It’s fair to say that horror game fans will have a lot of content on their hands in the coming months. Between the likes of The Callisto protocol and a host of titles geared towards this year’s Halloween, players looking for fear and excitement will be spoiled for choice. One game that arguably stands out from that crowd is EA’s Empty space redo. That’s because, after years of demand, the Isaac Clarke-helmed series is finally getting the resurrection it deserves.
However, the current renaissance of the horror genre isn’t the only phenomenon the gaming industry has been experiencing lately. Thanks to a concentrated effort from various publishers and developers, there has also been a real push for greater inclusivity. Games like The last of us part 1 spotlighted modern accessibility options to make this possible, and EA’s upcoming Empty space remake is one of the latest games to confirm that it will also step into the progressive movement.
Accessible Mutilation
When it comes to the Empty space remake’s confirmed accessibility options, concrete details are still scarce at the moment. With over 5 months left until the game’s expected release in January on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, it makes sense that Motive Studio would keep most of its cards close to its chest as development wraps up. However, during an interview with IGN in 2021, the game’s creative director, Roman Campos-Oriola, confirmed one area that will certainly feature options that enhance inclusivity.
While Campos-Oriola de Empty space remake’s gameplay improvements, the Creative Director made a point to say that the studio has been working hard to make this aspect of the game accessible to more players. While specific details about Motive Studio’s plans to achieve this are vague at this point, it was confirmed at the time that the series’ famous decomposition mechanics will be improved along these lines. Considering how Isaac’s ability to shred Necromorphs is one of the Empty space The series’ biggest selling points, this reveal will likely be welcomed by many fans.
While Motive Studio hasn’t discussed the specific options it works on, it’s possible to speculate on some of the ways it could potentially hit. For example, aiming aids and slow motion options both feel like safe bets that can help many players. Aside from that, it’s possible that a colorblind mode is also on the studio’s wish list. Highlighting enemies against the dark background of the USG Ishimura allows visually impaired players to get more involved in the action.
Accessibility Promise from Motive Studio
While it’s easy to get caught up in visual and mechanical updates, improved accessibility options are often some of the biggest benefits a video game remake can discover. It cannot be underestimated how important these modernized settings can be, as they often open up an experience for millions of players for the first time. Based on interviews in which developers from EA’s Motive Studio participated, it sounds like the development team is well aware of this.
During the same interview where he revealed how accessibility options will become part of the Empty space remake’s gameplay mechanics, Campos-Oriola reiterated that the studio is taking the concept more broadly. One of the core principles that drove Motive Studio’s efforts is the desire to use technology to implement features that were not possible 14 years ago when the original game launched. While nothing concrete was confirmed at the time, 3D audio was prominently checked by name.
This suggests that accessibility options for hard of hearing players will be part of the Empty space remake’s set of settings. When you consider that being able to hear the game’s Necromorphs is a big part of its survival horror charm, it’s easy to imagine something like a Fortnite-style audio visualizer that may be added. With rumors circulating that EA is gearing up to talk about the survival horror game soon, hopefully fans won’t have to wait long for more details to be confirmed.
Empty space will be released on January 27, 2023 for PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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