Dead Space Creator Would Make a Game Based on Alien if He Got Complete Creative Control

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Glenn Schofield is well-regarded for contributing to one of the most cherished games in the survival horror genre – Dead Space. Yet, more recently, he has encountered several challenges, such as mixed reviews for The Callisto Protocol and having to postpone his latest projects due to financial constraints. In a conversation with PCGamer, Schofield expressed interest in creating a game centered around the iconic science-fiction horror action series – Alien.

Although he showed enthusiasm for the concept, he made it clear that he’d prefer to develop his unique spin on the Alien franchise, including his personal vision of the Xenomorph creatures. He has even experimented with the generative AI tool Midjourney to design various types of Xenomorphs. However, his preference leans more towards working on original projects rather than ones based on licensed intellectual properties.

He mentioned, “Suppose I acquired a license,” he said. “However, that’s not my preference; I aspire to create my own. If someone approached me and offered the ‘Alien’ license, I could instantly display, perhaps around 100 unique alien characters I’ve designed during the past two years on Midjourney, simply because I enjoy it. Thus, creating an ‘Alien’ game is something I would eagerly undertake.

Regarding brainstorming on conceptualizing talks with the Alien Intellectual Property (IP) holder, 20th Century Fox (now under Disney’s ownership), Schofield emphasized his desire for absolute creative control over the project. He considered this element as non-negotiable, referring to it as a crucial requirement.

He emphasized that he needs complete control over the creative aspect, stating it’s non-negotiable. He explained that for him to deliver an exceptional game, it must be his own creation and something he’s deeply involved in, promising a level of commitment exceeding 130%.

Previously this year, Schofield shared that he encountered challenges in launching fresh projects following his exit from Striking Distance Studios. Concurrently, he mentioned one of his endeavors involved collaborating with his daughter on a project.

For the past eight months, Schofield has been secretly collaborating with his daughter, Nicole, on an innovative game concept. She presented him with this idea, which instantly captured his interest as it was unlike anything he had encountered before. They have nicknamed it a novel sub-genre of horror; not merely horror, but something more profound.

As a passionate enthusiast, I must admit that kick-starting this incredible project was quite an uphill battle, primarily due to financial hurdles. Initially, I had planned a budget of $17 million, but unfortunately, potential investors found it too ambitious and suggested scaling it down significantly. The initial requests were to reduce the budget to $10 million, but later, they even brought it down to the range of $2 to $5 million.

A month ago, we chose to abandon a project. Sometimes it’s better to leave certain ideas unexplored rather than rushed and under-resourced,” he explained. “Our team in the U.S. consisted of six members, while our colleagues in the UK were part of a full crew. Sadly, everyone is now job hunting. They are all highly skilled individuals-if you have any open positions, please reach out.

In his recent post, Schofield expressed concerns about the challenges in obtaining funding within the gaming industry at present. As a result, he hinted that he may have reached the end of his journey as a game director.

He expressed that he’s continuing his creative endeavors, producing art, writing tales, and brainstorming concepts, as well as supporting the industry. However, he may have completed his final game. Time will tell! Thank you for enjoying my games.

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2025-09-11 17:13