Sony’s beloved cult classic horror gameUntil Dawncould be getting a sequel, according to recent leaks and rumors. This potential game would followthe recentUntil Dawnremakeand could coincide with the upcomingUntil Dawnfilm adaptation, which is set to release next Spring. If and when such a follow-up arrives, it could make history for developer Supermassive Games.
The originalUntil Dawnhelped catapult Supermassive’s success and relevance back in 2015, establishing the studio as having a penchant for impressive visuals and cinematography couched within a sort of “interactive movie” structure, akin to more controversial games likeHeavy Rain. Supermassive would go on to develop a number of additional titles with this formula, includingThe QuarryandThe Dark Pictures Anthologywhich, true to its name, is an ongoing series of more digestible horror experiences. Within all of these games lies an emphasis on player agency, as each title is designed around a number of diverging paths based on in-game choices. This design philosophy has come to define Supermassive’s releases, but it may have also backed its IP into a corner.
Until Dawn 2 Would Be the First Supermassive Games Sequel
AlthoughSupermassive had built up its portfolio before 2015,Until Dawnis what put the studio on the map, helping to shape its identity as a horror-focused company, particularly in the realm of campy and cinematic gaming experiences. After all, there’s a clear reason why Supermassive has been so steadfast in its commitment to theUntil Dawnformula, withThe Quarrybeing notably reminiscent ofUntil Dawn’s 90s-influenced teen horror movie storytelling.
But whileThe Quarryhas a lot in common withUntil Dawn, to the point where one could even call it a direct spiritual successor, it takes place in a different universe with no real connection to the latter IP. WithThe Quarry, it’s clear that Supermassive wanted to replicate the campy teen movie tone and creature-feature plot, though this time with werewolves rather than wendigos, and a summer camp instead of a snowy cabin in the mountains.
By being a spiritual successor rather than an actual sequel or spin-off,The Quarryis able to recapture the core elements ofUntil Dawnwithout being shackled to its narrative—something that would be especially problematic given Supermassive’s design formula.
Until Dawn’s Player-Driven Narrative Makes Until Dawn 2 a Tricky Project
Speculation aboutUntil Dawn 2is driven by two engines:
Reading into these new endings, it seems likeUntil Dawn 2would attempt to follow characters like Sam and Josh in some way. Perhaps this won’t be a literal continuation of their specific stories with Hayden Panettiere and Rami Malek reprising their roles, but what they went through in the first game will presumably impact the narrative of this hypothetical sequel. WhetherUntil Dawnis a traditional sequelor takes place several years in the future, with a different cast of characters, its connection to the first game’s story poses questions about the canon events of the first game.
Until Dawnis based around player choice, meaning that there’s no one “canon” ending or sequence of events. And yet, a sequel would likely need to establish a canon ending to get off the ground at all. If it is set so far in the future that the ending of the first game doesn’t matter at all, then it begs the question of why it should be a sequel instead of a spiritual successor. If the game is called “Until Dawn 2” or something similar, then it will likely connect directly to the story of the first game—a huge first for Supermassive’s choice-driven games,even if it’s not developed by Supermassive itself.
