For more than a decade, Nightdive Studios has defined itself as a master of the remaster, breathing new life into both legendary masterpieces and forgotten cult oddities. Stephen Kick, the studio’s CEO, has personally spent nearly ten years attempting to untangle the licensing for one particular niche classic. However, in a surprising twist, that very title has suddenly surfaced on Steam, published by an entity with almost no industry footprint.
The project, originally known as The Dark Eye, has been listed under the title Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror: 1995 Edition, with a full re-release slated for later this year. As the revamped name suggests, this is a grim point-and-click journey through the macabre tales of Poe. The game earned its reputation through a deeply unsettling art style, utilizing grotesque puppets and stop-motion techniques to create a genuinely claustrophobic atmosphere.
“Produced by the pioneering multimedia team at Inscape,” the description provided by publisher GMedia states, “this surreal first-person horror experience redefined the genre in 1995. Its haunting mix of stop-motion animation, video layering, and psychological dread remains a landmark in interactive storytelling.”
“I have been chasing these rights for nearly ten years,” Nightdive’s Stephen Kick shared on Twitter. “I have no idea who GMedia is or how they managed to secure the license. If this release is above board, it’s a massive victory, as The Dark Eye is an incredibly distinct and atmospheric point-and-click adventure.”
The mystery deepens when looking into GMedia, a firm that previously had zero presence on Steam. Their promotional assets, managed through the indie marketing site Impress, provide some context regarding the rebranding but little on the company’s background.
“Because of existing trademark registrations with other established franchises, we had to adopt a new identity to facilitate a global launch,” explained publishing manager Arjun Mehra. “We selected a title that highlights the legendary author at the heart of the game. Edgar Allan Poe’s Interactive Horror immediately signals its literary foundations to modern gamers, while the ‘1995 Edition’ tag guarantees long-time fans that the nightmare remains exactly as they remember—untouched and authentically preserved.”
I’ve been tracking down these rights for almost a decade. No idea who GMedia is or how they would have secured them 🤨 If it’s legit, it’s a triumph as The Dark Eye is an exceptionally cool point ‘n’ click. https://t.co/8rZELsabtE
— Stephen Kick (@pripyatbeast)
GMedia describes itself in high-level corporate terms, calling itself a “strategic digital architect” focused on the “convergence of historical media and next-gen distribution.” They claim to specialize in the “sophisticated restoration” of intellectual properties to ensure they find a place in today’s market.
Stripped of the marketing jargon, their mission appears to be porting obscure, high-concept vintage games to modern hardware. While it remains a mystery how a relatively unknown firm based in India successfully navigated the legal hurdles that stumped industry veterans for years, the return of this surreal ’90s gem is a welcome development for the horror community.
Looking for more chills? Check out our list of the best horror games available right now.
Source: gamesradar.com
