Hellraiser: Revival developer Saber Interactive is aiming to deliver a faithful adaptation of the cult-classic horror series, and the studio says it wants to earn its M rating when the single-player survival-horror game is eventually released. The source material–starting with Clive Barker’s novel that the popular horror film series is based on–was already pretty extreme for its time, as it revolved around people unwittingly summoning the sadomasochistic Cenobites: explorers from another dimension who subject their victims to gruesome experiments.
“We are going to go as far as we possibly can, as far as the people that make rules will let us go,” Saber development chief Tim Willits said to IGN. “And I hope that we can make one version, but we are willing to go as far as we possibly can go.”
Barker is also involved in the project, as Saber says that he was consulted on the story written for the game. “We’re trying to portray all the gore and horror that is present in the films, violence, sexuality, everything,” associate game director Aleksandra Pelivanović explained to GameSpot recently. “It was really important for us to catch every key element of the franchise and put it in the game in the right context. And when we sent Clive the final draft for the storyline, he was like, ‘Yes, that’s Hellraiser!'”
According to the Entertainment Software Ratings Board, an M rating is usually reserved for games that feature “realistic depictions of violence, blood and gore, sexual content,” as well as the “frequent use” of profane and vulgar language. In terms of pure gore, the recent Mortal Kombat games have received this rating, and Mortal Kombat 1 pushed the envelope for digital violence with several stomach-churning fatalities.
The fighting game featured characters being brutally dismembered in a variety of ways that were rendered in vivid detail, so you can only imagine just how far Saber can go–along with the erotic themes present in the Hellraiser material–before it risks earning an Adults-Only rating.
Following a series of cryptic teasers, Hellraiser: Revival was officially revealed in July and it’ll launch for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Pinhead actor Doug Bradley will reprise his iconic role and provide the voice of the Cenobite–though sadly, not in a scouse accent.
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