Key Takeaways
1. A new sequel game and film for Friday the 13th are in early development according to Robbie Barsamian from Horror Inc.
2. The franchise was on hiatus for 16 years, with the last film being a reboot in 2009.
3. The 2017 game, Friday the 13th: The Game, achieved significant success with over 1.8 million copies sold and a large player base.
4. Legal challenges delayed progress on the franchise, leading to the game’s removal from sale in 2023.
5. Future developments may shift towards a more realistic, narrative-focused gameplay experience.
At the panel for the Jason Universe Initiative during San Diego Comic-Con 2025, Robbie Barsamian, who serves as Vice President of Horror Inc., finally tackled a major concern for Friday the 13th enthusiasts. He revealed that a new “sequel game” for Friday the 13th is currently in the early stages of development, as well as a new sequel film.
Franchise History
The Friday the 13th series had been on hiatus for a long time, specifically 16 years, with the last installment being a reboot released in 2009. During the panel at SDCC, Barsamian shared with the audience, “I can tell you that a new sequel movie and a new sequel game are at the top of our list. It’s where most of our energy is going right now, and I can tell you we’re finally in a position to deliver on that. While we’re not officially announcing with our partners today, both are coming. They’re both in the works.”
Game Success
The 2017 title, Friday the 13th: The Game, was an asymmetrical multiplayer experience created by IIIFonic, published by Gun Media. In this game, one person took on the role of Jason Voorhees while others played as camp counselors attempting to survive at Camp Crystal Lake. This format bore similarities to Dead by Daylight and helped shape the asymmetrical cooperative horror survival genre we recognize today.
This game built up a dedicated fanbase, achieving sales of over 1.8 million copies by August 2017 and raking in $30.3 million in revenue. It even hit an all-time high of 16,096 players online at once more than eight years ago.
Legal Challenges
However, the franchise faced legal challenges that stalled progress, especially when original writer Victor Miller and director Sean Cunningham halted updates in 2018. Eventually, the game was removed from sale on December 31, 2023, after its licensing expired. A year later, official servers were taken down, although a fan-created mod called Friday the 13th: Resurrected keeps the game available on PC.
The direction of the sequel remains uncertain. In a 2023 interview with composer Harry Manfredi, it was indicated that the franchise might depart from the asymmetrical gameplay, moving towards a “more realistic looking” approach, suggesting a linear, narrative-focused experience similar to horror titles like Alien: Isolation.
Future of the Franchise
Horror Inc. introduced the Jason Universe in May 2024 to revitalize the franchise across various media. Currently, there is no known timeline for when the next Friday the 13th game will be released. With legal obstacles seemingly cleared, fans are eagerly anticipating Jason’s comeback on modern consoles and PC.
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