After being the target of fan backlash for withholding some pre-order content from the Dead SpaceCollector’s Edition, which sets interested gamers back a whopping $274.99, EA has announced that the bundle will now include the Digital Deluxe content at no extra cost. Developed by Motive Studios, excitement for the survival horror game reached a fever pitch after a terrifying trailer for the Dead Space remake was released last month.Retaining the basic plot structure from 2008’s surprise horror hit Dead Space, the upcoming Dead Space remake updates the nearly 15-year-old game’s graphics to modern standards while adding new content designed to make the title more horrifying than ever. Knowing full well that fans will be comparing the Dead Space remake to the original game, Motive Studios has sought to assure gamers that it will be a worthy successor. Series fans who had pre-ordered the Dead Space Collector’s Edition recently took to social media to voice their anger at the fact that content from the Digital Deluxe version of the game would not be included in their pricey bundle.After facing backlash from gamers over failing to include the Digital Deluxe pre-order content in the highest-priced version of the game, EA has tweeted that “all past and future pre-orders” of the Dead Space Collector’s Edition will now receive that content at no additional cost. When it was announced that the Digital Deluxe version of Dead Space would include exclusive cosmetic items many fans were frustrated that the Collector’s Edition bundle, which contains goodies ranging from a USG Ishimura patch to a full-size replica of protagonist Isaac Clarke’s helmet, didn’t include them as well.
Many Dead Space fans responding to the tweet appeared to be pleased with EA’s mea culpa regarding the pre-order debacle, with several comments expressing gratitude and sharing their excitement about the remake. In an era where it can sometimes seem that publishers and developers are oblivious to the concerns of gamers, it was clear from the responses that many Dead Space fans appreciated being listened to. As the Dead Space remake continues to compete for attention against spiritual successor and rival The Callisto Protocol, this bonus for pre-order purchasers seems like a public relations win for EA.
Despite a mixed response to the third game in the series, the Dead Space franchise has earned a well-deserved place of honor among the ranks of sci-fi horror games. If the upcoming remake can recreate the tense and terrifying atmosphere of the original title while delivering stunning graphics and gameplay tuned to modern sensibilities, EA and Motive Studios seem destined for a hit. And for the players who’d rather see the series get a decidedly more lo-fi makeover, the Dead Space PS1 demake is always an option.
Dead Space will release on January 27, 2023, on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
