Speculation is rife that EA studio Visceral Games, developers of acclaimed survival horror title Dead Space, is working on a game centred on the notorious 19th century serial killer, Jack the Ripper.
Electronic Arts has filed two trademark registrations for a property entitled ‘The Ripper’, with the information initially unearthed by industry-blog site Superannuation.
EA’s trademark of ‘The Ripper’, if indeed connected to a Jack The Ripper Title, is most likely the publisher’s attempt to create a trademark protection around otherwise copyright-free historical material.
EA is, similarly, working on a game based on Dante’s Inferno.
The speculation first emerged back in July when anonymous sources, reportedly close to EA, told The LA Times that Visceral was working on a game based on the serial killer, who preyed on prostitutes around the Whitechapel area of London back in 1888.
Various theories have pointed at the Ripper’s identity, including connections to royalty, though none were ever proven.