New Friday the 13th Game Might Not Be What You Expect

by

After a decade-and-a-half of being less prominent following the 2009 reboot of “Friday the 13th”, this horror franchise is making a grand comeback with numerous projects on the horizon. For instance, production for the A24 prequel series titled “Crystal Lake” is underway and set to conclude filming by fall this year, with an anticipated release in 2026. During the Jason Universe panel at San Diego Comic Con 2025, it was revealed that Jason Voorhees will make a return to the big screen through a 13-minute short-form video titled “Sweet Revenge” this August. Furthermore, Horror, Inc.’s Executive Vice President has announced that a new “Friday the 13th” film and game are in development. However, the upcoming game may not be as fans might anticipate.

Everything Known About Friday the 13th’s New Film and Game

Following a sneak peek of the movie “Sweet Revenge” and confirming its release on August 13th, the Jason Universe panel ended with Barsamian revealing that new installments for both a “Friday the 13th” movie and game are being developed. In his words, “We’ve got a new sequel movie and game at the forefront of our plans. Most of our focus is on these projects right now. And I can assure you, we’re now able to follow through on this.” Barsamian added that Horror Inc. wasn’t ready to reveal their collaborators for both the film and game yet, but he promised fans that a new “Friday the 13th” movie and game are in the pipeline.

It remains undecided whether the freshly announced “Friday the 13th” movie and video game will expand on plot points from the “Crystal Lake” series or “Sweet Revenge,” directed by Mike P. Nelson, who also helmed the 2021 reboot of “Wrong Turn” and is set to direct the 2025 remake of “Silent Night, Deadly Night.” While Barsamian referred to the upcoming “Friday the 13th” movie and game as sequels, it’s still unclear if the film will serve as a sequel to the original 11 “Friday the 13th” movies or the 2009 Platinum Dunes remake of the franchise. Moreover, there’s no information available on whether the sequel video game will be a follow-up to IllFonic’s 2017 “Friday the 13th: The Game,” considering it might make more sense for the new game to connect with the upcoming film rather than continuing from where IllFonic’s project left off.

The Potential Direction and Gameplay of the New Friday the 13th Game

It seems that no video game adaptation of the horror franchise “Friday the 13th” has successfully captured the chilling essence of Jason Voorhees’ kills as depicted in the movies. Companies like Domark (in 1986 with “Friday the 13th: The Computer Game”), Atlus (in 1989 with another “Friday the 13th”), and Blue Wizard Digital (in 2018 with “Friday the 13th: Killer Puzzle”) have all tried, but fell short. In 2017, “Friday the 13th: The Game” almost got it right, offering an accurate representation of various Jason outfits and film sets, but it was limited by its online-only nature and lack of updates due to ongoing legal disputes regarding the “Friday the 13th” intellectual property.

In light of the growing popularity of horror movies and video games, Horror Inc. finds itself in an ideal position to introduce both a new Friday the 13th film and a game. To maximize synergy and avoid confusing fans, it would be strategic for the game to closely align with the film’s narrative, focusing on the new Jason Universe rather than mixing elements from the franchise’s other timelines. The type of Friday the 13th game Horror Inc. chooses to develop will determine this connection – a single-player survival horror game might be more tightly connected to the new film, while a multiplayer game could potentially incorporate elements from all Jason media, even if it’s not a direct sequel to Friday the 13th: The Game. At this point, the specifics of what the game will entail remain uncertain, but there are indications that it may offer a fresh take on the franchise.

The Potential Story of the New Friday the 13th Game

If the upcoming Friday the 13th movie and video game are linked, the game could bridge the connection between the Friday the 13th series (like Crystal Lake) or simply showcase one terrifying Friday the 13th event outside the movies’ scope. For instance, the Crystal Lake series seems to reenact Jason Voorhees’ initial “death” and subsequent rampage at the hands of his mother, Pamela Voorhees, as depicted in the first Friday the 13th film. If the new Friday the 13th movie is essentially a remake of parts 2 and 3, the game could present a younger Jason trying to survive on his own near Crystal Lake, killing off locals, hunters, and campers. This would make Jason a playable character without conflicting with the series or the new film’s narrative.

Read More

2025-07-29 20:34