Surgent Studios, the team behind this year’s soulful Metroidvania Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, has officially pulled back the curtain on their next project—and it’s taking a much darker turn. Dead Take is a psychological horror game set within the rotting heart of the entertainment industry. It’s being published by Pocketpair (Palworld, Craftopia) and is expected to launch later this year on PC via Steam.
A Gilded Nightmare
Dead Take casts players into a chilling search for a missing friend. But what begins as a personal mystery quickly spirals into something far more disturbing, as you descend into the twisted, corrupt underbelly of the entertainment world. Described as a “first-person psychological horror experience,” the game will explore the grotesque costs of fame and creation in a world built on illusion and exploitation.
While gameplay details are still tightly under wraps, Surgent promises an emotionally charged narrative brought to life by a cast of familiar actors. The studio plans to reveal the voice cast in the coming weeks.
“We’re Being Secretive for a Reason”
According to Surgent Studios founder and CEO Abubakar Salim, Dead Take will touch on sensitive and deeply personal themes drawn from real-life experiences within the industry.
“We’re being secretive for a reason,” Salim said. “The subject matter of this game is delicate, and it hits close to home. When it comes out—and it won’t be long until it does—I want players to think, ‘I can’t believe they actually did this.’”
With Tales of Kenzera earning widespread acclaim for its sincerity and emotional weight, Dead Take looks to push those same storytelling strengths into a new, terrifying direction. You can wishlist the game on Steam now and follow Surgent Studios across social platforms for more updates.
