Bloober Team Passed ‘Saw’ For Another Horror IP
The iconic horror series ‘Saw’ almost had new life as a triple AAA video game in 2019. Horror developer Bloober Team opens up about turning down the franchise in a recent interview with IGN, as well as the horror IP they went with instead: ‘Blair Witch’.
The Bloober Team has made quite a name for itself in the horror genre. It’s been around since 2008, but it was only recently that the Polish developer hit its stride. Their debut horror title, Layers of Fear (2016), is deemed a “magnum opus” by the Escapist. Observer (2017) fused cyberpunk sci-fi and horror. And Layers of Fear 2 (2019), though lacking for originality, is an engaging play. So, the question remains, why did Bloober pass on what would’ve been an easily marketable horror title? Why not raise their growing catalog with an iconic adaptation?
Why Pass on ‘Saw’?
Well, this wasn’t the first time Bloober said no to a big-wig studio. Through their partnership with United Talent Agency, Bloober was approached by numerous film studios looking for adaptations. They had seen Layers of Fear, Observer, and were impressed. But what kept Bloober from taking on all these projects was the same reason they passed on ‘Saw’: creative freedom.
Bloober prioritizes creative freedom within their games. Most of the film studios that approached Bloober had strict requirements and deadlines. This proved too stifling for the independent developer, so it wasn’t until Lionsgate stepped in that Bloober took the licensing deals seriously.
Lionsgate did things differently. Instead of telling Bloober what to do, the entertainment company opened up their entire catalog of horror IPs. ‘The Descent’. ‘Hostel’. ‘The Blair Witch Project’. And, of course, ‘Saw’. All open to Bloober’s discretion. The team was free to develop the title any way they pleased.
‘Saw’ is one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time. But even with complete creative freedom, the many limitations of the franchise’s sprawling mythos gave the Bloober Team pause. ‘Saw’ has numerous films, comic books, and even theme park attractions. Adding to the ‘Saw’ story would inevitably cause continuity issues. So Bloober went with the franchise that played better to their strengths: ‘Blair Witch’.
It might be the less popular series, but its subtle atmosphere suits Bloober better than the physical intensity of ‘Saw’. The original ‘Blair Witch’ is a classic example of psychological horror, Bloober’s bread-and-butter niche So, even though a new ‘Saw’ game would have been an intriguing plat, ultimately, we have to say that Bloober made the right decision.
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