Last Updated on Jun 3, 2025 @ 14:22:24 PM.
Pocketpair and Surgent Studios have finally revealed what the much-anticipated secret project is that they’ve been working on since it was announced, and it’s taking the form of a first-person, psychological horror game, Dead Take, rooted in meta commentary of the entertainment industry. After the critical success of the 2D platformer Tales of Kenzera: Zau, it’s certainly a distinct change from what we were expecting, but it’s exciting nonetheless!
Per Surgent Studios:
“Search for your missing friend as you descend into the gilded rot of the entertainment industry. Uncover the monstrous cost of creation in this first-person psychological horror.”
In Dead Take, players will peel back the entertainment industry’s glittering facade to expose its darkest secrets. This gripping narrative experience will feature an impressive lineup of actors that will be revealed in the coming weeks.
In a statement in the same press release, Surgent Studios CEO Abubakar Salim said:
“We’re being secretive for a reason. 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.”
Abubakar Salim may ring a bell as the voice of Bayek in Assassin’s Creed Origins, and more recently, the creative mind behind the aforementioned Tales of Kenzera: Zau, a self-confessed game about the grief of losing his father, so it’ll be interesting to see exactly how that’ll impact Dead Take.
With Salim saying, “The subject matter of this game is delicate, and it hits close to home”, it’s almost certain to be another personal tale to himself, but wanting to shock players and push the boundaries of what’s possible is always necessary in all forms of entertainment, so it’ll be interesting to see where Dead Take goes and whether it proves to be another example of AA superiority this year after the likes of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction.
Dead Take is published by Pocketpair Publishing (Palworld, Craftopia) and is set to launch this year on PC via Steam. Players can follow Surgent Studios on X, Bluesky, Instagram, and visit the official website for more details.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, check out our article talking about the recent update to Delta Force or our article talking about how one 3D character designer missed out on being a part of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Otherwise, follow Thumb Wars on X, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram to keep up with the latest news, reviews, and interviews!
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Luke Addison is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Thumb Wars. Having previously been a part of multiple outlets over the years, including building an entire gaming team from nothing to something, he thought it best to forge his own path and answer only to himself. As likely to be found playing the latest game as he is in the kitchen relaxing (by cooking), he always brings the same bold and brash attitude to everything he does, with a heavy leaning on sarcasm and dry wit!
