Neil Newbon & Ben Starr Star in Surgent Studios’ Live-Action Horror Game Hybrid
▼ Summary
– Surgent Studios’ upcoming game, *Dead Take*, is a psychological horror set in a Hollywood mansion, described as a “reverse escape room” exploring themes of success and the cost of fame.
– The game stars actors Neil Newbon (*Baldur’s Gate 3*) and Ben Starr (*Final Fantasy 16*), featuring live-action footage to highlight their performances without digital avatars.
– *Dead Take* will blend gameplay with live-action clips, requiring players to solve puzzles by splicing together footage, drawing inspiration from *Alan Wake* and *Her Story*.
– The game delves into the toxicity of fame and abuse of power, reflecting personal experiences of Salim, Newbon, and Starr in the entertainment industry.
– Unlike Surgent’s previous game *Tales of Kenzera*, *Dead Take* showcases the studio’s versatility in storytelling and genre, aiming for a PC release later this year.
Surgent Studios’ upcoming psychological horror game Dead Take brings together acclaimed actors Neil Newbon and Ben Starr in a live-action experience that blurs the lines between gaming and film. The project, spearheaded by Assassin’s Creed Origins actor Abubakar Salim, dives into Hollywood’s darker side through an innovative hybrid format.
Newbon, celebrated for his role as Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, and Starr, known for Final Fantasy XVI’s Clive and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s Verso, take center stage in this unsettling narrative. Salim describes Dead Take as a reverse escape room set in a Hollywood mansion, where players piece together clues from live-action footage to progress. The game challenges players with themes of ambition, asking how far one might go for success, and what they’re willing to sacrifice.
Unlike traditional horror titles, Dead Take leans heavily into live-action performances, stripping away digital avatars to showcase the actors’ raw talent. “I wanted players to see Neil and Ben as themselves, not just behind animated characters,” Salim explains. This approach mirrors his own dual career in acting and game development, offering a meta-commentary on the entertainment industry’s pressures.
The game’s premise draws from Salim’s firsthand observations of Hollywood’s toxic underbelly, exploring power dynamics and the desperation for fame. Having worked with both Newbon and Starr before, Salim emphasizes the importance of trust when tackling such raw subject matter. “These are stories we’ve all witnessed, this project demanded honesty from people I deeply respect,” he notes.
While Dead Take marks a stark departure from Surgent Studios’ previous title, Tales of Kenzera: Zau, Salim stresses that storytelling versatility defines the studio. “We’re not bound by genre, we follow the story wherever it leads,” he says. The shift from an Afrofuturist platformer to psychological horror underscores the team’s creative range.
Published by Palworld developer Pocketpair, Dead Take is slated for a PC release via Steam later this year. Meanwhile, Surgent Studios is already working on Project Uso, an Afrofuturist gothic-horror RPG, further cementing its reputation for bold, genre-defying narratives.
For Salim, the game is more than entertainment, it’s an unfiltered look at the industry’s shadows. “The higher you climb, the darker it gets,” he warns. Dead Take promises to pull players into that unsettling journey, frame by unsettling frame.
(Source: EuroGamer)