“I can’t lie to you about your chances, but… you have my sympathies.”
I’ve been a fan of the Alien franchise ever since I first watched Aliens on VHS in the 80s. As a child, the implacable nature of the iconic Xenomorph was equal parts horrifying and fascinating. So when Alien: Isolation was announced, it seemed like the perfect game for someone like me. But there was a problem — Alien: Isolation looked terrifying. Maybe a bit too terrifying.
Despite loving the idea of facing off against the Xenomorph in a horror setting, I’ve never actually played Alien: Isolation. Every video I watched of the gameplay on YouTube made me desperate to play but intimately aware of my fear. It was a deep, immersive test of survival against one of the most iconic sci-fi villains of all time. And I doubted I had the guts for it.
On the tenth anniversary of Alien: Isolation, Creative Assembly announced a sequel. The creative director, Al Hope, confirmed that the team has officially begun work on the next instalment, stating:
On the 10th anniversary, it seems only fitting to let you know that we have heard your distress calls loud and clear. Today, I’m delighted to confirm, on behalf of the team, that a sequel to Alien: Isolation is in early development. We look forward to sharing more details with you when we’re ready.
A sequel to a game I’ve avoided for a decade. One that braver fans than me had been begging for since the first game dropped in 2014. Alien: Isolation sold over two million copies and here we are, ten years later, with a confirmed sequel in development.
Of course, there’s little information about the game itself — no title, no release date, and no platforms announced. But just knowing that it’s happening was enough to get me to reconsider my reluctance to play survival horror, and Alien: Isolation in particular. You could argue that the sequel announcement was the catalyst for DREADPIXELS.
As someone who spent years dodging the original, this announcement couldn’t be more perfect. It’s not just about the sequel; it’s about finally facing my fear. I know I can’t jump into Alien: Isolation 2 without first tackling the original. It’s time to confront that challenge head-on.
There’s something quite poetic about this. Ten years after the release of a game I’ve avoided for fear of being scared to death, I’m finally going to take it on. This means that when the sequel arrives, I’ll be ready. I know I said that I was going to tackle my backlog first, but this is just too much of a good thing to pass up.
It’s time to step into Amanda Ripley’s shoes, to hear the tell-tale beep of a motion tracker, and to finally see what all the fuss has been about. And by the time the sequel arrives, I’ll be primed and prepared for whatever Creative Assembly throws at us next.
It’s time to face my fear. Let’s do this.