Given how more and more games are getting remastered and/or remade these days, it’s getting harder and harder to say exactly what constitutes a full-on remake, or if a game is just getting a remaster. From a developer’s point-of-view, Dead Space remake Creative Director Roman Campos-Oriola weighs in on the topic.

When asked in an interview, “How do you define a remake versus a remaster?” Here’s what Campos-Oriola had to say:

For us, a remaster is what was done with the Mass Effect trilogy, they stuck to the same engine and improved some assets… it’s better, but it’s the same game. There are multiple definitions of what a remake is, but for me it’s about moving to a new engine and completely rebuilding the game.

Beyond that, depending on how much you remake from the original game, it can no longer be a remake and become a reboot. That would be more about sticking to the foundation, genre and story. A good example would be the recent Resident Evil 2 remake, which even though they changed the perspective, it’s still horror and for most of it it’s the same story.

Personally, if it adds new content, updated visuals and whatnot, I’d call that a remake, but I can see how the link might get blurry for some. Case in point: the report we broke regarding the re-release of Horizon Zero Dawn fits that bill, and we’re unsure yet whether it’ll be a full-on remake, or a remaster. 

For more on the Dead Space remake, head on here to watch the latest gameplay look, as well as list of new features being implemented in the game by Motive Studio.

Dead Space floats out this January 27, 2023 on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.

Source: VGC