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The Art of Remastering Old Game

Updated: Aug 28


Classics Don't Have to Be Outdated! Some games released years ago still have a special place in their players' hearts, even as they've grown up.


That said, a few of those video games might need a glow-up to reignite the urge to play them again. We can do that through a process called Remastering!


Game Remastering has been a huge trend in recent years. Massive game franchises like The Last of Us, Halo, and even Grand Theft Auto found massive success after getting remade with new visuals and updated content.


Here, we can see Game Developers racing to breathe fresh life into classic games.


But Game Remastering is more complex than redrawing characters or just bumping up the graphics quality. In this article, we'll dive deeper into Game Remastering.



What is Game Remastering?

Remastering essentially means modifying something to look newer and fresher. For a video game, this could mean updating cosmetics, characters, and even a smidge of the gameplay. A successful Game Remaster is one where, when played, players don't lose the unique charm that made them fall in love with the game, yet it feels and looks brand new.


Finding that balance is no easy feat. Changing too much can make long-time players feel the game is unrecognizable. Updating too little won't feel significant when playing. Game developers need the expertise to determine which parts need changing and which don't.


Game Developers can enlist the help of Game Art Outsourcing Studios to freshen up how the game will look and play.



How Does the Game Remastering Process Work?

The Game Remastering process depends on the developer's or publisher's vision for that game.


How complex the game will be updated to follow current, modern tech and trends. Not to mention ever-changing gamer market tastes, making the Remastering process trickier than it seems.


But simply put, the Game Remastering process can be broken down as follows:


  1. Selecting Games for Remastering: Fan Devotion and Resource Consideration


With millions of video game titles out there, finding one to get the Remastering treatment needs to consider a few factors. Primarily, the sheer devotion of fans to that game's franchise. It's worth noting not every game needs to or has the resources for a Remaster.


2. Updating Visuals: The Core of Game Remastering


After pinpointing the video game title getting Remastered, Game Developers can start with the most crucial bit: Visuals.


Graphics are a highly tech-dependent visual aspect. The chunky, polygonal graphics of games from 10 years ago will vastly differ from today's realistic, immersive graphics.


3. Adapting for Modern Devices: Enhancing Compatibility and Performance


Modernization also means being able to adapt and play on the latest devices. Not just because tech can make games smoother, but also the wider variety of gaming devices.


Players want to play their beloved classic games with smoother performance on newer devices.


4. Quality Assurance: Ensuring Remastered Excellence


At this stage, game developers need to scrutinize the results of all processes above. From stable performance to updated visuals.



Game Remastering Closely Involves Its Devoted Communities


Game remastering isn't just about updating visuals and audio, but also closely involving its loving community.


Remastering developers often collaborate with communities to understand what they want from a remaster, ensuring it meets their expectations.


One prime example is the Final Fantasy VII remaster. Square Enix worked with the Final Fantasy community for feedback on what they wanted from the remaster.


The community asked for it to stay faithful to the original game but include some new and enhanced features.


Square Enix listened to this feedback and delivered a remaster well-received by the community.


Successful game remastering is about more than just updating visuals and audio. It's about understanding what communities want from a remaster and ensuring it meets their expectations.


By collaborating with communities, developers can deliver a well-received and beloved remaster for fans.





Give Your Game Remastering Project a Visual Quality Upgrade with Sonderflex Studio's Expertise




Sonderflex Studio offers specialist visual design skills that are not only captivating but also effective. Game Remastering requires expertise able to deliver the same feeling and message as when the game was first played, yet looking twice as appealing.


Sonderflex Studio's visual design also considers the creative process with in-depth research into which remastered game values can and cannot be changed. Drop Sonderflex Studio a hello, and let's discuss further!

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