Highlights
- The Gothic remake will not be similar to the playable 2019 teaser, but rather it will be a complete reboot that stays true to the original 2001 release.
- The 2019 demo received mixed reviews for deviating from the original, but it was meant to gauge fan feedback. The true remake has a larger team and plans to announce a release date soon.
- Gothic was a groundbreaking open-world game in the early 2000s, and fans can look forward to reexperiencing the magic when the remake releases in late 2024.
The developers of the Gothic remake confirmed that it will have basically nothing to do with the playable 2019 teaser. The Gothic remake was first greenlit in 2020 by THQ Nordic due to the teaser's success on Steam.
Developed by Piranha Bytes, Gothic originally dropped as a PC exclusive in 2001, being among the earliest titles to attempt an open-world setting. It sees the player control a nameless convict, residing in a mining colony that's been overtaken by its prisoners and having to choose which faction to side with, which has differing effects on the story. Despite being largely praised upon release and spawning several sequels and spin-offs over the following decade, notable criticism was directed at its controls and the demanding specs required to play it. Fortunately for the aggrieved, a remake is on the horizon over twenty years later, and is currently being helmed by Alkimia Interactive.
As reported by DualShockers, the developer has confirmed that the Gothic remake will not be akin to the 2019 teaser, and will be much closer to the original release, albeit with modern-day enhancements. It even went so far as to describe what it's working on as "a complete reboot." While many screenshots and gameplay clips have been revealed for the remake since, it's nice to definitely know that they're based on a newer version that doesn't completely ditch the core identity of the 2001 original.
The 2019 Gothic remake demo deviated quite a lot from the original and scored a mixed reception as a result, with many complaining that it strayed too far from Piranha Bytes' creative vision. Alkimia confirmed that it expected such a reception, and that it had merely changed things up for the sake of gauging what fans wanted to see. Funnily enough, the 2019 demo is still available on Steam, so those who are extremely curious can still check it out. Alkimia also confirmed that the team working on the true remake is nearly five times larger than the one who made the teaser, and there are plans to confirm an exact release date within the next couple of months.
When it first came out, Gothic was noted for revolutionizing the open-world genre, essentially being the Breath of the Wild of the early 2000s. But first game syndrome is still a thing, and in some cases these first games might need some touching up. Thankfully, Gothic fans' prayers have been answered, and soon enough they will get a chance to reexperience the magic of what they grew up with.
The Gothic remake is due out for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in late 2024.
