Dead Space, like much of sci-fi horror, likely wouldn’t exist without Alien. Ridley Scott set a high bar, and for nearly fifty years the xenomorph’s debut has shaped what audiences expect from their nightmares in space.

So it’s hardly shocking that Glen Schofield, creator of Dead Space and director of The Callisto Protocol, admits he’d be interested in tackling the Alien franchise—though he insists he’d rather work on original projects. Still, he’s such a fan that he spends time on Midjourney designing his own xenomorphs. “Everyone needs a hobby,” he laughs.

“Let’s say I took on a license,” Schofield explained. “Which I don’t really want to do; I prefer to create my own. But if someone came to me with the Alien license, I could instantly show you maybe a hundred different aliens I’ve created in Midjourney over the past two years, just because I enjoy it. So yes, I’d love to make an Alien game.”

Of course, stepping into such a massive, long-running franchise comes with restrictions. You’re not going to see a Star Wars adaptation break Disney’s family-friendly rules. If 20th Century Studios (owned by Disney) ever handed him Alien, Schofield says it would only happen if he had full creative control. “I have to own the creative,” he said. “That’s non-negotiable. I can’t deliver a great game unless I feel completely invested—then I’ll give you 130%.”

Since Aliens: Dark Descent, Isolation is no longer the last noteworthy Alien game (with a sequel in development too), but the property still has untapped potential. The new TV show, Alien: Earth, has reinvigorated the franchise after a string of disappointments (though Romulus earned praise) and expanded its scope. Now the xenomorphs share the stage with grotesque horrors like parasitic alien leeches or tentacled eyeballs that turn human bodies into puppets—perfect fodder for fresh body horror.

Still, don’t get your hopes too high. Schofield’s passion for creating is clear, but the industry’s harsh climate makes another game from him—Alien or otherwise—unlikely. In July, he revealed on LinkedIn that he’d been developing a project with his daughter Nicole, an environment artist who had worked on The Callisto Protocol. “We trimmed the budget to $17 million, built a prototype with a small, talented crew, and started pitching,” he wrote. “People loved the concept, we got plenty of follow-up meetings. But feedback shifted from ‘get it to $10M’ down to $2–5M. So last month, we walked away. Some ideas are better left untouched than done cheap.”

As publishers and investors grow risk-averse, even established franchises stumble, and decades-old studios collapse. Schofield has faced setbacks too. After The Callisto Protocol missed Krafton’s sales expectations, he resigned as CEO of Striking Distance Studios, which then suffered major layoffs. “I miss it all,” he confessed. “The team, the chaos, the joy of creating something for fans. I’m still here making art, writing stories, cheering the industry on. But maybe I’ve directed my last game. Who knows? If so, thank you for playing my games.”

Source: PC Gamer