by Returning to the origins of survival horror with Alone in the Dark meant creating a faithful love letter to longtime 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 launches on PlayStation 5 on October 25th.
The team at Pieces Interactive are die-hard Alone in the Dark fans and knew exactly who to turn to when it came to reimagining the game that spawned a genre. Led creatively by Mikael Hedberg, writer of horror classics Amnesia: The Dark Descent and SOMA, with creature designs by legendary Guillermo Del Toro collaborator Guy Davis, their vision for Alone in the Dark was a dream (or is it a dream)? nightmare?) us.
As with any good survival horror game, of course we have mind-boggling puzzles and clues that 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 select an option that provides more tips, hints, and general guidance.
Today, we fully unveil this new nightmare vision to the world on our Alone in the Dark Spotlight stream. Over the course of 11 unnerving minutes, we reveal our core talents of David Harbor as Detective Edward Carnby and Jodie Comer as Emily Hartwood, take a look at previously unseen gameplay and footage, and dive into how Derceto Manor’s haunting Doom Jazz soundscape was brought to life. life. We’ve also released our Playable Prologue, where you can catch a glimpse of the horrors that await you in the full game, today.
A new generation of classic horror
The power of modern hardware has opened up new possibilities, especially when it comes to our main character performances. Being able to capture more emotion in faces meant we could bring our dual leads, Detective Edward Carnby (David Harbour) and Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) to life like never before. Whichever you choose, you’ll experience the entire adventure through the performance of one of Hollywood’s most talented actors in his first role in a video game.
While Edward and Emily may experience the same general events in Alone in the Dark, both characters will interpret their journey differently through their reactions to their environments – and some 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 mission – to find out what happened to Jeremy Hartwood, Emily’s uncle. Whether it’s the promise of work and professional curiosity, or finding a loved one and ending the family curse, both characters have complex motivations for coming to Derceto, and their actions are tainted by individual traumas from the past.
David Harbor brings his trademark intensity to his role as Edward, but also his playfulness. Faced with unimaginable situations, our natural reaction is one of terror, questioning even our own sanity, which David captures perfectly. Sometimes, though, we try to fortify ourselves against our worst fears with humor. The dry wit that David brought to some of his most famous characters shines through in Edward, always the curious, slightly world-weary investigator.
Jodie Comer is no stranger to disappearing into a role, having recently won a well-deserved Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play, in addition to her BAFTA and Emmy awards. Jodie portrays Emily with expert nuance, simultaneously showing concern for her missing uncle and fear for the fate that may befall her as a result of the Hartwood curse. Whether interacting with the strange inhabitants of Derceto or fending off supernatural creatures, Jodie delivers a world-class performance.
No matter who you choose at the start of our game, you will experience the performance that Alone in the Dark players deserve. The game begs to be replayed through the eyes of both characters, and we can’t wait to hear what you think about our two amazing protagonists.
the sound of trauma
Our game takes place in 1920s Louisiana, in a period of discomfort and excess, between two World Wars. Realizing this dense atmosphere of “Interbellum Horror” required 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 the otherworldly chaos of Alone in the Dark, contributing songs that feel at once nostalgic, modern… and from another place, not this world. Based on these songs, sound designer and composer Árni Bergur Zoëga has created a strange and eerie soundscape that will have you looking over your shoulder for days – especially if you’re a headphone user.
A taste of the terror to come
While the team at Pieces is still hard at work putting the finishing touches on Alone in the Dark, we wanted to give you a taste of the world they’ve built. Now, you can download the playable prologue for free and start your descent into our twisted world today.
The prologue follows eleven-year-old Grace Saunders, who eagle-eyed fans might 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 your first look inside the mansion and the forces that attack the sanity of its residents. Just visit the store to download.
We still have a few surprises in store until launch – in the meantime, you can watch Spotlight, play our Prologue, and pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition to get access to bonus content. See you on October 25th!
