Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes
Image via Bandai Namco

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes director details Iraq War setting in first look video

Inspired by the movies, as always.

House of Ashes is the next installment of the ongoing Dark Pictures Anthology horror game series, and this entry from developer Supermassive Games is tackling a fairly recent historical setting. This title will present a dichotomy between the Iraq War in 2003 and an ancient force older than anything Supermassive has depicted before, with a story that has soldiers trapped in an underground Sumerian temple. All of these details came from a livestream featuring game director Will Doyle.

Recommended Videos

Doyle went more in-depth into the premise, while also trying to avoid any potential surprises. The set-up for House of Ashes involves an elite team of United States soldiers, comprised of Special Forces, CIA, and Air Force personnel. The game takes place at the end of combat operations in the 2003 Iraqi conflict, with this task force on the hunt for weapons of mass destruction. During a firefight with Iraqi combatants, all involved fall into caverns when the ground below them collapses. While the forces below may be terrifying, we’ll see how much terror the depictions of this sensitive historical event inspires onto its own.

Related: Review: The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope recalls familiar horror tropes, to a major fault

Like the previous two games, House of Ashes has a relatively famous headliner actor, in this case, High School Musical star Ashley Tisdale as CIA officer Rachel King, one of the five playable characters. The cast comprises both American and Iraqi characters who form an uneasy alliance to survive against the mysterious forces and creepy creatures in this forgotten ancient temple. Doyle cited the films Aliens, Predator, and The Descent as tonal influences for House of Ashes.

Like its predecessors, there will be local and online cooperative modes available to play, with the local Movie Night and online Shared Story modes making their return. And as with the previous games, a Curator Mode available through pre-order will let players experience the same story but from other characters’ perspectives. While there is no release date for The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes just yet, Doyle stated in the video that the game will release on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, with enhanced next-gen versions as well, in 2021.


Gamepur is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Chris Compendio
Chris Compendio
Chris Compendio has been covering pop culture for over five years. Their work has been published on Paste, Destructoid, DualShockers, Polygon, Fanbyte, and several other publications. Besides gaming, their interests include creative writing and comedy performance.