Will Reboot & Remaster Fatigue Ever Impact Gaming?

There’s plenty of discussion in Hollywood right now about a serious lack of imagination when it comes to making movies. It’s long been stated that we live in the era of the reboot – prequel, sequel, reimagining, ad nauseum – and while it’s always fun for fans of a certain franchise to get more stories from that ‘universe,’ it’s also clear that there is a sense of fatigue around going to movies, a feeling that nothing is truly new. There are accusations that studios are lazy, greedy, or simply lack the originality that once characterized movie output.

The gaming world has broadly embraced the reboot trend, too. But while some gamers might sigh when seeing the latest Final Fantasy remaster or Lara Croft reboot, you can argue that the same sense of fatigue – or frustration – does not exist. Arguably, gaming’s ecosystem is richer with new ideas at the moment, although that does not mean gamers won’t eventually question the originality of game publishers, especially those behind big AAA franchises.  

A reboot can breathe new life into an intellectual property

The first thing to say is that a reboot can breathe new life into a game in ways that are not possible with movies. It’s not limited to traditional video gaming, either. Suppose you take the trend in Megaways online slots these days, which has allowed iGaming developers to reboot many classic slots like the Dog House and Gonzo’s Quest and showcase them in a new format. It’s not, as is the case with movies, retelling the same story. Rather, it’s about letting players find a new type of experience with popular IP.

Of course, one of the main areas of importance is that games evolve with technology. If I were a Hollywood director wanting to reboot, say, The Goonies, then there is a limited amount that I can do to ensure viewers experience the movie in a new way. Sure, there are technologies like CGI that can change the look of the presentation, but the changes are only aesthetics. Technology has evolved to change the fundamentals of gaming, and that means revisiting beloved IP remains fresh.

Another aspect is the role of indie developers. While indie films exist and are part of a vibrant tapestry of modern films, the vast majority of movies we see in mainstream theaters are produced by around a dozen studios. Even if some of the big game publishers look to safe bets by revisiting older IP, we know that there are always indie developers ready to drop the next Baldur’s Gate or Hollow Knight.

When is it too soon to remaster?

That said, it’s worth remembering that there has been some pushback from gamers when publishers have attempted to foist reworked games upon them. Perhaps the most prevalent example was The Last of Us Part II Remastered. Just three and a half years had elapsed since the original was released, so many players saw it as a cash grab, even if there were some interesting additions that allowed the publishers to claim that the changes weren’t only superficial.

We might also look to the future and the challenge of artificial intelligence. There is much debate about the role the technology will play in gaming, and that impact is already being felt. Yet, it is worth remembering that AI cannot create in a vacuum; it must be trained on existing intellectual property. While this does not immediately feed into the idea of endless reboots, it does raise the specter of a future of gaming where there is a “sameness” in the content.

In the end, though, it feels like the gaming world can handle the drive toward revisiting worlds we have already encountered. Even if the major publishers insist on flooding the market with reboots and remasters, the indie scene is strong enough to supplement it, and, of course, there may be enough in the way of fundamental changes that the game feels completely fresh. Sometimes, a gaming reboot or remaster can be a cash grab, but it might also unlock new experiences or open a world to a new generation of players. It’s difficult to become tired of that.