Today in (Bio)Shocking News: Remasters Aren’t Over
Remasters of games released on last-generation consoles have been a constant among current-gen software lineups, to an extent that some cringe upon the mere utterance of the word. A believable rumor suggested publishers started relying on them after being uncertain of how current-gen consoles would sell, and were hesitant to invest money into titles exclusively made for them. (Note that this also explains the glut of cross-generation titles early in this gen.) It was a good plan, but was diluted when many publishers considered and acted on the idea concurrently.
Current and upcoming software lineups for PS4 and XB1 aren’t quite as dreary as they were when I last posted about remasters, but they make for such easy profits that publishers would be crazy to stop the trend. But despite the cynicism often involved with these, especially those that release with minimal improvements over their last-gen counterparts, some people are experiencing these titles for the first time in ideally definitive forms. We’ve seen a good share of quality remasters in the last couple of years, and they’ve done well enough to ensure that the trend won’t stop.
At this point, it’s possible even people who don’t pay attention to video games knew that Bioshock: The Collection was coming. It was by far the worst-kept secret in gaming for a while, after its existence leaked through ratings boards around the world, retailer listings (note how that’s from last September), and even publisher 2K’s official website. The question wasn’t whether it was coming, but when it would release, and what the heck was taking them so long to announce it. The fun is finally over, as 2K confirmed the collection is coming in around two-and-a-half months.
As you could conclude from the name and aforementioned leaks, the collection will include the original Bioshock, Bioshock 2, and Bioshock Infinite, and all the DLC from each game. The first two titles will be given minor graphical modifications, even for the PC version; but since Infinite isn’t that old, it’s being mostly untouched, outside of performance enhancements being made for the console versions. 2K’s handling of Borderlands: The Handsome Collection instills hope that this won’t be a case where the remasters are inferior to the original or PC versions.
Bioshock: The Collection will release on September 13th for PS4, XB1, and PC. Those who’ve purchased the PC versions of the first two games can get the new ones for $3.99, so it’s good that everyone doesn’t have to buy it again on that platform. Don’t expect anything of the sort on consoles, though.
Also coming is Batman: Return to Arkham, which will release with Batman: Arkham Asylum and Arkham City on one disc. This one was also a poorly-kept secret after its existence leaked through a number of venues, though it wasn’t quite to Bioshock’s extent. But some, like me, were hoping the early details were wrong, that Warner Bros. would change their mind and throw in Batman: Arkham Origins. Yet it’s clear the purpose of this package is to collect the Rocksteady Studios-developed titles released on last-gen platforms, which leaves the WB Montreal-developed one out in the cold. Instead of being straight ports, the games are being ported from Unreal Engine 3 to UE4, which would make you think it will include some graphical enhancements.
Right, that’s “think,” because taking a closer look at the remaster and comparing it to existing versions reveals otherwise. Somehow, it looks worse than the original in some parts. For instance, some lighting effects and other aesthetic touches didn’t make the transfer to the remaster, which make its visuals duller. Not to mention other missing effects, like the reflections in Hugo Strange’s glasses. Fortunately, this could be the reason why it was delayed indefinitely, after it was originally planned for release on July 26th. We’ll have to wait for an official word to see why, but I’m having a tough time imagining it was for anything else.
Meanwhile, Capcom has also been releasing three mainline Resident Evil games for current-gen consoles to commemorate the 20th Anniversary this year, albeit in opposite order. This started with Resident Evil 6 in late-March, and continued with this week’s digital release of Resident Evil 5. The physical version of RE5 will hit stores on July 12th, while Resident Evil 4 (yes, again) will arrive sometime this fall. Each version thus far has been the PC iteration with minor adjustments, which contain every piece of DLC and increased performance all around (1080p, 60fps, etc.). Perhaps it’s Capcom’s intention to get all the numbered RE games on modern platforms, since Resident Evil 2 Remake is coming, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if a remake of Resident Evil 3 followed.
If you’re the kind who thinks publishers are releasing too many of these for easy money, then I’m sorry, because these aren’t stopping. In addition to giving a larger audience the chance to play their games, publishers can still take advantage of the lack of backwards compatibility for certain titles on XB1 and entirely on PS4. Just keep in mind the production of remasters often doesn’t conflict with new game development, since they’re usually outsourced to other quality studios. Just don’t be alarmed if — or when — this trend is maintained well into 2017.
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Geoff
News Editor | Geoff is some nerd who writes for a blog and thinks he's knowledgeable. He write a lot about video games, but is capable of writing about other subjects, too. Twitter
