Since its announcement in May last year, the remastered version of Until Dawn has sparked division among players. For a game originally released in 2015 with graphics that remain relevant, restoring a game primarily structured like a film is a contentious issue. Aware of this divide, Sony Interactive Entertainment has decided to demonstrate that the visual changes between the original game released on PS4 nearly a decade ago and this revised version available on PS5 (and PC) offer genuine improvements.
To begin with, we learn that the game has been entirely recreated using Unreal Engine 5, Epic Games’ engine. Whether it’s character models, environments, interactive objects, visual effects, and animations, everything has been redone from scratch, as they say. Similarly, the game’s lighting has also undergone improvements, particularly with raytracing and enhanced materials, to recreate something truly horrifying, more atmospheric, and modern, we are told. Among the details that matter, Until Dawn 2024 proposes a new system for concealing injuries, allowing elements such as cuts, bruises, tears, snow, and water to be added to characters’ bodies.
In terms of execution, several refinements have been made, including the combination of fixed shots with “shoulder camera” perspectives, providing new viewpoints within the game. This camera flexibility allows for a closer focus on key moments and storytelling from a more intimate angle relative to the characters. Additionally, developers note modifications in the prologue, specifically regarding pacing adjustments and increased presence times for certain main characters. Furthermore, all original totems’ locations have been altered, along with the introduction of new hunger totems, which are a distinct type offering unique visual insights.
The remastered version of Until Dawn, announced in May of the previous year, is set for release on October 4 for PS5 and PC. Originally released on PS4 in 2015 with graphics that remain impressive, this re-release aims to enhance the foundational game using Unreal Engine 5. Every aspect—from character models and environments to interactive objects, visual effects, and animations—has been redone. Lighting enhancements include raytracing and improved materials for a more modern and atmospheric horror experience. New features added in this remastered version are:- A system for showing injuries on characters’ bodies with details like cuts, bruises, tears, snow, and water.- Refinements to camera angles, blending fixed shots with “shoulder camera” views for more intimate storytelling moments.- Changes in the game’s prologue, affecting pacing and increasing screen time for certain characters.- New totem locations and a new type of hunger totem that grants unique vision capabilities.
For fans of horror games who are excited about the remastered Until Dawn, there’s another thrilling announcement that might pique your interest. Supermassive Games, renowned for crafting atmospheric and suspenseful narratives like Until Dawn, has announced Little Nightmares 3 at Gamescom. This latest installment introduces new characters, Low and Alone, as they venture through the perilous Spiral world to escape “Nowhere.” Dive into online co-op gameplay where you can control either Low or Alone, each with unique abilities essential for overcoming challenges. To learn more about this eerie adventure and catch the first trailer, be sure to check out our latest blog post from August 22nd Little Nightmares 3: Creators of Until Dawn Developing the Game, First Video by Ahmed Hassan.
