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Nightdive Studios Wants To Remaster Eternal Darkness, No Luck So Far

Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick spoke about his desire to remaster Eternal Darkness and difficulties working with Nintendo.

gamerant.com

In a recent discussion related to Nintendo's anti-piracy actions, Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick spoke out about Nintendo's relationship with third-party developers.

Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick references his studio's experience working with Nintendo in the past, explaining that Nintendo has often been "gun shy" when working with third-party developers. Nightdive has approached Nintendo about remastering several of the company's older games, with Kick confirming that Eternal Darkness is at the top of his personal list of remasters for the studio. The studio has made a name for itself in recent years through several remasters of Nintendo 64-era games, such as the Turok series and the 2020 re-release

 

[Y0ssarian]

 

[The Cockatrice]

Maybe they should finish their main project that has been in development for way too long before trying to do other stuff? Just sayin'

 

[nkarafo]

I love Nightdive Studios. Lets hope they prosper for a long time so we can see many more classic games remastered.

 

[Ezquimacore]

Developer feels entitled and wants to remaster a Nintendo game just because*

 

[justiceiro]

Maybe they should finish their main project that has been in development for way too long before trying to do other stuff? Just sayin'

What are you talking about?

 

[Cert.in.Death]

 

[McGILLAZ]

Maybe they should finish their main project that has been in development for way too long before trying to do other stuff? Just sayin'

Are you thinking of BluePoint?

 

[Ulysses 31]

What are you talking about?

System Shock would be my guess, was initially slated for a 2017 release...

 

[Nikana]

Well obviously its because Nintendo is working on a remaster and sequel.

 

[Lone Wolf]

I would love another Eternal Darkness. My favorite Gamecube game.

 

[Punished Miku]

Seems like most of the N64 stuff is going into the sub service.

And I don't know if NightDive has even done a Gamecube level remaster.

And speaking about it publicly basically just ended their chances of ever getting it through Nintendo. It is what it is.

I'd take WaveRace and F-Zero but I don't expect it.

 

[SeraphJan]

I would love another Eternal Darkness. My favorite Gamecube game.

Absolutely masterpiece, the Sanity Effect is one of the better innovation in the horror genre, if this game ever get remade, imaging how much graphic improvement could improve the overall horror atmosphere.

This game is one of the few game alongside Silent Hill 2 the example of video game as an art form.

 

[Elios83]

Where is the Blade Runner remaster they promised in the meantime?
Stealthly cancelled?

 

[OmegaSupreme]

Eternal Darkness remaster? Yes, please.

 

[Lognor]

I loved Eternal Darkness back in the day, but I wonder if it would hold up today. The gameplay was pretty basic, as I recall.

 

[MiguelItUp]

Man, that'd be great. I'd still absolutely love if they did Alien Trilogy.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

Well obviously its because Nintendo is working on a remaster and sequel.

 

[Buggy Loop]

OMG, release System shock first before even thinking of anything else! Been a backer since 2016, with estimated delivery in 2017

 

[daclynk]

Pls Nintendo. I need it on my switch. That and F-Zero or Wave Race.

 

[fart town usa]

Developer feels entitled and wants to remaster a Nintendo game just because*

Have you played any of their remasters? They're brilliant, no reason at all to think they couldn't do absolute justice to Eternal Darkness.

Go play Powerslave Exhumed and see why people are hyped on Nightdive remastering old games.

 

[peronmls]

It would be censored one way or another. I'm sure.

 

[skit_data]

That’d be a game worth remastering, loved the sanity effects!

 

[Lognor]

That’d be a game worth remastering, loved the sanity effects!

Yeah those were great. The one where it looked like the game crashed got me the first time. I can't think of any other game that has done these type of sanity effects to players. It was pretty innovative at the time and no one else has copied it that I can think of.

Although I do wonder if there is even a market for Eternal Darkness. A few years ago Denis Dyack tried to get funding for a spiritual successor and could not raise the money on kickstarter.

 

[nkarafo]

I have to say this though, if i didn't have my fancy 240hz gsync monitor, i would probably not care about their games. They run absolutely perfect on that monitor, 240fps and no microstutters or desyncs.

But all their games have sync issues on my standard 60hz TV. Turok 1, Turok 2, Shadowman, Powerslave, etc. All of them have random desyncs and stutters that don't get detected by RTSS (it shows perfect frame pacing despite the noticeable and obvious stutters).

I don't know whats up with that. Its not like this is happening with every other game, but it happens with all those remasters.

 

[JimboJones]

Hopefully then can coax it out of them.

 

[Isa]

While I would like them to do it, as long as its intact, I don't mind a simple emulation if need be. I've always wanted to play this game but lost my GC only a few years after launch(I think during moving a friend stole it). Always seemed intriguing and well made. Every essay and review I've seen looked great.

 

[Deerock71]

I mean...why the hell not?

 

[fart town usa]

While I would like them to do it, as long as its intact, I don't mind a simple emulation if need be. I've always wanted to play this game but lost my GC only a few years after launch(I think during moving a friend stole it). Always seemed intriguing and well made. Every essay and review I've seen looked great.

It's a great game. A lot of the sanity effects would be less effective on modern TVs but playing it on a CRT actually tricked me a few times, like the AV Input changing: searching frantically for the remote thinking you sat on it, lol.

My favorite one though, I won't spoil it but it literally had me raging for a few seconds, "WTF is going on!?!?!" and then *Poof* the game goes back to normal. Really memorable game your first time through.

 

[TheMan]

For

 

[DrCheese]

It's a great game. A lot of the sanity effects would be less effective on modern TVs but playing it on a CRT actually tricked me a few times, like the AV Input changing: searching frantically for the remote thinking you sat on it, lol.

My favorite one though, I won't spoil it but it literally had me raging for a few seconds, "WTF is going on!?!?!" and then *Poof* the game goes back to normal. Really memorable game your first time through.

Haha yarp. The bathroom bit is the only time a game has made me actually turn my TV off to calm down as well, it's so out of the leftfield.

Utterly amazing game, worth the cost of a GameCube alone. The soundtrack alone is win.

 

[Shifty1897]

Eternal Darkness is great and deserves a proper remaster so more people can experience it.

 

[bender]

I'd be curious how they are going to translate some of the Sanity Effects from the game. As much as I like Nightdive Studios, their System Shock KS campaign had an estimated date of 2017 and they've released multiple titles since then.

 

[tommib]

Absolutely masterpiece, the Sanity Effect is one of the better innovation in the horror genre, if this game ever get remade, imaging how much graphic improvement could improve the overall horror atmosphere.

This game is one of the few game alongside Silent Hill 2 the example of video game as an art form.

Hm, no. I love Eternal Darkness but to put it on the same pedestal as SH2 is a stretch. The sanity effects are cool but a gimmick and the game never really goes deep into psychological horror or the visual metaphors that Team Silent designed. SH2 has everlasting power because of how the personal nightmare that James goes through resonates with the player and how it works on an abstract level.

ED is at the end of the day a time travelling cosmic horror Resident Evil. Amazing game but far from the artistry of SH2. And the industrial soundtrack of Yamaoka elevates the whole thing as well.

 

[bender]

Hm, no. I love Eternal Darkness but to put it on the same pedestal as SH2 is a stretch. The sanity effects are cool but a gimmick and the game never really goes deep into psychological horror or the visual metaphors that Team Silent designed. SH2 has everlasting power because of how the personal nightmare that James goes through resonates with the player and how it works in an abstract level.

ED is at the end of the day a time travelling cosmic horror Resident Evil. Amazing game but far from the artistry of SH2. And the industrial soundtrack of Yamaoka elevates the whole thing as well.

The Sanity Effects are a great gimmick and besides the visuals, really the only things that stand out in the game. That's not to say it is bad or anything but it is nowhere near the greatness of SH2.

 

[SeraphJan]

Hm, no. I love Eternal Darkness but to put it on the same pedestal as SH2 is a stretch. The sanity effects are cool but a gimmick and the game never really goes deep into psychological horror or the visual metaphors that Team Silent designed. SH2 has everlasting power because of how the personal nightmare that James goes through resonates with the player and how it works on an abstract level.

ED is at the end of the day a time travelling cosmic horror Resident Evil. Amazing game but far from the artistry of SH2. And the industrial soundtrack of Yamaoka elevates the whole thing as well.

I understand where you came from. From a narrative point of view, Silent Hill 2 undoubtedly is the pedestal of horror genre. But Eternal Darkness did extreme well in its department too, game mechanic wise, its innovation.

 

[JohnnyFootball]

I’d prefer NoghtDive finish the titles they’re remastering such as SiN Reloaded, System Shock 2 and Blade Runner.

 

[spookyfish]

I am enjoying the crap out of Shadowman (PS5) and Powerslave Exhumed (Switch).

Shadowman is legit difficult, in that there is ZERO hand-holding on where to go. Still creepy as hell.

So YES to Eternal Darkness. Be cool if some cut content could be put back in, as long as we’re wishing.

 

[Castef]

I loved Eternal Darkness back in the day, but I wonder if it would hold up today. The gameplay was pretty basic, as I recall.

The gameplay was bad and unbalanced in 2002.
I guess that in order to bring the game to today's standard a whole remake would be needed.

 

[Castef]

Nightdive Studios Wants To Remaster Eternal Darkness, No Luck So Far

Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick spoke about his desire to remaster Eternal Darkness and difficulties working with Nintendo.

gamerant.com

In a recent discussion related to Nintendo's anti-piracy actions, Nightdive Studios CEO Stephen Kick spoke out about Nintendo's relationship with third-party developers.

I mean, that' a Nintendo first party game.

Why would Nintendo give it to a third party publisher?

 

[The Cockatrice]

What are you talking about?

Are you thinking of BluePoint?

You guys new to gaming?

It's been 6 years.

 

[Daytonabot]

I mean, that' a Nintendo first party game.

Why would Nintendo give it to a third party publisher?

It was a second-party game, and NightDive is a developer, just like Silicon Knights that made the original.

 

[Castef]

It was a second-party game, and NightDive is a developer, just like Silicon Knights that made the original.

Ok.

Then again, why would Nintendo give the IP it owns to Nightdive?

 

[ShadowNate]

Where is the Blade Runner remaster they promised in the meantime?
Stealthly cancelled?

Not cancelled. But no official word on a release date or estimate either.

 

[Elios83]

Not cancelled. But no official word on a release date or estimate either.

It seems like they had huge issues because the code of the original game was lost so they are trying to reverse engineering it and then remaster it.
I don't remember if the GoG version is just the original in an emulator wrapper.
In any case the fact that they can't be more specific isn't giving me much confidence :/

 

[The_hunter]

I loved Eternal Darkness back in the day, but I wonder if it would hold up today. The gameplay was pretty basic, as I recall.

I played it five years ago, I liked it. Then again, I Iike eldritch stuff.

 

[ShadowNate]

It seems like they had huge issues because the code of the original game was lost so they are trying to reverse engineering it and then remaster it.
I don't remember if the GoG version is just the original in an emulator wrapper.
In any case the fact that they can't be more specific isn't giving me much confidence :/

The version on GOG uses ScummVM's open source engine for Blade Runner, which is a reimplementation of the original from reverse engineering it.
There was a period when Nightdive and the ScummVM project were considering an agreement to use their work in the remaster, but that did not work out. So then Nightdive decided to redo the reverse engineering themselves and here we are.

 

[Daytonabot]

Ok.

Then again, why would Nintendo give the IP it owns to Nightdive?

I am assuming they're asking to develop a remaster that Nintendo would publish, and Nintendo has let worse developers work on their IPs.

 

[peronmls]

You guys new to gaming?

It's been 6 years.

They don't know games outside Nintendo.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Just bought the original. Would appreciate a remaster done right.