Back in the 90s, when adventure games were in high demand, a little studio known as Westwood released a masterclass in game designed set in the Blade Runner universe.
Once lost to an ever-moving world, Blade Runner is making a comeback in an enhanced form thanks to Nightdive Studios and Alcon Entertainment, and will be made avalable to the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.
First released in 1997, Blade Runner has long been viewed as a pivotal title of the adventure game genre. Offering branching narratives, stunning graphics for the day, fantastic musical soundtrack, and a staggering level of detail in recreating the classic Blade Runner cities and locations. With the events of the game seeming interwoven with the events of the classic 1980’s film, Blade Runner stood as a companion piece that was worth experiencing for fans and newcomers alike.
Nightdive, using their proprietary game engine KEX, that has been used to restore many classic games including System Shock: Enhanced Edition, Turok, Turok 2: Seeds of Evil, Blood, and Forsaken Remastered, will take on the challenge of restoring this classic adventure title. According to the press release, Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is set to feature “updated character models and animations, upscaled cutscenes using machine learning algorithms, widescreen resolution, keyboard and controller customization, and much more.”
“Blade Runner is still a jaw-dropping achievement on every level, so while we’re using KEX to upgrade the graphics and respectfully elevate the gaming experience in a way you’ve never seen before, we’re still preserving Westwood’s vision and gameplay in all its glory,” said Nightdive CEO Stephen Kick. “While you can enjoy the benefits of playing the game on modern hardware, the game should look and feel not as it was, but as glorious as you remember it being.”
Blade Runner: Enhanced Edition is set to hit console and PC platforms later in 2020, with more details to be released in the runup to the release.
