Sega Amusements has announced House of the Dead Reawakened, a new virtual-reality arcade shooter revealed ahead of Halloween 2026. It will be the first VR entry in the series as the franchise approaches its 30th anniversary in arcades.
A gothic manor arcade cabinet
The cabinet is built to resemble part of the haunted location players explore. Its theatrical gothic-manor design draws inspiration from Sega’s VR Agent and 3MindWave’s Aegis Unbound, with animated lighting, a working clock tower and a jump-scare feature intended to attract attention in a busy venue.
The announced cabinet features include:
- An 85-inch central attract screen.
- Two 43-inch player-viewing screens that allow spectators to follow the action and are designed to create a pronounced depth effect.
- 2.1-channel audio for each player, including bass.
- Custom light-gun controllers with haptic feedback.
- Integrated DPVR E4C VR headsets with magnetic auto-calibration.
- A custom stainless-steel-armoured headset cable harness load-tested to 286 pounds, or 130 kilograms, and supported by a 12-month warranty.
Cable durability is a significant consideration for VR arcade operators. Headsets and light guns need to remain tethered to the cabinet, while constant movement can place heavy strain on connection points. Sega’s reinforced harness is intended to address that maintenance challenge, with the 12-month warranty providing additional operator support.
The cabinet measures 110 inches high, 106 inches wide and 57 inches deep. Venues comparing its footprint with other arcade machines will need to allow for its considerable height and width.
The first trailer presents the cabinet and its horror-themed presentation. More industry footage is available in RETROCADE’s arcade videos collection.
Three missions in virtual reality
Developed with Unreal Engine 5, House of the Dead Reawakened appears to follow House of the Dead Scarlet Dawn, the 2018 arcade release made with Unreal Engine 4. Sega says players will use multiple weapons to battle hordes of creatures across three missions, with both solo and co-operative modes available.
The series began its arcade life in 1997. Sega’s announcement describes five amusement titles, alongside spin-off films and console games, and identifies the brand as having an audience that includes dedicated horror fans and casual players.
“We’re proud to bring this quintessential horror game back to arcades in our most impressive build to date, all under one simple promise: ‘Dare to Experience’,” said Siraj Elkhawad, CEO of Sega Amusements International. “With the franchise’s 30th anniversary just around the corner, this means a great deal to us. The House of the Dead brand has defined horror gaming for a generation, and reawakening it like this, for the very first time, felt like the only way to do that legacy justice.”
IAAPA 2026 appearance
Further views of the cabinet and game presentation are included below.
House of the Dead Reawakened is scheduled to appear at IAAPA 2026, which begins on 17 November. The game will be available for hands-on play and filming at the event, offering a closer look at Sega’s VR approach.
Sega has not announced pricing or a release date. Operators assessing the space and hardware required can consult RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide. Readers interested in the wider light-gun format can also browse arcade light guns.
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