Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen announced a live-action feature film adaptation of DREDGE on April 9, 2024. The project has since been described as being in development, with early concept design work and script development underway, but no release date, cast, director, distributor, or production start has been confirmed in the sources available.
What the DREDGE film announcement said
The April 9, 2024 announcement named game developer Black Salt Games and production company Story Kitchen as collaborators on a live-action feature adaptation. Game Informer reported the project’s pitch as: “Think The Sixth Sense on the water. A grounded atmospheric cosmic horror blend of HP Lovecraft and Ernest Hemingway.” That is promotional framing, not a confirmed plot summary or an indication that the film adapts either author’s work. Game Informer’s announcement coverage
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
DREDGE Complete Collector's Edition - Nintendo Switch | Buy on Amazon | |
| 2 |
|
DREDGE: Deluxe Edition - Xbox Series X | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Fireshine Games Dredge Deluxe Edition | $46.04 | Buy on Amazon |
Black Salt Games said it was excited to bring the world it created “to live action,” while Story Kitchen described the game as an eerie, rich story. Both comments were joint company statements, not remarks attributed to individually named speakers. Game Informer also reported a Metacritic score of 80/100 at the time of its April 9, 2024 article; that is a dated snapshot, not a current rating.
What the game is about
DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure set around a mysterious archipelago. Players catch and sell fish, upgrade their boat, explore the islands, and dredge the depths for hidden things. Its ordinary fishing routine sits alongside a sinister undercurrent, giving the adaptation announcement’s cosmic-horror description a clear connection to the game’s premise. The official DREDGE site presents the game and links to its stores.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute#1 Best Overall
- A special edition of DREDGE with of all the DLC included on the cart / disc (Blackstone Key, The Pale Reach and The Iron Rig). Also features exclusive artwork and a reversible inlay that depicts the cover of the Book of the Deep.
- A replica of the mysterious Sign of Ruin talisman. A symbol of the deep is carved into this unassuming rock. It's sure to draw the attention of those attuned to it. Approximately 10cm x 10cm x 10cm in size.
- A double-sided poster featuring the all-new Complete Collector’s Edition artwork on one side and the original DREDGE artwork on the other.
- A fold-out nautical chart to help you navigate your way around The Marrows and the surrounding archipelagos, along with a sticker set of map markers.
- A complete compendium of all fish and their aberrant variants in a hardback volume, message from the developer and metal doubloon coin.
Black Salt Games’ press kit identifies the studio as developer and Team17 as publisher. It lists the game’s release date as March 30, 2023, and its platforms as PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X|S.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Development status and what remains unknown
Kehan Miller’s DREDGE Feature Film page describes him as guiding development and negotiations. Miller’s page also mentions early concept design work with Wētā Workshop and script development with creative talent not yet announced there. These details come from Miller’s project page; they are not a separate joint announcement from Black Salt Games and Story Kitchen.
Rank #2
- Two Halves of one Tale: DREDGE keeps the player enthralled by hinting at a story much more sinister than at first thought: Uncover piece by piece the mystery surrounding your arrival in the Archipelago.
- Day and Night Cycle Storytelling: While the world of DREDGE seems peaceful during the day, once the sun sets, you’ll want to be sure you keep your lights on and wits about you. The world changes dramatically at night, so always be on your toes!
- Fishing Galore!: Every type of fishing within the game comes with an accompanying system to catch fish! From patrolling shallow waters, to trawling the ocean floor, using crab pots, to the titular dredging itself. Experience a wide array of different game mechanics solely created to make fishing as varied and interesting as possible.
- Keeping Sane: If you want to survive the sea, you need to make sure your sanity is kept in check with the Panic system. Without it, you’ll be seeing deadly illusions, like terrifying aquatic creatures, false rocks you may crash your ship on, and much more.
- Oh Captain! My Captain!: Keep your boat in good shape with the boat upgrade menu, research opportunities and all-round repairs. Let it get too damaged and you’ll be one step closer to the grave.
A later TechRadar feature published August 1, 2026 included DREDGE among Story Kitchen’s announced adaptations but did not provide release or production specifics in the passage reviewed. TechRadar’s Story Kitchen feature
- Release date: not established in the cited project updates.
- Cast and director: not announced in the cited sources.
- Distributor: not identified in the cited sources.
- Production start: not confirmed in the cited sources.
Accordingly, the film should be described as an announced adaptation in development—not as a released film or a production with a confirmed schedule.
Quick Recap
Rank #3
- DREDGE is a single-player fishing adventure with a sinister undercurrent. Sell your catch, upgrade your boat, and dredge the depths for long-buried secrets. Explore a mysterious archipelago and discover why some things are best left forgotten.
- Unravel a Mystery Captain your fishing trawler across a collection of remote islands, each with its own inhabitants to meet, wildlife to discover, and stories to unearth.
- Dredge the Depths Scour the sea for hidden treasures and complete quests to gain access to strange new abilities
- Study Your Craft Research special equipment and upgrade your boat’s capabilities to gain access to rare fish and valuable deep-sea curios.
- Fight the Unfathomable Strengthen your mind and use your abilities to survive trips out on the water after dark.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
