According to product research conducted by EA, Dead Space 1 and 2 were too scary for some people, which has apparently led to a shift in tone and the decision to incorporate co-operative gameplay for Dead Space 3. Fans of the series are upset at the apparent shift from horror to something more action-based for the sequel, but this is in response to consumer feedback.

"We were doing research coming out of Dead Space 1 and 2 and we’re really proud of those products. We received feedback to understand how we can take the game out to even more consumers," EA Marketing Head, Laura Miele told MCV.

"We were hearing feedback that they love the thriller game, but it was pretty scary, and the obvious next step was that they wanted to play with someone. So we introduced co-op into the game."

That doesn't mean that developer Visceral has necessarily abandoned scares altogether for the survival horror sequel however. "The horror of Dead Space is still all there. It’s still true to its roots and no less scary, but people felt far more comfortable playing it with someone else than they did doing it on their own," Miele stated.

"Personally, I would rather go to scary movie with my husband rather than sit at home with the lights out watching one on my own. We’re looking for that to reach out to consumers that perhaps were not open to Dead Space 1 and 2."

Visceral has explained that the core of Dead Space 3 is still centred around the traditional solo campaign, but drop-in/drop-out co-op is an option for anyone too frightened to play alone. Or indeed for anyone who simply wants to experience Dead Space 3 with a friend.

Dead Space 3 is out in 2013.