EA Announces Wii-Exclusive Dead Space: Extraction - UPDATED

Dead Space: Extraction, an all-new prequel to the hit EA survival horror game Dead Space, is in development for the Nintendo Wii and slated for release later this year.

Dead Space: Extraction will detail the events leading up to the original game, telling the story of a handful of humans struggling to deal with the horrific infection sweeping their mining colony on the deepest fringes of space. As the plague claims its victims, keeping the game's new heroine alive may be the only hope for survival and escape.

"Nintendo has a wonderful history in the horror genre and we are thrilled to build on that tradition with Dead Space: Extraction," said EA Redwood Shores Vice President Glen Schofield. "As we were developing Dead Space, we realized that there was so much of the story going untold. Dead Space: Extraction tells that story with all of the intensity, blood and gore that fans would expect."

EA's intention to bring Dead Space to the Wii was first revealed during a conference call to investors in early February. No details were given at the time, but a Wii version of the game was mentioned as part of EA's new focus on the platform, which CEO John Riccitiello said would result in "half our emphasis in terms of title counts" going to Nintendo.

Dead Space: Extraction will make use of the Wii remote for an "action-packed horror experience" with new characters, weapons, enemies and puzzles, and will feature co-op multiplayer as well. The game is currently scheduled to ship in fall 2009.

UPDATE: Hey, there's a trailer.