Evil Dead: The Game Release Date, Platforms, And Gameplay - What We Know So Far

Since the release of its first film in 1981, the "Evil Dead" franchise has become one of the most iconic films of the horror genre. To date, the franchise has spanned over 40 years and includes three original films, a soft reboot, and a television series. A sequel to the reboot is currently in development and is expected to release sometime in 2022. Known for its gore, creativity, and humor, the "Evil Dead" property has far stood the tests of time, essentially writing the blueprint for cult classics of its ilk and inspiring tons of aspiring horror directors to draw influence from the original "Evil Dead." 

As with any successful film IP, it's only a matter of time before it becomes adapted to other forms of entertainment, and for something as gleefully violent and off-kilter as "Evil Dead", a video game seems like a natural progression for the franchise. Enter "Evil Dead: The Game," which is due for release relatively soon. The prospect of controlling Ash Williams as he deals death to Deadites sounds like a fun idea on paper. Here's everything we know currently about "Evil Dead: The Game."

As of right now, "Evil Dead: The Game" has an official release date of May 13, 2022. Announced at The Game Awards in December 2020, "Evil Dead: The Game" was originally slated for a worldwide release in 2021. The game would then be pushed back to February 2022, until the final May release date was officially announced. The delay allowed the developer behind the game, Saber Interactive, additional time to fine-tune and optimize the final product (via Dexerto).

Of course, release dates are very tentative and are always subject to change based on a variety of circumstances, ranging from hiccups in development or any further complications that can be caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After all, "Evil Dead: The Game" was initially announced to be released at some point in 2021, and is instead now being released nearly halfway through the 2022 calendar year. Independent of any future delays the game may be subject to, "Evil Dead: The Game" pre-orders are now live for all platforms.

"Evil Dead: The Game's" release will be represented by four different versions — a standard edition, a deluxe edition, a collector edition, and an "Ultimate Collector's edition."

"Evil Dead: The Game" is scheduled to release for a variety of consoles across different generations. Previous generation consoles such as the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will receive the game, as will new generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. "Evil Dead: The Game" will also be available for the PC via the Epic Games store and on the Nintendo Switch. Despite some hopes that the game would come to Google Stadia, no release for the platform has been announced, and given Stadia's recent issues, a port to it may never come.

How "Evil Dead: The Game" will perform across these various different platforms is still relatively unknown, though it's a safe bet to say that the best way to play it will be on either the PC or any of the new-gen consoles, simply because of their superior graphics capabilities. It is also unknown whether or not the game will come with cross-platform compatibility, or if saves can be carried over between platforms.

"Evil Dead: The Game" was initially conceived as a multiplayer-only experience, giving gamers the option to either play in a four-player cooperative experience or engage in player-vs-player combat. However, during the game's initial delay from 2021 to February 2022, it was announced on its official Twitter page that Saber Interactive would be adding a single-player component as well. This is perfect for players who prefer a more personal experience as opposed to co-op or competitive gaming.

At its core, the gameplay in "Evil Dead: The Game" is pretty much exactly what you would think it is — you're gonna be killing a lot of Deadites! Players can control any of four characters, all of whom have an important place in "Evil Dead" lore. These include Kelly Maxwell and Pablo Simon Bolivar from the show "Ash vs Evil Dead", Scott from the original "Evil Dead," and, of course, Bruce Cambell's Ash Williams. Players also have the option to play as the Kandarian Demon and kill human opponents.

The game features a wide variety of weapons, including Ash's iconic chainsaw hand, as well as his "boomstick" shotgun. Overall, the game will feature about two dozen weapons, including a cleaver, shovel, and an axe.