Remakes and remasters are so popular, 9 out of 10 gamers out there have played one or the other at least once in the last 12 months, says a study published by consultancy firm MTM.
The study interviewed 1,500 people—half in the US, half in the UK—accepting answers only from people who claimed to play games on a regular basis. While the final paper does not explicitly say what its metric was for “regular basis”, its conclusion was that remakes and remasters have a massive appeal to 90% of the gaming consumer base.
The results are a bit surprising, not for the fact that these projects are in demand (just see Metal Gear Solid Delta’s page on OpenCritic: the game is still top-5-ranked over there), but because the sheer numbers being so high.
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Why are remakes and remasters in such a high right now
By definition , both remakes and remasters bet on two things: nostalgic value for an older generation of gamers; and the possibility to introduce a highly talked-about classic to a younger audience. However, they are, by definition, two different things:
A “remaster” is defined as an upgraded version of an existing game that retains its original source code, engine, and fundamental gameplay mechanics. The primary goal is to provide a “visual and technical refresh” to improve performance and graphical fidelity for modern hardware. Like the Tomb Raider I-VI project announced back in May.
In contrast, a remake is a title that is “rebuilt everything from the ground up”. This process involves the use of a new game engine and the creation of new assets, which often allows for the integration of new gameplay mechanics, expanded narrative content, and a reimagined creative vision. Think “Resident Evil 4 Remake” and its subsequent releases and you’ll get the gist of it (I mean, it is *quite literally* in the name…).
All of these bear some weight on MTM’s study. Here’s some data pulled from the document:
- 90% of PC and console gamers have played remakes and remasters at least once in the last 12 months.
- 85% of those who played a remaster or remake in the last year had not played the original version.
- 76% of respondents said they find remakes and remasters “appealing.”
“Our report shows that there is a strong appeal for remakes and remasters, but it’s a tight balancing act for studios to get right,” said Martin Bradley, head of gaming at MTM, on the study’s news alert. “Many of these games are far out-selling their original release.”
But is this a good thing in the end? While most of those interviewed by the pool did express positivity towards remakes and remasters, there was a large portion that thought that the industry shifting its focus completely towards them could come at the cost of innovation.
The study reveals a complex relationship between gamers and modern remakes. While the popularity of these titles is evident, fueled (in the study’s own words) by a desire to reconnect with positive memories, the research also uncovers a nuanced perspective. Gamers want these experiences to preserve the core essence of the original games while benefiting from updated graphics, controls, and mechanics.
Even more so, some players express concern that the industry’s focus on revisiting the past is a repetitive, easy route that sacrifices the creation of new, innovative experiences. The report highlights that developers and publishers face a delicate balancing act in satisfying consumer demand for nostalgia without stifling creativity.
Well, we certainly did share our love for remakes: the aforementioned Metal Gear Solid Delta, for instance: we reviewed the game ourselves, gave it high praises even. For all effects and purposes, it is an amazing game remade by faithfully recreating another amazing game.
But we can’t hide from the fact that the last “new” Metal Gear title was 2018’s Metal Gear Survive (which had a questionable performance at best). After that, Konami only launched Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol.1 in 2023 (which were all remasters and/or emulations from the five mainline titles of the entire franchise).
And Konami is not the only one to board the hype train for remakes and remasters: rumors are plenty about a potential Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake; we got a “remaster of a remaster” in the skin of Gears of War: Reloaded in August, our own editor and founder, Mikhail, played Silent Hill 2 Remake to its bare bones… We are not lacking in revival options of those classics.
But as gamers, we also cherish the new stuff: new IPs like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or even prequels and sequels like Mafia: The Old Country, Grand Theft Auto 6 and Hollow Knight: Silksong are or will all be very appreciated, thank you very much.
It seems the industry is still trying to find its balance on this topic. How about you? Tell us what you think in the comments!
