Hellraiser: Revival Interview – 10 Things We Learned About Saber's Horror Game

Ever wonder what it's like to make a Hellraiser game that actually gets the franchise? At Gamescom, Saber Interactive sat down with GameSpot to talk about Hellraiser: Revival, and they spilled some seriously juicy details. If you're a fan of Clive Barker's nightmarish world, you're going to want to hear this.

First up, Clive Barker himself was a surprisingly chill collaborator. Narrative director Anthony De Fault said Barker was a "permissive partner" who basically gave them free rein once he saw they understood the franchise. "He was really supportive of our ideas," De Fault said. "He just wanted to make sure we understood Hellraiser as a franchise, and then, once he knew that we were channeling the same spirit that he was channeling back in the '80s, he just let us go." So no micromanaging from the master of horror.

The game is a love letter to the early days, specifically The Hellbound Heart, the first film, and Hellbound: Hellraiser 2. De Fault explained, "This game is a response, specifically to The Hellbound Heart, the first film, and Hellbound: Hellraiser 2. So it's just the things that Clive was involved with that resonated really strongly with people back then. We wanted to make something that renewed that and had the same soul, but for a new medium and 40 years later." So expect that classic vibe, not the later, less-loved sequels.

Saber isn't pulling any punches when it comes to gore and sex. They're pushing ratings boards to the limit, even risking being banned in some regions. De Fault said, "We knew what Hellraiser ought to be. We knew how disappointed Hellraiser fans would be if we did compromise, so it was just never really on the table. We always felt like, if we get denied a rating in one or two places, we've probably done our job right." He added that all the depraved stuff has a purpose: "It's not just for shock value. It's like a good discomfort." Co-writer Esov chimed in with "comforting discomfort." So yeah, it's going to be intense.

One scene in particular might test your stomach: a "consensual mutilation" scene. But they had to tweak it because early versions didn't make it clear it was consensual. De Fault explained, "In early versions of this, we failed to adequately convey to players that this was consensual. So, some people came away thinking it wasn't and that it was pretty distressing, and so we had to course-correct that. Our intent was fully realized in the game. We just had to correct the execution in some places." So they're not scaling back, just making sure it's clear.

The game is set in 2006, in the small town of Claireport. Why 2006? De Fault said, "We still wanted it to feel like an older franchise, but just without going all the way back to the '80s." It's a bridge between the classic era and modern times, without all that pesky high-tech stuff.

Pinhead has a major role, and he's voiced by Doug Bradley, the iconic actor from the films. In the game, you play as Aiden, trying to rescue his girlfriend Sunny after they use a puzzle box during sex. Pinhead appears early on, and the Cenobites demand a soul, taking Sunny. De Fault teased, "I probably shouldn't go further than that, but Pinhead, you encounter him multiple times. The deal that you have with him has its twists and turns, and it evolves." So expect some twisted bargaining with the Hell Priest.

Hellraiser: Revival launches on October 8 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Are you ready to face the Cenobites? Will you be picking this up on day one? Let us know in the comments!