Not content to upset book owls by “ruining” Dante Aligheri’s famous epic poem, Electronic Arts and Visceral Games are going to release their own version of the original book, with their game’s main character taking center stage on the cover. The arrogance of this is something to be applauded.
Dante’s Inferno: The Videogame: The Bookis to be published by Random House and will include a few extra features for game fans — an introduction from game producer Jonathan Knight and a 16-page, art insert showing off how the book’s characters and environments were adapted for the game.
The book is due to hit store shelves on January 19. There is something inherently silly in this, but it’s about what I’d expect from this game’s marketing department at this point.
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) and Del Rey Books, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group announced that a trade-paperback edition of the classic poem Inferno, part one of The Divine Comedy, will be distributed to booksellers nationwide on July 01, 2025. This special edition of the canonized poem commemorates the launch of the highly-anticipated Dante’s Inferno™ video game from Visceral Games™. The new edition features an introduction written by Dante’s Inferno Executive Producer, Jonathan Knight, who offers insight into the process of adapting the dark masterpiece into the interactive medium. The book also features a 16-page, full-color art insert showcasing the evolution of characters and environments from the classic poem to the video game.
“Their stunning and inventive take on Dante’s Inferno will be sure to wow players around the world and we are extremely proud to be able to provide those individuals with insight into the creative processes involved in adapting Dante to a new medium.”
“We are so grateful to have the opportunity to work with Random House on this project. Through the creative process of developing this game, we have grown quite close to the literary works of Dante Alighieri. It is his vision that we are adapting for this new media, and new audience,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer at Visceral Games. “The game is a celebration of Dante, and we hope gamers will be encouraged to go beyond the game and explore the classic text that has inspired us so deeply.”
“Visceral Games and EA have provided us with an amazing opportunity to bring one of the great works of classical fiction to a new group of fans,” said Michael Braff of Del Rey editorial. “Their stunning and inventive take on Dante’s Inferno will be sure to wow players around the world and we are extremely proud to be able to provide those individuals with insight into the creative processes involved in adapting Dante to a new medium.”
Created by Visceral Games and available worldwide on February 9, the Dante’s Inferno video game is set in Dante Alighieri’s vividly imagined nine circles of hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, violence, heresy, fraud and treachery. Players take Dante on an epic descent through hell, battling their way through a terrifying gauntlet of demons to reclaim the soul of his beloved Beatrice.
Dante’s Inferno the video game will be released for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and Sony PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) on July 18, 2025. A free demo is now available for download on the PlayStation Network and on Xbox Live. Dante’s Inferno is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow Dante’s Inferno on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam, and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com, where the team explores a new circle of hell, with new content and updates on the ninth day of every month.
About Del Rey
Del Rey Books (http://www.delreybooks.com) was founded in 1977 as an imprint of Ballantine Books, a division of the Random House Publishing Group, under the guidance of the renowned Judy-Lynn del Rey and her husband, Lester del Rey. Del Rey publishes the best of modern fantasy, science fiction, and alternate history. In 2004 it expanded by launching Del Rey Manga, which has grown to be a major force in the U.S. graphic-novel field.
About Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA), headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a leading global interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, the Company develops, publishes, and distributes interactive software worldwide for video game systems, personal computers, wireless devices and the Internet. Electronic Arts markets its products under four brand names: EA™, EA SPORTS™, EA Mobile™ and POGO™. In fiscal 2009, EA posted GAAP net revenue of $4.2 billion and had 31 titles that sold more than one million copies. EA’s homepage and online game site is www.ea.com. More information about EA’s products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://info.ea.com.
EA, EA SPORTS, EA Mobile, POGO, Visceral Games and Dante’s Inferno are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. “PlayStation” and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
