Why Until Dawn 2 would stand out in Supermassive's horror anthology

Sony's beloved cult classic horror game Until dawn could have a sequel, according to recent rumors and leaks. This potential game would follow the recent one Until dawn remake and could coincide with the next one Until dawn film adaptation, which will be released next spring. If and when such a sequel arrives, it could make history for developer Supermassive Games.

The original Until dawn helped catapult Supermassive's success and relevance in 2015, stating that the studio had a penchant for impressive visuals and cinematography wrapped up in a sort of “interactive movie” structure, similar to more controversial games like Heavy rain. Supermassive will continue to develop a number of additional titles with this formula, including The Quarry AND The anthology of dark images which, true to its name, is an ongoing series of more digestible horror experiences. Within all of these games there is an emphasis on player action, as each title is designed around a series of divergent paths based on gameplay choices. This design philosophy has come to define Supermassive's releases, but it may also have cornered its intellectual property.

Until Dawn's unwritten rules explained

Until Dawn can provide a unique gaming experience no matter how it is played, but following a few guidelines can make it much more fun and effective.

Until Dawn 2 would be the first sequel to the Supermassive games

Spiritual successors have been Supermassive's bread and butter

While Supermassive had built its portfolio before 2015, Until dawn it's what put the studio on the map, helping 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 Until dawn formula, with The Quarry remembers remarkably Until dawnThe narrative of 90s-influenced teen horror films.

But while The Quarry has a lot in common with Until dawnto the point that one could even call it a direct spiritual successor, it is set in a different universe with no real connection to the latter IP. With The Quarryit's clear that Supermassive wanted to replicate the campy tone of teen movies and the creature plot, although this time with werewolves instead of wendigos and a summer camp instead of a snowy cabin in the mountains.

Being a spiritual successor rather than a true sequel or spin-off,
The Quarry
is able to regain the fundamental elements of
Until dawn
without being shackled to its narrative, which would be especially problematic given Supermassive's design formula.

Until Dawn's player-driven narrative makes Until Dawn 2 a tricky project

Speculation on Until dawn 2 it is driven by two motors:

A loss from Nick Baker of XboxEra
New endings in Until dawn remake, alluding to the future of some characters

Reading these new endings, it seems Until dawn 2 would 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 experienced in the first game will presumably impact the narrative of this hypothetical sequel. If Until dawn is it a traditional sequel or takes place several years in the future, with a different cast of characters, its connection to the first game's story raises questions about the canonical events of the first game.

Until dawn is based on player choice, meaning there is no “canon” ending or sequence of events. Still, a sequel would likely need to establish a canon ending in order to get off the ground. If it's 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 probably tie directly into the story of the first game – a great first for Supermassive's choice-based games, even if it's not developed by Supermassive itself.