curiosity, or finding a dear relative and shaking the family curse, both characters have complex motivations for coming to Derceto, and their actions are tainted by individual past traumas.
David Harbour brings his trademark intensity to his role as Edward, but also his playfulness. When thrust into unimaginable situations, our natural reaction is terror, even questioning our own sanity, which David captures perfectly. Sometimes, however, we try to steel ourselves against our worst fears with humor. The dry wit that David has brought to some of his most famous characters shines through in Edward, ever the inquisitive, slightly world-weary investigator.
Jodie Comer is no stranger to disappearing into a role, having recently earned a well-deserved Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play, on top of her BAFTA and Emmy awards. Jodie portrays Emily with expert nuance, at once showing concern for her missing uncle and dread for the fate which may befall her as a result of the Hartwood curse. Whether interacting with Derceto’s strange inhabitants or fending off otherworldly creatures, Jodie gives a world-class performance.
No matter who you choose at the beginning of our game, you will experience the performance that Alone in the Dark players deserve. The game begs to be replayed through both characters’ eyes, and we can’t wait to hear what you think of our two incredible leads.
The sound of trauma
Our game is set in 1920s Louisiana, in a period of unease and excess, caught between two World Wars. Realizing this thick atmosphere of “Interbellum Horror” called for a unique sound that reflected the turmoil of the time, as well as the music that emerged from it.
Doom Jazz legend Jason Köhnen (Bong-Ra) lent his talents to capturing Alone in the Dark’s otherworldly chaos, contributing songs that feel at once nostalgic, modern… and from somewhere else, not of this world. Based on these songs, Sound Designer & Composer Árni Bergur Zoëga has crafted an eerie, mysterious soundscape that will have you looking over your shoulder for days – especially if you’re a headphones user.
A taste of the terror to come
While the team at Pieces are still working hard on putting the finishing touches on Alone in the Dark, we wanted to give you a sneak peek at the world they have constructed. Right now, you can download the playable Prologue for free and start your descent into our warped world today.
The Prologue follows eleven-year-old Grace Saunders, who eagle-eyed fans may recognize from Alone in the Dark 2 and its own playable prequel, Jack in the Dark. Tasked with delivering the letter that will bring Emily to Derceto, you’ll get a first look inside the manor and the forces preying on its residents’ sanity. Simply visit the store to download.
We still have some surprises in store between now and release – in the meantime, you can watch the Spotlight, play our Prologue, and pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition for access to bonus content. We’ll see you on October 25!