Until Dawn’s Remake May Have Been A Big Mistake

The Until Dawn remake might have been a big mistake for Sony and the developers at Ballistic Moon, at least based on the player numbers being reported since its launch earlier this month. However, it’s perhaps no mystery why the game isn’t seeing a lot of interest. It begs the question: Who is the Until Dawn remake for exactly?

The PC and PlayStation 5 versions of the Until Dawn remake had a rough launch due to technical issues and bugs, but more significantly, abysmal player numbers. Steam Database reported numbers as low as just 2,600 concurrent players at its all-time peak, making it one of the worst launches of the year. The launch is comparable to PlayStation’s Concord, a game that performed so poorly that it was ultimately taken offline. It continues a worrisome trend of low-interest releases tied to Sony, with Until Dawn previously being only available on PlayStation consoles.

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Until Dawn Is Now On PC – But Not Without Issues

Why Aren’t More PC Users Interested In Until Dawn?

One major issue that PC users are aware of is that PC-ported PlayStation games often suffer terrible bugs and glitches, even with its top-performing games. Beyond that, players who purchased the game early on have been reporting issues with graphics, audio, and more. While none of these appear to be drastically game-breaking, it’s a disappointing truth that many, like Redditor Cute-Chemistry5590 below, are hoping will be resolved.

It’s also worth noting that additional content, such as the new ending, aren’t much of an incentive for PC players, as they likely haven’t played the original and therefore they don’t have an “old” version to compare it to. All in all, the incentive for PC players to purchase this game is quite low.

Split image showing Emily and Jess' deaths in Until Dawn.

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Until Dawn‘s low player turnout for PC may well relate to the release timing as well, launching at a time when most horror fans are busy with the highly-anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake, which had more prominent marketing. A portion of that audience is eating into Until Dawn‘s player count, with Silent Hill 2 registering over 23,000 peak concurrent players (via Steam DB) and having overall positive reviews. It’s possible Until Dawn will spark more interest on PC in the coming days, but only if developers address the technical issues with the PC port.

Until Dawn Remake: A High Price Point & Low Player Numbers

A Full-Price Until Dawn Remake For PS5 Was Misguided

Emily Mike Matt Sam and Ashley speak to Beth in Until Dawn

According to TrueTrophies, the PS playercount is 28.6% smaller than the ill-fated Concord, mentioned above, and perhaps the reasons are clear. Even for a game with zero performance issues, a $59.99 price tag is a high ask for a remake. Add to that the fact there is no discounted upgrade price if you own the PS4 version already, unlike other PlayStation 4 games that charge only $10 for an upgrade if players already own the PS4 version.

Most PS5 players already own the original PS4 version because it’s available as part of the PlayStation Plus catalogue, which makes the high price tag a difficult sell. It’s also worth noting the remake only supports 30 FPS, while the PS4 version still looks and plays great, considering its age.

There are also other concerns with the visuals of the game. While the graphics themselves are impressive, the Until Dawn remake has lost the blue-tint overlay that the original was perhaps so synonymous with. This makes the remake brighter, less mysterious, and overall less unique. From poor visual choices to its high price point and lack of marketing, it becomes easy to see why even the most hardcore of Until Dawn fans haven’t flocked to the remake. Players can only hope that any future remakes from Until Dawn‘s original studio Supermassive won’t suffer a similar fate.

Source: Cute-Chemistry5590/Reddit, Ballistic Moon, Steam DB, True Trophy