Earlier this year, Pocketpair Publishing and developer Surgent Studios announced a partnership for Surgent Studios next title, Dead Take, a psychological horror game about power and corruption in the entertainment industry. Talking about the game, Director Abubakar Salim said: “A lot of what we do is build from experiences. We want to share experiences we have felt and deliver them artistically,” he said. “Last year, I felt extremely powerless; it got me thinking about where that power lies in the entertainment industry. What does that mean to people in art? I think I stewed on those thoughts and wanted to turn them into something. “I straddle these worlds between being an actor and a developer. I’ve seen how that power can corrupt, and I’ve seen how those people in power react when confronted with people without power. This game is a response to that feeling of powerlessness.” Today, the publisher and developer have announced that Ben Starr (Final Fantasy XVI, Warframe, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33) and Neil Newborn (Baldur’s Gate III, Resident Evil Village, Xenoblade Chronicles 3) are cast in the lead roles.
Ben Starr as Willie and Neil Newbon as Willie.
Two actors. One role.Wishlist Dead Take Now!
豪華キャストとしてベン・スターがウィリー役、そしてニール・ニューボンもウィリー役を担当。
二人の俳優が、なぜ同じ役を演じるのか。@The_Ben_Starr @NeilNewbon pic.twitter.com/QO2TG9FM6X
— Pocketpair Publishing (@PocketpairPBLSH) July 1, 2025
Dead Take is “set in a luxurious Hollywood Hills mansion” where players are “cast as an actor searching for his friend who has gone missing after a lavish Hollywood party. As they navigate escape-room-style puzzles and splice together videos they find along the way, players will uncover the darkest secrets behind the entertainment industry’s glittering facade.”
“As actors in games and beyond, Neil, Ben, and I have leaned on each other through some extremely grueling times,” said Dead Take director Abubakar Salim in a press release.
“In those moments, we exchanged some of the horror stories that built the foundations of this game. Not only do they bring considerable talent to the project, but they also helped create a space in which we could all be truly raw and honest. I can”t wait for you to see the calibre of their performances in Dead Take.”
Dead Take will launch for PC via Steam in 2025.
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