Summary
The Thing: Remasteredwon’t feature any scripted “burst-out” sequences where characters are forced to get infected, Nightdive Studios has confirmed. The upcoming remaster will hence eliminate what’s widely considered to be the most annoying aspect ofThe Thing, but it will do so in a way that won’t make the game any easier.
Originally released in 2002,The Thingis still touted as one of thebest Arctic horror games ever made. It largely owes its cult status to a unique infection system inspired by John Carpenter’s iconic movie. The basic idea behind this mechanic is that almost any NPC can get infected and transform into the titular “thing,” thus turning against their former allies. Some fans found the system pretty unforgiving, especially since the game also had multiple scripted sequences where certain NPCs would get infected and “burst out” even if the player did everything right.
This annoying aspect of the game will be left in the annals of history, as recently confirmed by Mark Atkinson, the director of the 2002 original and a consultant on Nightdive Studios' upcoming remaster. Speaking toSyfy, Atkinson revealed that the modernized version of the survival horror game features zero scripted burst-out sequences, ensuring the system no longer adds stress by essentially cheating with forced infections. “The infection system was implemented and available in the original game, but there were a few places where squadmates would become infected and burst-out for no reason, which players really disliked,” Nightdive software engineer Josh Dowell said on the subject of the reasoning behind this change.
The Thing: Remastered’s Infection System Will Be More Unforgiving
Although the removal of scripted burst-out sequences is bound to makeNightdive’sThe Thing: Remasteredless frustrating, the overall experience won’t be any easier. On the contrary, Dowell says that the developers decided to make some NPCs more prone to becoming infected, so while the overall system will be fairer, it will also be more unforgiving.
The infection system was implemented and available in the original game, but there were a few places where squadmates would become infected and burst-out for no reason, which players really disliked.
Seeing how direct contact withThe Thing’s monsterwill now be the only way to get infected, players will at least be able to optimize their runs and replay sections in order to minimize the number of tragedies that they experience. Even if they don’t transform into monsters, squadmates will still have a chance to become so traumatized that they “cower down and crack up,” Atkinson said.
Although the upcoming horror game currently lacks an official release date, its June announcement promised a 2024 launch, leaving limited time for it to meet this target. That said,Xbox seems convinced thatThe Thing: Remasteredwill debut on December 5. Aside from the latest two generations of Microsoft’s consoles, the modernized version of the game is also planned to land on the PS4, PS5, Switch, and PC.
The Thing
WHERE TO PLAY
The Thing takes place shortly after Carpenter’s 1982 film and plays off of many of the same themes of mood, distrust, fear, and monstrous baddies. It plays out as FPS as you try to determine what has happened and who in your team has become infected.
