Dead Space 4 Unlikely Due to Poor Sales, Former Producer Explains

Former Dead Space producer Chuck Beaver has stated that a fourth mainline entry in the survival horror franchise is unlikely due to poor sales. In a recent interview, Beaver explained that Electronic Arts is not interested in funding another Dead Space game because the series has not met the company's financial expectations.

Former producer Chuck Beaver explains the sales ceiling

Beaver noted that horror games have a natural sales ceiling. He recalled that during former EA VP Frank Gibeau's tenure, the threshold to continue Dead Space was 5 million units sold. Today, that number has risen to around 15 million units due to increased development costs. Beaver estimated that a new Dead Space game would need to sell approximately 7 million units to be considered viable, citing that recent Resident Evil titles achieve around that figure.

Beaver also addressed why Motive Studio, which developed the Dead Space remake, was not greenlit for a follow-up. He said, "It's disappointing that we can't make a beloved franchise to its logical end, but I understand the numbers." He added that EA is now looking for perennial moneymakers like Fortnite, describing single-player package games without live-service offerings as a "dinosaur fossil of a business model."

Electronic Arts has not commented on the future of the Dead Space franchise. Beaver's remarks suggest that the company's focus on long-term revenue streams makes a traditional single-player horror sequel unlikely in the current market.

Source: MP1ST