Players choose remakes over remasters, spending more to relive the classics, although there are few exceptions

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Lately, we’ve seen a lot of remasters in the gaming world, and many players haven’t been thrilled with them. Think about how fans reacted to updated versions of games like Until Dawn, The Last of Us: Part II, and Horizon Zero Dawn. A common feeling was that these already-excellent games didn’t need to be changed.

However, things look different with remakes. Recent data from Ampere Analysis shows that over the last two years, gamers have spent more than double the amount on brand new games than they have on remasters.

The report shows that games released in 2024-2025 drew 72.4 million players across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam. These players spent roughly $1.4 billion on games and in-game purchases. Of the 42 games analyzed – 15 remakes and 27 remasters – players spent, on average, 2.2 times more money on remakes than on remasters.

As a fan, I get why studios do remakes – they can totally revive old favorites and bring in a whole new audience! But it’s a big undertaking, needing a lot of money, effort, and time. Remasters are a faster, more affordable way to update a game, but honestly, they don’t usually grab me as much. And I think that’s why they sometimes feel a bit pricey – you’re not getting the same level of new content or experience.

While there are always some differences, this research shows that The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered generated $180 million in revenue and attracted 7 million monthly players. That number increased to 9 million players after just three months.

Katie Holt, an analyst at Ampere Analysis, notes that game and brand creation is becoming more expensive. Because of this, publishers are increasingly relying on existing games and brands as a reliable source of revenue.

When publishers consider updating an older game, they need to carefully weigh several factors – like long-term plans for the series, how much money to invest, how dated the original game is, and which gaming systems they want to support – to decide whether to completely rebuild it or simply enhance the existing version.

It’s easy to see why remakes, like the new Silent Hill 2, are so popular with fans. They allow beloved stories to be reimagined for today’s audiences, offering a significant update rather than just small, underwhelming changes.

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2025-11-04 12:32