Blumhouse Games Surpasses Expectations, Announces Nine Forthcoming Horror Titles

Blumhouse, a renowned horror movie specialist, has made a significant foray into the video game industry, surpassing its initial schedule. At the recent Summer Games Fest, the company's gaming division, Blumhouse Games, announced six titles, including one set for release this year. According to Zach Wood, president of Blumhouse Games, the team is 'at capacity' and has made significant strides, with plans to release three games in 2025, three in 2026, and two in 2027, maintaining a steady pace. The company currently employs seven people but expects to expand as its slate grows. As a publisher, Blumhouse Games offers the usual services, including funding, marketing, and PR, but its focus on horror and connection to its parent company set it apart. The company's CFO, Don Sechler, highlights the creative support provided by the broader Blumhouse organization, citing the collaboration between filmmaker Brandon Cronenberg and game writer Sam Barlow on the upcoming Project C. This partnership was facilitated by Blumhouse's film division, demonstrating the company's ability to bring together talented individuals from different disciplines. Blumhouse Games' approach to game development emphasizes the importance of creative freedom, with developers typically retaining the rights to their games. However, the company does retain the option to adapt these games into films or TV shows, which Wood sees as a 'bonus.' The company's goal is to build long-term relationships with its partners, allowing them to maintain ownership of their intellectual property. The six announced titles – Fear the Spotlight, Sleep Awake, Crisol: Theater of Idols, Grave Seasons, The Simulation, and Project C – are all original concepts. While Blumhouse's film division has produced well-known horror franchises like The Purge and Insidious, the gaming team is keen to establish itself with unique, high-quality titles before exploring existing IP. Wood explains that the company wants to 'get it right' when adapting its film properties into games, taking the time to find the right creative team and approach. The team has received pitches for games based on Blumhouse movies but is focused on establishing its reputation with original titles. Sechler adds that the company aims to build credibility by delivering great games, which will ultimately make its adaptations of existing IP more successful. Blumhouse Games' overall approach is centered around small-budget, low-risk, high-upside projects that are creative and innovative, much like the company's film division. The company's creative lead, Louise Blain, emphasizes the diversity of horror subgenres in Blumhouse's films, which the gaming division aims to replicate. Titles like The Simulation, a horror game within a horror game, and Grave Seasons, a bloodthirsty farming sim, showcase the company's willingness to experiment and push boundaries. Blain believes that the key to success lies in finding unique, captivating stories that resonate with players. The team is enthusiastic about its slate, with Wood, Sechler, and Blain each highlighting different titles and their potential for adaptation into other media. The current gaming landscape is filled with upcoming horror titles, including new games and remakes from established franchises like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. However, the Blumhouse Games team is confident that there is room for its unique approach, citing the diversity of the horror genre and the human experience of fear. As Blain concludes, 'I don't think we'll ever run out of ways to tell scary stories... The human experience is to experience fear, and as long as we can tap into that and explore that in safe spaces, I don't think there will be any shortage of horror to come.'