14 DAY TRIAL // THQ Nordic skipped The Game Awards show and decided to announced by its own that it plans to launch a Gothic remake, but only if the fans want it. Gothic, the critically-acclaimed cult-classic RPG made by Piranha Bytes is now in development at THQ Nordic's own Spanish studio, which clearly raises some questions, but the publisher revealed that Piranha Bytes is working hard on a different project that will be unveiled in 2020.
Anyway, after 18 years, THQ Nordic has decided to ask RPG fans if they really want a remake of Gothic, which means that if the feedback is negative, we won't get it. To allow fans to judge for themselves what the Gothic Remake really means, THQ Nordic released a playable prototype on Steam, which is reflective of the upcoming game.
The Gothic playable prototype is available for free on Steam, but only if you own any game from Piranha Bytes such as Gothic, Gothic 2, Gothic 3, Risen, Risen 2, Risen 3 or ELEX. The prototype can't be bought so the only way to get it is to buy one of Piranha Bytes' games.
Apart from releasing the Gothic playable prototype, THQ Nordic revealed some info about the project and why it's a remake rather than a remastered HD version. First off, the remake is made using new tech like Unreal Engine 4, so nothing but the story, the setting, the atmosphere, the music and the world of Gothic will remain. The entire technology used, all graphics, the sound, different systems will be recreated according to modern high-quality standards.
It's also worth mentioning that since this is a prototype, you'll only be able to play for two hours. Also, if you're wondering how long you'll have to wait for the full game, THQ Nordic said that “quite some time.” The publisher will only start full production if the overall feedback is positive. If everything goes well, THQ Nordic will need to hire additional people to grow the development team and rebuild the game from scratch.
THQ Nordic didn't reveal when it will announce its decision about the Gothic Remake, but we'll most likely have to wait until next year for more details on the project.
