14 DAY TRIAL // Outcast instantly became a cult classic when it came out in 1999, being one of the first open-world 3D action adventure games ever and benefiting from a deep, engrossing storyline and many technical innovations.
The game was considered way ahead of its time, and now part of the original team has decided to have another go at the title, starting a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in order to secure the necessary funds to develop an HD remake.
Unfortunately, the original engine relied on software only to deliver its then spectacular visuals, which means that it hasn't aged very well, as hardware-accelerated 3D polygons quickly became the norm.
The team aims to bring the acclaimed game to a wider and newer audience and allow existing fans to once again embark on a fantastic journey, in a modern setting, with brand-new visuals and improved gameplay.
The initial lofty goal will secure the making of the Outcast HD Reboot for Windows PC, as the team believes that the PC has always been a center for creativity and innovation, and being the place Outcast was born in, it is only fitting that it will also be the place where the new experience will happen first and foremost.
The game will support Xbox and PlayStation 4 controllers, as well as other compatible gamepads, and the stretch goals include Mac and Linux versions, DirectX 11 enhancements, VR support, next-gen consoles and even an entirely new area that might give a taste of what an Outcast 2 might look like.
In addition to the visual overhaul, the team also plans to enhance the entire adventuring experience, removing the known story bugs, improving the heads-up display, inventory, Notepad and dialogue interface.
In order to make the game compatible with a modern adventure experience, protagonist Cutter Slade will get enhanced animation, locomotion and controls, and the in-game camera will also benefit from greatly improved control.
Fresh3D is working together with a team of world-class developers, having Yves Grolet, one of the founders of Appeal, the studio that made the original Outcast, on board as a gameplay advisor. Some members of the core team have worked on the original, and the team has shipped games for PC, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.
The expected release window for the initial goal, delivering Oucast HD Reboot for Windows PC, is sometime in late 2015.
