Gamers recently received some thrilling news that a remake of the first two Max Payne titles is in the works. Remedy Entertainment announced via Twitter that it would be spearheading the development of the remake of the first two games, but as of yet, no release date has been announced. However, what it did announce was that the remake will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
Post-announcement, fans are erring on the side of caution and keeping expectations for the Max Payne remakes low. With the PR catastrophe faced by Rockstar after the release of the Grand Theft AutoTrilogy remasters, Remedy should pay close attention to how other remakes in development are approaching things. A great example to emulate would be EA's Dead Space remake, which is helmed by Motive. Here's what Remedy can learn from the ongoing Dead Space remake development.
Complete Transparency
After the disastrous launches of games like No Man's Sky, Fallout 76, and Cyberpunk 2077, something that fans wish game studios and developers would provide more of is complete transparency of the game development process — and this is exactly what Motive has done. Every so often, the developer runs a livestream to showcase the progress it has made with the Dead Space remake. Fans are aware of what the devs are doing, and more importantly, how they are doing it.
With the backlash post-Grant Theft Auto remakes, Remedy needs to play its cards right and not make the same mistakes as developer Grove Street Games. One way it can do this is by being completely transparent with its development process and progress from start to finish. Not only would this give fans a better idea of what to expect, but Remedy could also use it as an opportunity to gather valuable fan feedback and create a cycle of betterment within the development process. Not only would this most likely create Max Payne games that would be ultimately better products, but it would also give both Rockstar and Remedy Entertainment a boost in their respective reputations.
The Little Tweaks Matter
A failure on the side of Grove Street's remake of the Grand Theft Auto Trilogy is that it didn't give players many tweaks in terms of gameplay. Instead, GTA players faced a bunch of frustrating bugs with barely even a graphics update. The reduction of bugs, a massive visuals upgrade from the original 2001-esque graphics, and the addition of various gameplay tweaks could go a long way for the Max Payne remakes.
One of the most exciting updates to come from Dead Space remake news is the ALIVE system that Motive recently announced. The studio also showed fans an upgrade in what happens when necromorphs get dismembered, and, like its sequels, the remake makes zero gravity work. While these may seem like tiny details, they are details that very much matter in the long run. Remedy could give a massive update to the bullet-time system from Max Payne, or it could make the infamous Nightmare scene even more freaky by tweaking the game's environments and sounds. Further, it could update how characters take damage in a similar light to Motive and the necromorphs, or add realism to Max when he gets hurt – limping, heavy breathing, wounds. The possibilities are endless.
Frequent Dev Updates
Motive has decided to keep fans updated on the development of the Dead Space remake with frequent dev updates. Regular development updates not only maintain the air of transparency from the side of the developers but also keeps the game at the front of gamers' minds — in turn, maintaining hype up until release day. Motive has done this so well that it's turned into one of the best marketing strategies that they could use for Dead Space.
The proof of this as a valid marketing strategy is in the pudding, and it's been plain to see. Motive's insistence on giving periodic dev updates has even caused the Dead Space remake to overshadow Glen Schofield's The Callisto Protocol. It is the best kind of marketing a video game could ever want, and Remedy should follow suit, providing fans with regular enough updates of the Max Payne remakes. Not only will fans know what to expect from the game as development progresses, but the frequent updates will ensure that the remakes of the first two Max Payne games stay in the public eye.
The Max Payne Remake Fans Deserve
Whether Remedy Entertainment likes it or not, the Max Payne remakes will be kept under close scrutiny by fans. Although Max Payne 2 and Max Payne 3 had notable drops in sales back in the day, that doesn't mean that will happen again when the remakes of the first two games are eventually released. The studio would do very well to pay attention to what those like Motive Studios are doing with the development of their respective remakes, doing its best to not err on the side of secrecy.
More importantly, if Rockstar wants to improve its reputation, it should ensure that the game stays in the right direction. Remedy, on the other hand, has had a good run with the Alan Wake remaster, and the studio needs to make sure that it keeps things going in the right direction with Max Payne. It can do that if it pays attention to what its industry peers are doing right (and wrong), building from there.
The remakes of the first two Max Payne games are currently in development and will be released on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.