Friday the 13th, an iconic horror franchise, is getting a new video game (and movie) down the line. This was confirmed by its copyright holder, Horror Inc., who, instead of somehow reviving the now-unavailable Friday the 13th game, is pursuing new ventures for whatever corporate reason.
Released back in 2017, Friday the 13th: The Game was among the most unique horror game experiences out there. Sharing a lot of DNA with early Dead by Daylight, it saw several players stuck with the indestructible Jason Voorhees, also controlled by a player. The Survivors had to find ways to escape, whereas Jason had to hunt them down one by one and ensure no one left the map alive. Sound familiar?
Well, because of its license expiring in 2024, Friday the 13th: The Game had to be shut down. Despite selling approximately 2.4 million copies on Steam, the game was delisted at the end of 2023, and then axed (or macheted) on Dec. 31, 2024, seven years after first launching, while the community tried to keep it alive via various means. It still retains a cult following among dedicated players who never got over the fact that BHVR doesn’t have a deal with Horror Inc. to put Jason into DBD.
Now, Horror Inc., or rather its VP, Robbie Barsamian, confirmed that the company is working on a new Friday the 13th game and movie, as well as that “most of [the company’s] energy” is being poured into these projects (thanks Bloody Disgusting). So, instead of resurrecting a game owned by millions on gaming’s biggest platform, organizing some relaunch event and providing a major update (which would cost next to nothing), Horror Inc. is creating an entirely new product in a genre that’s long past its prime.
I mean, sure, DBD is still kicking, but that’s a game that contains just about every single horror, especially slasher horror, villain ever made. It has so many of them that it’s become an issue to find new ones, with BHVR often creating new original Survivors and Killers, or just taking Survivors from popular franchises like The Walking Dead, which do not have enough material for a feasible Killer.
But you know which franchise does have one? Friday the 13th, the series that never joined DBD in all these ten years. Not even after its game adaptation was shut down at the end of last year.
If this new Horror Inc. gaming endeavor is even remotely close to the quality of its last few Friday the 13th films, we’re in for a complete wreck.
I just hope the same developers at IllFonic, who made both Friday the 13th: The Game and other game adaptations of popular horror franchises, return to spearhead this project. They’ve proven more than once that they’re a capable team, but given Horror Inc.’s track record, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
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