The legacy of sci-fi horror owes a great deal to Ridley Scott’s Alien, a film that has set the standard for cosmic nightmares for nearly 50 years. It’s no surprise, then, that Glen Schofield, the creator of Dead Space and director of The Callisto Protocol, would be interested in tackling the iconic franchise. While Schofield has expressed a preference for creating original games, his admiration for the Alien universe is evident. He is such a fan that he often experiments with creating different xenomorphs in Midjourney as a hobby.
“Let’s say somebody came to me and said, ‘We’re going to give you the Alien licence.’ Immediately I could show you, I don’t know, maybe 100 different aliens I’ve made in Midjourney over the last two years, just because I like it,” Schofield stated. “So yeah, I would love to make an Alien game.”
Creative Control and the Evolving Alien Universe
Working within a long-running universe often comes with creative restrictions. However, Schofield is firm on one condition if he were to helm an Alien project: complete creative control. “I have to own the creative,” he insists. “That’s not even negotiable. Because I won’t make a great game unless it’s mine and I’m so ingrained in it—then I will give you 130%.”
The Alien universe itself is experiencing a resurgence. Thanks to recent titles like Aliens: Dark Descent, the franchise has moved beyond the shadow of the last major success, Alien: Isolation, which is also reportedly getting a sequel. The upcoming TV show, Alien: Earth, is further expanding the lore, introducing new horrific creatures like blood-sucking alien leeches and tentacled puppet masters, opening up vast potential for new levels of body horror and digital innovation.
Despite the exciting creative possibilities within the Alien universe, the stark realities of the current gaming industry present significant challenges that might keep Schofield from directing a new game anytime soon. His recent struggles to secure funding for a new project, developed alongside his daughter, environment artist Nicole Schofield, highlight a broader industry trend faced by many developers. “We pulled the budget down to $17 million, built a prototype with a small, talented crew, and started taking meetings,” he wrote. After initially being told to lower the budget to $10 million, that number eventually dropped to a mere $2–5 million, forcing them to walk away from the project.
Publishers and investors are becoming increasingly risk-averse in a bleak industry landscape, a trend that impacts tech enthusiasts and aspiring creators alike. Schofield himself has faced professional setbacks. After The Callisto Protocol missed its sales targets, he stepped down as CEO of Striking Distance Studios, which has since seen significant layoffs. “I miss it all,” Schofield reflected. “The team, the chaos, the joy of building something for fans… But maybe I’ve directed my last game. Who knows? If so, thank you [for] playing my games.”