Month: October 2022

Don't be fooled by the over-the-shoulder perspective. This isn't just another Dead Space.

When looking at The Callisto Protocol, it’s hard not to think of the Dead Space series. Coming from the former Visceral Games developers who have now formed Striking Distance Studios, the upcoming survival-horror game shares plenty of similarities with EA’s beloved space-horror shooter series (which also seems to be set for a revival in 2023).

The creative director of The Callisto Protocol (and co-creator of Dead Space), Glen Schofield, says he wants his new game to be the next step for the genre rather than just retreading familiar ground. "I know people are calling [The Callisto Protocol] a spiritual successor to Dead Space, but I honestly don't mean it to be that way," he told Ars at a recent preview event. "I want this to be a standalone game, and once you get into the story and experience, there are some key differences at work, which I'm really proud of."

And after finally playing an early portion of the game and speaking with Schofield about its development, it became clear that there’s more going on with The Callisto Protocol and its brand of sci-fi horror than appears at first glance.

Enlarge / A Bosch worker assembles an electric motor at the company's factory in Charleston, South Carolina. (credit: Bosch)

On Tuesday, Bosch formally announced the start of electric motor production at its factory in Charleston, South Carolina, taking over space that was previously used to make components for diesel engines. Bosch says it will invest $260 million to expand its electrified products at Charleston and will add a total of 350 new jobs by 2025.

"We have grown our electrification business globally and here in the North American region," said Mike Mansuetti, president of Bosch in North America. "We've invested more than $6 billion in electromobility development, and in 2021, our global orders for electromobility surpassed $10 billion dollars for the first time. Local production helps to advance our customers' regional electrification strategies and further supports the market demand for electrification."

The factory in Charleston will build rotors and stators and perform final assembly, with power outputs ranging from 67 to 670 hp (50–500 kW) and 110–738 lb-ft (150–1,000 Nm), with an efficiency of 98 percent. The motors are suitable for light vehicles like passenger cars, trucks, and SUVs, and Bosch's first customer will be Rivian, although the startup does plan to build its own motors eventually.