The Comfort Of Familiarity: Why Remakes Have Become A Gaming Industry Staple

The video game industry’s fixation on remakes has become a defining trend of the past decade. This phenomenon is not unique to gaming, as Disney’s ___-action remakes and TV show revivals like King of the Hill and Malcolm in the Middle demonstrate. However, the sheer volume of remakes and remasters in the gaming world is striking, with over two dozen releases this year alone.

At the heart of this trend lies the concept of “comfort.” According to Larry Kuperman, VP of business development at Nightdive Studios, remakes and remasters offer a sense of familiarity and novelty in uncertain times. This emotional connection is a hallmark of games as an art form, capable of evoking powerful emotions in players.

For established brands like Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid, remakes are a safe bet, allowing consumers to revisit beloved games with a degree of confidence. From a business perspective, investing in remakes makes sense, as it reduces the risk associated with concepting and prototyping new games. However, this approach can also lead to cynical cash-grab remasters that prioritize profit over innovation.

Despite this, many developers believe that remaking games is a catalyst for innovation and forward thinking.