A modern horror classic has been given brand new life. Sony has announced a remastered version of Until Dawn, which will be arriving for the PlayStation 5 and PC in October. Rather conveniently, just in time for the Halloween season. While there is much to discuss, the fine folks at Sony have released a trailer that compares the rebuilt and enhanced version of the game to the 2015 original. Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
The game looks far more cinematic and modern, that much is certain. Sometimes, these remasters run the risk of stripping some of the life and charm that the original carried. In this case, it looks very much to keep the spirit of the game alive, while providing a lot of visual enhancement. To that end, Sony says they tried to offer a “ cinematic update,” attempting to deliver a more intimate experience by enhancing the visual storytelling. The word cinematic seems appropriate, given that the Until Dawn movie is now in production. It’s by no means a coincidence that the remastered game is coming before the movie arrives.
Until Dawn has been rebuilt using Unreal Engine 5. That means updated character models, environments, interactable props, visual effects and animations. The game has also been completely relit, which is very evident in the trailer. For those who may not be familiar – or for those who just need a refresher – the synopsis for the game reads as follows:
“Eight friends are trapped together on a remote mountain retreat, and they aren’t alone. Gripped by dread, with tensions running high, they must fight through their fear if they all hope to make it through the night in one piece. Play as each of the eight characters and experience fear like you never have before. Every decision you make in your terrifying search for answers could mean the difference between life and death, but for whom? Your actions alone will decide who survives Until Dawn.”
Sony also says they have offered some new ways to view the action in the game as it unfolds, Using a combination of fixed and over-the-shoulder camera views, players can now see the game from entirely new perspectives. The have melded the cinematography of the original with the introduction of a modern third-person camera. The biggest change though? That’s got to do with the prologue. Per Sony…
“Although we have committed to keeping the original narrative intact, we felt the Prologue would benefit from some adjustments to its narrative pacing. We’ve given the Washingtons extra screen time to explore their close family bond and get to know them a little better. We have also reframed some of the original scenes and developed the context around the infamous prank.”
Look for Until Dawn on the PS5 and PC on October 4. For more, read about how the original game helped influence the modern slasher revival.
