AI Summary
5 min readIn 2025, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered outsold the original game’s entire lifetime sales in just its first month. That single fact drives the central question of this episode: why are remakes and remasters beating brand-new games, and what does that say about the state of the video game industry?
The data behind the remake boom
The conversation is built around a recent survey from MGM Consulting of 1,500 US and UK gamers. The headline number: 90% of respondents have played at least one remaster or remake in the last few years. More striking is that 85% played a remake or remaster of a game they had never played in its original form. This undercuts the easy explanation that these sales are purely nostalgia-driven. As the host puts it, "it's not nostalgia" for most players—they are encountering these games for the first time.
The survey also reveals a split on how much a remake should change. 35% of players say remakes are better when they alter narrative or gameplay elements, 30% say they are worse, and 35% are indifferent. The host argues this is case-by-case: changing bad mechanics like the camera in Ninja Gaiden Black is welcome, but making a game easier or rewriting its story is a risk. On pricing, 74% expect remakes to be cheaper than the original release, with most players saying a remake should cost between $30 and $40.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:00) **Remakes Are Outselling New Games** - Host introduces the central thesis: remakes and remasters are dominating the market, with Oblivion Remastered outselling the original release.
- 2 (03:03) **Root Cause: Industry Talent & Design Failure** - Host argues the industry has been taken over by developers who don't make good games, leading to a "market correction."
- 3 (04:43) **Key Evidence: Oblivion's Sales & the "No Nostalgia" Stat** - Data shows the remaster sold more in its first month than the original did in 15 months, and 85% of players bought a remake of a game they never played.
- 4 (06:28) **Defining Terms & Survey Methodology** - Host clarifies the difference between a Remake (built from scratch) and a Remaster (enhanced visuals/performance, core gameplay unchanged).
- 5 (10:26) **What Players Want from a Remake** - Survey data reveals a split on changing gameplay/narrative: 35% want changes, 30% don't, 35% are fine either way. The key demand is "modern feel."
- 6 (12:55) **Pricing & Timing Expectations** - 74% of users expect remakes to be cheaper than original releases. Host argues remakes should only be for games that are at least 10 years old.
- 7 (14:11) **Cautionary Tale: Space Marine Mastercrafted Edition** - A perfect example of a failed re-release: no discounted upgrade path, insufficient graphical improvements, and the game was already available digitally.
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Show Notes
Remakes are beating new games.. Asmongold podcast for all of his stream highlights, competitions, reactions & more.
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