Dead Take: Star-Studded Hollywood Horror with FMV

It’s rare to see a horror game announcement that genuinely piques my curiosity, but when Pocketpair—the studio that navigated the Palworld rollercoaster—declares they’re publishing a Hollywood-inspired horror adventure with real star power attached, I perk up. Dead Take stands out thanks to its insider-film-industry backdrop and a cast that feels anything but indie. Yet beneath the glitz, is there anything to bite into? Let’s peel back the curtain.

Highlights: Star Power, FMV, and Escape-Room Thrills

• Real actors on board: Neil Newbon (Baldur’s Gate 3) and Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI) headline, promising a performance-driven narrative.
• FMV sequences: Players will hunt for live-action clips to assemble and watch, a nod to FMV classics like Quantum Break.
• Hollywood Hills setting: Puzzle-rich exploration in a lavish mansion where a missing-person mystery unfolds.
• PC launch for now: No console ports at release suggests a cautious, word-of-mouth-focused debut.

Developer Background and Premise

The team behind Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is steering this project. While that title flew under many radars, it showcased a talent for mood and storytelling that goes beyond cheap scares. In Dead Take, you step into an actor’s shoes, searching for a vanished friend after a high-profile Hollywood bash takes a sinister turn. Imagine Escape Room crossed with Until Dawn, but set in an opulent, star-studded abode rather than a remote lodge.

Risks and Rewards of FMV

Fully integrated live-action footage can elevate immersion—if it’s seamless. FMV flops can yank you out of the experience, but done right, it adds immediacy and intimacy. Here, finding and decoding in-game clips could deepen the mystery, though it’s a tightrope act. Few horror games stick the landing, but this cast and concept feel like they’re aiming higher than novelty.

Industry Context

Pocketpair Publishing is flexing newfound clout post-Palworld, backing narrative-focused indies with cinematic aspirations. Limiting the launch to PC hints at budget or technical constraints, but also a strategy to build hype before a broader rollout. The indie scene is leaning into filmic production values, and Dead Take blends prestige talent with an experimental FMV twist.

What to Expect

Horror fans seeking more than jump scares should keep an eye on Dead Take. Its exploration of fame’s darker side, backed by veteran actors and ambitious FMV mechanics, could deliver a psychological edge. If this blend clicks, we might witness a fresh direction for narrative horror. If it falters, the novelty of Hollywood gloss won’t be enough.

TL;DR

Dead Take is more than a standard indie scare fest: it leverages authentic industry insight, a top-tier cast, and live-action footage to craft a meta-horror puzzle. Stay tuned for this PC-exclusive thriller.

Feature	Details
Publisher	Pocketpair Publishing
Release Year	2024
Genres	Horror, Narrative Adventure, Puzzle
Platform	PC