There have been almost 50Aliengames released over the last 43 years, but none have managed to capture the horrifying magic of the original 1979 movie quite likeAlien: Isolation. Originally released in 2014,Alien: Isolationreceived generally favorable reviews from critics and fans, though there were some major criticisms levied at the game’s length, with many believing thatIsolation’s drawn-out third act detracted from the otherwise refined horror experience. While time hasn’t done much to fix those issues, it has allowed more people to try the game, resulting inAlien: Isolationdeveloping a bit of a cult following over the last few years.
After a decade of waiting, those passionateAlien: Isolationfans were finally told that a sequel is in the works, once again beingdeveloped by Creative Assembly.Alien: Isolation’s sequel was only confirmed to be in development last October, so it’s unlikely to release anytime soon. ButAlien: Isolation 2shouldn’t miss the opportunity to capitalize on the franchise’s new wave of success.
Alien: Isolation 2 Can’t Let a Golden Opportunity Pass By
The Alien Franchise Might Be Entering a New Golden Age
While theAlienfranchise has remained steadily popular since its debut in 1979, many of its cinematic outings over the last three decades or so have paled in comparison to its first two entries.Alien 3andAlien: Resurrectionwere panned by criticsat the time and are widely considered to be much weaker than their predecessors. And thoughPrometheusandAlien: Covenantdabbled with some intriguing themes, they also failed to stick the landing.
Released last summer,Alien: Romulusmanaged to break that pattern of mediocrity, debuting to a wealth of positive reviews from both fans and critics alike. Unlike the franchise’s last few entries,Alien: Romulusfelt like a true successor to the 1979 original, not just imitating its aesthetic and tone, but exploring it in creative ways fans hadn’t seen before on the silver screen. It also seems as thoughAlien: Romuluswas a decent financialsuccess for 20th Century Studios, with the movie making just over $350 million worldwide on a reported budget of around $80 million.
Back in October it was confirmed thatanAlien: Romulussequelis in the works, with Fede Álvarez likely attached to direct and write once again. AnAlienshow is also set to release later this year. TitledAlien: Earth, the FX show is being written and directed by Noah Hawley, the same writer, director, and executive producer of acclaimed shows likeFargoandLegion. IfAlien: Earthis a hit, then theAlienfranchise might find itself in the middle of a new golden age, andAlien: Isolation 2shouldn’t waste that opportunity.
Alien: Isolation 2 Should Capitalize On That Excitement
Fans of the firstAlien: Isolationwere already champing at the bit for a sequel, but with theAlienfranchise potentially entering a new golden age, there’s a possibility that the series is about to attract a wealth of new fans. Those new fans could be looking for a video game that captures the horror-focused tone of the movies and shows that got them into the franchise, andtheAlien: Isolationsequelcould fit the bill perfectly.
Though the firstAlien: Isolationreviewed fairly well, it was a bit of a commercial disappointment for publisher Sega. So, when it comes to marketing the sequel, it’d make sense to at least plant some seeds now and release a teaser while theAlienfranchise is experiencing a resurgence.
