EA today announced that a prequel set in the horror-themed universe of Dead Space is slated to hit Xbox Live Marketplace and PSN later this fall. It’s also taking a direction you might not expect. Entitled Dead Space: Ignition, the effort “combines an interactive comic-style story with three unique hacking mini games; Hardware Crack, Trace Route and System Override.”

Plot-wise, the title picks up before the events of the forthcoming Dead Space 2, depicting the events that led up to the horrific Necromorph outbreak.

EA says it is positioning the title as the “first of many” game extensions planned for the launch of Dead Space 2, which is due out in North America on January 25 for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

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Read more: Pre-Order Dead Space 2, Get Dead Space Ignition Free,  Dead Space Gold, Begins Shipping On October 14,  Impressions: Dead Space 2 by KezraPlanes,  Dead Space Release Date Bumped Up, Hits North America October 14,  Dead Space 2 ‘Severed’ DLC Hits March 1