No one expected this open-world horror title to get a free remaster, but it makes perfect sense. Here’s what’s new in The Sinking City Remastered. Frogwares now fully owns the IP and is re-releasing its 2019 game alongside its highly anticipated sequel.

Games inspired by H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror have spanned numerous genres, from strategy games to survival horror classics. One recent but polarizing entry was Frogwares’ The Sinking City, which is now unexpectedly getting a free remastered edition. With its sequel recently surpassing its Kickstarter goal by more than 400%, the studio has announced a surprising new initiative: completely remastering their original 2019 release in Unreal Engine 5.

This remastered version is coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, promising significant visual improvements, though a release date hasn’t been announced yet. Key upgrades include fully reworked lighting systems, 4K textures, enhanced reflections, and an all-new Photo Mode. Additionally, it will support advanced upscaling technologies like DLSS, FSR, and TSR, providing players a smoother, visually richer gaming experience.

Frogwares has confirmed that owners of the original title on the aforementioned platforms will receive the remaster entirely free of charge—a move likely to earn significant appreciation from the gaming community, especially amidst a trend of expensive remasters. Despite its mixed initial reception—partly due to an Epic Games Store exclusivity deal on PC—the original title is barely six years old, placing it in a category similar to remasters of titles like Days Gone or The Last of Us Part 2.

The Unexpected Reason Behind the Free Remaster

This remaster can also be viewed as a significant statement from Frogwares, which was locked in legal battles with publisher Nacon since 2020 over “intellectual property violations and unpaid royalties,” causing the game’s temporary removal from Steam. In January 2024, Frogwares regained ownership of the IP, allowing them to independently publish the upcoming sequel. With their Kickstarter’s tremendous success, the decision for a free remaster is clearly strategic.

Meanwhile, the Kickstarter campaign continues to hit new funding milestones, with Frogwares launching a unique initiative inviting fans to submit voice recordings. Participants’ voices will join a choir paying tribute to Yog-Sothoth, one of the game’s iconic ancient gods, and they could win a Collector’s Edition of the upcoming sequel.

Thanks to community backing and visual enhancements, The Sinking City 2 is shaping up to become one of the most highly anticipated Lovecraftian games yet, promising an unforgettable experience for mystery and supernatural enthusiasts alike.

Source: 3djuegos