There aren’t many production studios that can pull off the terrifying atmosphere captured in the survival horror masterpiece Alien: Isolation. However, Creative Assembly not only achieved this but also managed to pay homage to classic horror sci-fi films and create a title worthy of the franchise. Attributed as the best Alien property after Sir Ridley Scott’s Alien (1979) and James Cameron’s Aliens (1986), it is one of the best first-person stealth horror sci-fi games. Now, on the game’s 10th anniversary, Creative Assembly has confirmed that Alien: Isolation 2 is officially in development.
An Alien: Isolation Sequel Is Officially On The Way
It seems like Alien: Romulus (which grossed over $300 million at the global box office) has stirred an awakening for the franchise, as fans can now look forward to more xenomorph content coming their way. Creative Assembly’s creative director Alistair Hope took to X (formerly Twitter) to celebrate the original game’s 10 year anniversary and announce plans for Alien: Isolation 2. Naturally, fans are super excited about the news!
“Today, I’m delighted to confirm, on behalf of the team, that a sequel to Alien: Isolation is in early development,” Hope stated in the tweet. “We look forward to sharing more details with you when we’re ready.”
Considering that the sequel is still currently in “early development”, it might be a while until we’re able to see any progress, gameplay or imagery for the Alien: Isolation sequel. While some are speculating a 2028 release date, others believe that the title could come a lot sooner.
Of course the delay hasn’t dampened fan’s excitement, with many responding positively to the news. “Sir, I will buy 3 presales OR donate to a kickstarter/fundraiser if need be,” replied one user on Twitter.
The question on everyone’s mind, however, is whether Alien: Isolation 2 will continue Amanda Ripley’s story or be a new story altogether.
Everyone Loved Alien: Isolation
Although not the first ever game based on the Alien film franchise (there was also Aliens: Colonial Marines, Aliens: Armageddon, AVP: Evolution, Aliens: Infestation, Aliens vs. Predator and many others), Alien: Isolation came out in 2014 and was one of the most terrifying first-person perspective stealth video games ever made, giving players a complete survival horror experience.
The story of the critically acclaimed game is set between the events of the first Alien movie — the 1979 Alien movie which birthed the Alien series — and the 1986 Aliens. However, instead of focusing on the life of the protagonist for the two movies, the story revolves around Amanda Ripley, Ellen Ripley’s daughter. Amanda is searching for an answer to the mystery of her mother’s missing ship, the Nostromo. Amanda Ripley is approached by Samuels, a representative of the Weyland-Yutani corporation, who tells her that the flight recorder for the ship that her mother was on has been located.
The young Ripley’s search leads her to the decommissioned space station, the Sevastopol Station. During their attempt to get onboard, their spacewalk is interrupted, and Amanda Ripley’s crew doesn’t make it onto the derelict station with her. It is here that she hopes to find answers. Amanda quickly realizes that the ship has been overtaken by a deadly Xenomorph, an alien apex predator and the perfect hunter. She has to sneak around in vents, maintenance tunnels, and transit systems to stay alive while being constantly tormented by the creature.
Alien: Isolation is a special kind of video game that achieves an atmosphere of constant dread. It turned the maintenance tunnels and transit system into a nightmarish maze that was terrifying to navigate.
What Alien: Isolation 2 Could Look Like in Unreal Engine 5
On the 23rd of July, 2022, ENFANT TERRIBLE shared a fan concept trailer on YouTube showcasing what Alien: Isolation 2 could look like rendered in Unreal Engine 5. With beautifully rendered models of Ellen Ripley, the xenomorph, hatching eggs, H.R. Giger designed backdrops, and even a terrifying look at a queen, a threat that players have never had to face outside of the 1986 version of Aliens or Alien vs Predator, the trailer had everything needed for a great sequel game.
What We Want To See In Alien: Isolation 2
As fans of the game ourselves, we have a few concepts that we would also love to see in a new Alien game, starting with better movement for both the player and the alien. It was frustrating not being able to vault low objects in my way. It was a simple thing, but it was one that could pull a player out of the immersion. That being said, the alien’s movement could also be improved. I want to see it climbing the walls, running along ceilings, and leaping over objects as it could in the movies. It would ramp up the paranoia factor if the alien was able to ambush players in more ways.
Personally, I agree that a new location for the second game would be awesome, and there are plenty to choose from within the Alien lore. As the fan mentioned previously about the lost human colony, there is also another location that could be interesting to explore. Alien 3 saw a fully conceptualized planet, Arceon, created, which technophobic monks occupied. With the possibility of beautiful environments like orchards, upside-down cathedrals and glass factories, there are a ton of options for the setting of a new game that doesn’t have to confine itself to a space station once again.
One of the most epic and iconic moments in the Alien franchise was when Ellen Ripley climbed in a Power Loader to take on the Queen Xenomorph on the deserted moon in Aliens. Now, it doesn’t have to be a Power Loader, and it certainly doesn’t have to be a Queen (as a Xenomorph is terrifying enough on its own). Still, it would be an epic story moment if players could get into a machine or a suit and have a close-quarters battle with an alien.
Forget Aliens: Fireteam Elite, Alien: Dark Descent, Alien: Offworld Colony Simulator, and the rest; we are so happy that we’re finally getting Alien: Isolation 2.
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What would you like to see in an Alien: Isolation sequel?
Alien: Isolation |
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In this first person survival horror adventure set fifteen years after the events of Alien (1979), Ripley's daughter becomes trapped on an alien-infested space station which holds answers to the mystery of her mother's disappearance. |
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| Release Date: 7 October 2014 |
| Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Linux, OS X, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS |
| Developer: Creative Assembly |
| Genre: Action-adventure, stealth, survival horror |
