EA shifts Motive to Battlefield, reportedly shelves Dead Space 2 remake

Motive Studio is joining the stable of developers at Electronic Arts working on the Battlefield franchise, according to a new announcement from the parent company. The studio is forming an internal team focused on a new Battlefield game. However, reports from Giant Bomb‘s Jeff Grubb allege that the studio has shelved a different project — a remake of Dead Space 2.

Motive developed 2023’s Dead Space remake, which received a 5/5 from GamesBeat. It’s also worked on Star Wars: Battlefront II and Star Wars: Squadrons. At present, it’s confirmed to be the developer behind EA’s upcoming Iron Man video game. According to general manager Patrick Klaus, the Motive-Battlefield team is led by executive producer Philippe Ducharme and creative director Roman Campos-Oriola.

Byron Beede, Battlefield’s general manager, said in the announcement, “We’re tremendously excited for Motive, as they are bringing their expertise with Frostbite and compelling storytelling to the fold, joining DICE, Criterion, and Ripple Effect in building a Battlefield universe across connected multiplayer experiences and single-player.”

According to Giant Bomb’s Jeff Grubb (formerly a member of our GamesBeat team), Motive was working on a remake of Dead Space 2. However, it’s since scrapped the project, allegedly due to low sales of the first Dead Space remake. Ducharme and Campos-Oriola were the directors of the remake. EA has since responded to the reports, telling IGN there’s “no validity” to them. IGN reports that Dead Space 2023 was one of the best-selling games of that January.

Grubb has since responded on X, saying, “Dead Space 2 was definitely being planned. It had a code name. And they aren’t making it now.” IGN news director Kat Bailey countered, “My understanding based on my own sources is that the Dead Space 2 Remake was never considered.”