Why are Video Game Remakes and Remasters Popular?

Nostalgia is one hell of a drug! It makes people feel all sorts of emotions. One can feel delighted, free, and extremely happy when hit by it. At the same time, others can feel somber, sad, and perhaps even depressed after nostalgia kicks in. For us, gamers, there is no better source for a good dose of nostalgia other than video game remakes or remasters. 

Not only do they take us back to the era of simpler, older games, but they also present them to us with updated graphics. Video game remasters and remakes satisfy two wishes of gamers in one go. First, is the desire to go back in time and feel the wonder of much-simpler days. The other is the wish to see our classic favorites be supplemented by modern graphics and gameplay elements.

In this article, we will look at some of the factors why video game remakes and remasters are popular. In the end, we aim to fully comprehend how such games manage to hit the heartstrings of gamers worldwide.

What is the Point of Remaking or Remastering Games?

While many would argue that game developers simply do remakes and remasters for cash-grabbing reasons, they aren’t entirely true. Yes, taking an already popular game back in the day to the modern world practically guarantees a truckload of cash. However, there is more to it than just that. 

Apart from evoking nostalgia and furthering a game’s legacy, developers also use remakes and remasters to create excitement for their new releases. Perhaps the new sequel to the source material they used or a soft reboot of it. Moreover, such games can also significantly help developers improve their skills and gain more credibility in the process. 

Here are two key points why game developers make video game remakes and remasters. Take note that we wouldn’t be including obvious reasons here, such as making tons of money.

It Is Way Less Riskier Than Coming Up With A New IP

Remasters and remakes put developers in a low-risk, high-reward scenario. Even though such games tend to sell less than a brand new title, actually developing them is significantly much cheaper. Furthermore, studios can also select which old game they would take to the modern setting, practically guaranteeing themselves an audience. 

The demand will be there, the profit potential is very high, and the development process won’t be as demanding as making a new game. Those things are music to the ears of game developers, and that is precisely why they love doing remasters and remakes. 

Moreover, it also helps lesser-known developers further their resumé before they start creating their IPs. Look no further than Bluepoint Games as the best example of such. Thanks to their excellent remakes (Shadow of the Colossus and Demon’s Souls), fans are now clamoring for a true Bluepoint original game.

To Generate Excitement For Their New Release

Remakes and remasters can also be used to generate buzz for a series that may have fizzled in popularity after a few years without a follow-up title. For instance, Sony PlayStation’s premier mascot of the video game platforming era, Crash Bandicoot. Thanks to a series of high-quality remakes, Crash Bandicoot, as a series, is back in the limelight! Now, the series is arguably as popular as it has been, kickstarting a new series of games with revitalized momentum.

Think of it as the developers’ way of waking up our interest in certain games that may have since wandered away from our radar. If they aren’t out to create a new series of sequels based on the game they remastered or remade, they most likely are preparing for something else. Perhaps a spin-off series or crossover titles.

A Win-Win Situation For All

Video game remakes and remasters are just a win-win situation for game developers and fans alike. For developers, looking past the thinking that they only do such to practically guarantee themselves millions, you’d see that doing so helps them even further than that. On the other hand, while some players may wish for new games, others just want to revisit their favorites in a brand-new light. There is nothing wrong with that. 

We understand that it can indeed get quite frustrating to see remakes and remasters almost every time. However, we also believe that they shouldn’t get any hate right off the bat just for it. As long as the game is good, faithful to the source material, and not just a downright reskin of it, everything is good for us. As much as we love to get new experiences with new characters and stories, sometimes there’s just no beating the feeling of nostalgia remakes and remasters provide.

But what do you think? Are there too many video game remakes and remasters today? Do you prefer game developers to focus on creating new IPs instead? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below! For more articles like this, stay tuned to our website and follow us on our social media accounts.