Remedy Entertainment has a fair number of projects on the go, and one we've yet to hear much about is its Max Payne 1 and 2 remake. Announced in 2022, the developer is bringing back the first two entries in the action shooter series.
While publishing and marketing will be handled by Rockstar Games — which still owns the Max Payne IP — Remedy is in full production on the remake, and it got a bit of attention during a recent presentation.
CEO of the studio, Tero Virtala, touched on the Max Payne project as part of a wider discussion of all its work. It's maybe obvious, but Virtala said that Remedy's goal is to "make an excellent, commercially successful Max Payne remake", as well as "build a strong Remedy action game team".
Rockstar is publishing and marketing the game, but is also funding the project, essentially leaving Remedy to concentrate purely on development and ensuring it hits that target of excellence.
Johannes Paloheimo, Remedy's COO, says the team has "a great relationship with Rockstar" and that the team is "delivering well against the very high expectations set by Rockstar and Remedy", so it sounds as though things are progressing nicely.
It's all quite encouraging talk — let's hope Remedy and Rockstar can deliver on this promise. Are you excited about the Max Payne remake? Dive into the comments section below.
[source investors.remedygames.com, via rockstarintel.com]
Comments 39
Nice, wish 3 would come back too.
I'm so ready for this remake, absolutely loved the originals! following the blood trail (if you know you know) will stick with me forever!
I worry that they will try and pad the games out in some way to try and account for the fact that these were both 6-8 hour games, which was fine twenty years ago, but to many isn't long enough now. That might ruin the flow of the game.
Hopefully the fact they are doing both together, making the total 15ish hours will stop that.
Being playing the original Max Payne 1 and 2 over the last few days and they still hold up well, especially 2. I think 3 plays well, but it's missing the original's Remedy strangeness and I just think the writing is better. Hoping this does well and if Rockstar allows and Remedy wants to, they can do more with Max Payne in the future.
@Jrs1 3 was a success it probably wandered from the essence though so they wrapped with a trilogy. You have to respect that I suppose
These games were very of their time in both story and gameplay. The fashion, the bullet time, the attitudes, the tone, the feel, the minimalist graphics, the length.
I would have preferred a remaster to a remake. I am not convinced that any modern dev will do what it was justice. It'll be a very different game, for better, for worse.
If it's anywhere near as quality as Silent Hill 2 remake it is going to be incredible. These are great games. I have such a soft spot for 2. The atmosphere is awesome
Can you guess what some of my favourite games ever are based on my avatar? Yeah, day 0 purchases and with Remedy at the helm I’m confident they will be a blast to play. Can’t wait!
this will be the first remake that will be worth it for me.
@themightyant Or maybe they'll add meaningful, worthwhile content? Geez, people are so pessimistic these days. I'm cool either way. A bit of faith required, especially considering it's the OG developers. Silent Hill 2, Dead Space, Resident Evil 4 and more all did the OG justice.
The Kung Fu mod for the first game was awesome.
This is Remedy we're talking about, so any "padding" that might be included will at the very least be super weird and interesting.
The one thing that is worrying me is not having James McCaffrey as the voice of Max; I can only guess that they'll either recast (hope not) or just bring over the original lines ala MGS Delta.
I really hope it isn't Sam Lake's face either, just doesn't sit right with that voice.
Revisiting these on Xbox in recent years reduced my enthusiasm for these games a little bit, but I'll never forget how impressive Max Payne was when I first played it on a friend's PC. Interested in playing these one more time with revamped gameplay and a fresh coat of paint.
@LifeGirl a modern dev as in the one that made the originals anyway? A studio that is universally lauded for taking risks, making the games they want to make, telling the stories they want to tell, and whose creative director is the literal face of Max Payne? 👀👀
@__Seraph Yes it can be done. You used a few examples that generally do it well, but far more do it wrong and just bloat the game or ruin the flow compared to the original.
Besides while Dead Space remake is generally great the backtracking parts were worse in the remake, and many have complained about the additions to Silent Hill 2 dragging the story out in the second half even if the general game is still excellent and likely better overall.
Longer isn't always better. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, but it is a concern that you end up changing too much of the game.
Heck yeah Remedy. Bring it on. Im definitely will buy on day 1. Love the OG MP
@LifeGirl
After how Remedy botched Alan Wake 2, I have zero confidence that this remake will be done right. Hope I'm proven wrong but with how modern-day Western devs are, I doubt it.
Another hit of Valkyr all these years later, and just when I thought I was over it.
I have such fond memories of 1 and 2. I loved 3 as well, but it did feel like somewhat of a different franchise. Really hope they use the OG music and voice cast, and obviously keep the comic panel cut scenes. But yeah, this one is exciting.
I would rather see a brand new game, in the franchise.
@Ravix meanwhile I'm sat here excited to see what Remedy do with their refined sense of weirdness with these remakes. I'm hoping Max gets seamlessly folded into The Remedyverse... I just want the spiderman meme but with Alex Casey, Alex Casey and Max Payne!
This will probs come as a shock but I never played the original Max Payne's (and only played Max Pain 3's demo on the PS3) so I'm genuinely buzzing with this
Ray-traced Mona. Gimme
I’ll buy this Day 0. As long as Remedy is in the industry doing Remedy things, I’ll still be playing games.
@LifeGirl your takes on most things are waaaaaaay out there
"So much for being subtle"
@Ravix I will accept that we still have the classic risk-taking Rockstar after the release of GTA6. Right now all I see is a dev that hasn't put out a full game in a LONG time.
@LifeGirl but Remedy are making the remakes, like Remedy made the first 2. Rockstar is only the publisher again.
The creative director of Remedy is literally Max Payne 😅
The making of the game basically has nothing to do with Rockstar other than them owning, funding and releasing it.
And Remedy always take risks, so I wouldn't worry about that kind of thing 😁
@Boucho11 Until I am inevitably proven right, then everyone acts as though what I was saying was the common opinion all along.
Remake =/= remaster , they’re gonna change things beyond graphics
Very interested in these; these are the kinds of games that should have remakes: older games no longer readily available that could do with today's more powerful engines running them. I completed them both back in the day and would love to go back. Hope the magic is still there, though
Hopefully they won't delay it leading to something undercooked or broken, as it has been this gen.
@stefan771
I know. It's remarkable how there haven't been any new, well developed games ready for launch that are playable day one since 1984.
@NieR_Dark James McCaffery unfortunately passed away at the end of 2023. They will of course honor him in this remake at some capacity, but I really hope they keep as much dialogue from the originals as possible, it's possibly my favorite VA performance ever.
I have full trust in Remedy. One of the companies that gets my full respect.
I never played the originals but I’ll be there for the remakes. A lot of people complain about remakes, but it lets players who missed out on the original games give it a go. Are some remakes/remasters absolutely unnecessary? Yes. But I’m down to play this
So looking forward to this. The originals fit so well in this connected universe remedy is making, with the dreams and norse myth references. Also, fun fact, Rockstar has only released 2 games since Max Payne 3.
@themightyant I'm hoping they take the silent hill 2 remake approach to increase play time and stuff. It all felt like it belonged in the game. Unlike ff7 remake (not rebirth) that felt soooo drawn out for no reason other than to make it worth $60
I never preorder games digitally, let alone deluxe editions. This will be the first ultimate ultra veiny throbbing edition I will preorder digitally.
@Gamer83 I'd love to know how they botched one of the best survival horrors of the last decade and a perfect sequel to the first game...
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