The video games industry has been in a loop, where previously released games are being remade, remastered, or rebooted. It is so rampant nowadays that new and innovative titles are often pushed aside, as the certainty of what has already worked before is preferred over fresh ideas. With this, the fear of making and buying original games is being inspired by encouraging and supporting rereleases.
Factors such as budget issues, where to spend such a budget, and what players prefer contribute to the trend of remastering and remaking games. Mixing up these factors makes companies and buyers play it safe. As a result, we might be forgetting about a franchise's full potential because we are too focused on what its games have already become.
The Economics of Nostalgia
It costs hundreds of millions to make a single game, with some AAA games in development for decades. So many resources go into making one that the risk of failure is simply too great for companies.
This concern pushes studios to go for safer options instead of creating a fresh game. It is less risky to reboot an old game because it costs less than creating a new one from scratch. As long as they rerelease something that is already well-received, there is no need to fix systems and invent new stuff. Most of the time, they don’t even have to change the narrative, as it will only ruin childhood memories for long-term players.
Familiar and successful titles will always have a guaranteed audience. So, whenever Sony re-releases The Last of Us or Nintendo remakes a Zelda game, people will buy copies without second thought. This immediately casts another concern for companies aside, because their games become even more likable with better graphics and QoL improvements. Ultimately, it's difficult to mess up what fans already love.
Player Complicity and Market Dynamics
The players also contribute to this wave as much as companies do. As long as they consume remade products, companies will keep on producing them. Their nostalgia hits hard, making this trend the norm most of the time. When forced to pick between a beloved game and an entirely new title, they will most likely choose the one that built their childhood.
Making games is expensive. Therefore, buying games is also expensive. With this, despite reviews and gameplay clips, players will often rely on their own experiences to judge the competence of a game. They will most likely buy a game with the guarantee of enjoyment over unknown experiences to make their purchase worthwhile.
That mindset feeds the loop. Consequently, companies will be making reboots, assuming it's entirely what the consumers want. More of their effort will be put into improving and marketing remakes and remasters, which is why even new players would be more at ease buying a remastered game. Thus, original games won’t get the same support from both sides.
Stifling Innovation in Game Design
With this topic, it is hard not to talk about Capcom as they’ve redone 4 Resident Evil games already. At least to their credit, they still make room for new ideas with the release of Resident Evil 7 and 8. On the other hand, Square Enix is pouring so much into remaking Final Fantasy VII, turning a single game into a trilogy.
This trend heavily impacts the creativity of games. As these companies put aside new drafts, even developers with talents to innovate are forced to reimagine their previous works. Instead of building fresh solutions, their seasoned coders continue to upgrade old games. This means there are fewer resources put into chasing new, unknown ideas, because they are too focused on furnishing what is already done.
Conclusion
The video game world’s preference for remakes and remasters makes sense. It provides companies with steady cash and provides players with nostalgia and certain enjoyment. Additionally, it allows new players to experience good old titles without their outdated technology. Overall, it is safe.
On the flip side, it pushes back creative growth. These remakes and remasters set aside games with new and unprecedented designs and concepts. They might not be profitable at the moment, but they are essential to the development of this industry. Remember that these new successful games were inspired by their predecessors that took heavy risks without repeating previous works.
All of us in the video games industry love to go back to the memory lane. Reminiscing and reliving our past is fine. However, for the sake of future gamers, we have to move forward and support fresh takes as much as remakes and remasters. We have to take risks so that they won't just be playing the Resident Evil 8 remaster, but a new title, something that currently, no one has even thought of before.
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