As previously teased, cult classic PS2 horror The Thing is being remastered for PS5 by retro specialists Nightdive Studios, the same team behind the re-released versions of System Shock and more. The legendary 2002 single player outing will be retooled on Sony’s new-gen system, with upgraded visuals, quality of life improvements, and 4K visuals at up to 120 frames-per-second.
“You are Cpt J.F. Blake, leader of a US Special Forces rescue team sent to investigate the blood-curdling events and enigmatic deaths of the American scientific team that transpired at the Outpost 31 research facility located in the frozen wastelands of Antarctica,” the blurb reads. “Within these inhospitable surroundings your team encounters a strange shape-shifting alien life-form that assumes the appearance of people that it kills. Trapped by the elements and infected by this horrific entity, using all your team members is critical if you hope to accomplish your objectives, let alone survive. If you only knew which ones were still human.”
While it was far from perfect, the original game had some fascinating ideas, like a trust mechanic which influenced the psychological state of your squad. The original release was criticised due to this system not reaching its full potential, so it’ll be interesting to see whether Nightdive Studios has made any adjustments. It does promise “gameplay enhancements to improve your experience”, and they’ll be necessary – the PS2 version doesn’t handle particularly well these days.
