Surgent Studios, the award-winning team behind Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, has officially lifted the curtain on their next project, Dead Take—a psychological horror game that fuses live-action storytelling with interactive gameplay. Backed by Pocketpair Publishing (Palworld, Craftopia), the game features acclaimed actors Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil Village) and Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) in the lead roles.
Set in a glitzy but isolated Hollywood Hills mansion, Dead Take casts players as an actor desperately searching for a missing friend following a lavish party. But the deeper you explore the mansion’s secrets, the more you uncover a sinister tale of exploitation and corruption in the entertainment industry.
Horror in the Spotlight
Described by Creative Director Abubakar Salim as “a twisted horror game about power and corruption,” Dead Take leans into themes that hit close to home. In his announcement, Salim emphasized how real-life horror stories from the actors’ own careers shaped the game’s emotional core:
“In those moments, we exchanged some of the horror stories that built the foundations of this game… they helped create a space in which we could all be truly raw and honest.”
The gameplay features escape-room-style puzzles and a unique video-splicing mechanic where players reconstruct disturbing footage using clips found throughout the mansion. Live-action performances are central to the experience, giving the game a cinematic edge while keeping the horror grounded in emotional realism.
Lights, Camera, Terror
A new teaser trailer reveals the in-game cinema, where players will watch and edit live-action videos to unravel the truth. It’s a stylish blend of analog horror aesthetics and digital storytelling that aims to disturb and immerse in equal measure.
Dead Take is planned for release later this year on PC via Steam. Players can wishlist the game now and follow Surgent Studios on X, Bluesky, and Instagram for updates.
