
There's so much secrecy surrounding the video game realm, and that's just about the games that we know about, and that get announced.
Today, a rare bit of insight has been shared about a project that sadly never came to pass.
Animator and writer Travis Howe has revealed that he was part of a team that wanted to pitch to Sony a remaster of the beloved Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy — the first game in the Naughty Dog series.
In a post on LinkedIn, Howe says this was a "long while back", and that his job was to redo a cutscene from the game "shot-for-shot" in order to show the vision for the game.
Unfortunately, it never went anywhere, but he has been able to share his work, offering a glimpse at what would've been a big part of the pitch to get the project greenlit:
"Although the remaster wasn't to be, I'm really proud of how it came together," Howe says, encouraging people to like and share the video to try and drum up awareness.
Obviously the final game may well have looked a bit different to what's shown here — this is simply a proof of concept. Still, it's really cool to see a famous scene from the game in a new light.
It maybe goes to show that, if you have a game in your head you'd like to see someday, or even just something you'd like to be remade on modern hardware, there's a good chance people in the industry have already talked about it. Or, maybe it's already been pitched.
Would you like to see a PS5 remake of Jak & Daxter? Tell us in the comments section below.
[source linkedin.com, via x.com]





Comments 38
But I was told people were tired of remakes?
I really hope at least one of them between Jak and Daxter and Sly Cooper come back. At least we got the Sly trilogy on premium I guess and it looked like Jak and Daxter was happening too but its been over a year now. Which is odd considering they brought Daxter and Lost Frontier over
Looks fine. Though I think it loses a bit of charm with the added fidelity.
Would rather see a new game than a remake here.
It looks decent, I would too rather have had a new Jak game then a remake of the original trilogy
@Oram77 It just entirely depends on the game and its availability.
I don't think Jak and Daxter needs a remake, because it's available on PS5 and still looks and plays great. But still, this would've been a more meaningful visual update than all the PS3/PS4 remakes we've gotten.
17 years since the last entry means it wouldnt trigger my remaster/remake issues...
Shame this franchise is dead. So much they could do going back to the more platformer elements (that never left, even Lost Frontier had them) but it all got sidetracked because GTA.
Damn would be all over it if it was real.
If this were like the Ratchet & Clank remake I'd have been ecstatic. Shame it didn't go anywhere, and now Jak & Daxter are on the long, long list of abandoned PlayStation IPs
@RoomWithaMoose The comment was tongue-in-cheek really, but you can help yourself sometimes, oh and by the way I'm always on board for remakes.
They dont care about this ip , all they want is more hollywood movie-like nonsense.
I saw this post earlier on Reddit and I think it looks great for a remake concept. I think the artist did a great job capturing the original art direction and keeping some of the squash and stretch.
Just a shame that so many IPs are just sitting dormant when a lot of people want them to make a return.
My favorite games and series during the PS2 era. I would be down for a new or even a remake.
@Ultrasmiles every video game series ends at some point , and this one ended.
I'd love to see a new entry in the franchise - I don't think a remake would have been great, the gameplay and story really became its own in 2 and 3, one was very fun but simplistic.
The sequels were entirely their own thing - unless I've missed the other cuddly side-kick family games holding a dark, 'mature' (in the loosest sense) theme that blended GTA bedlam with platforming.
Closest we got was High on Life, but even that was worlds apart.
@Oram77 I was also told people didn't want Sony to milk their IP. Just look at how people complaint about Horizon, GOW, and Ghost of. But now people want Sony to make a new Jak & Daxter, Killzone, Resistance, and Uncharted again lol.
@B-I-G-DEVIL I KNOW! What happened with Jak 2 and 3? I waited with playing 1 because I wanted to platinum 1,2,3 in order. I was sure it would come since Sly did. But it never happened? ITs so sad, I love Jak 1, but Jak 2 is too me the bes tin the series. Not a super big fan of Jak 3 and X, bout would happily play them for the plat. (did get the plat for Daxter and Lost fronter anyway)
@PuppetMaster I said it once and I'll say it a thousand more times, gamers literally don't know what they want anymore lol I also would love a new Killzone but unfortunately not enough people bought Shadow fall...
I would love a Jak and Daxter game. And also Sly Cooper
Not bad, but it needs more cartoony shading or go closer to the Jak 3 look with smaller eyes to make it work. They both look off with the higher fidelity graphics and complex lighting, on top of the very cartoony & exaggerated look of Jak 1.
@PuppetMaster its good to take breaks from franchises but not abandon them. We can take a break from recent games like a Horizon but revisit those franchises years from now. I would love a new Sly, Jak and Daxter, and infamous with Cole coming back.
I’d like to see a reimagined gritty mature sci fi version of Jak & Daxter
@Dman10 Taking breaks but not abandon them like how you gonna do that, just keeps renewing the license year after year without making a new game? Then what about the fanbase, you think all of them will be there after years of nothing to satisfy their demands?
I mean, if you have an established IP that generates a lot of money then the best thing you should do is keeps the momentum going on. There's no need to take a break like at all unless they're not profitable anymore.
This is why we don't see franchise like Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, Monster Hunter, Mario, Zelda, or Pokemon take a break. The last thing you want to do is to turn your profitable IP into a dormant state aka nor dead nor alive while the fanbase slowly gone.
@LogicStrikesAgain honestly i think thats what intergalatic is , and when they see the game play i think a lot of people will say this , both games involve space and bounty hunting. i wouldn't be surprised if you'll see jax and daxter refreneces / easter eggs in the game
Why do some assume that every IP has to continue? The great thing that Sony did over the years was allow their studios to move on. And it largely worked, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, Guerilla Games and to a lesser extent Insomniac all moved onto big and more successful IPs.
@twitchtvpat That actually makes sense, with them being the creators of J&K. Somehow that thought has made me even more hyped for Intergalatic hehe
It looks very good.
I enjoyed the J&D games at the time. In fact I really enjoyed them. But honestly, I doubt I’d want to play them again. I suspect they really wouldn't hold up. Speaking for me personally of course.
@PuppetMaster doesn't Sony own their first party IPs like Jak? Why would they have to renew licenses for their own IPs? I think that you can bring back dormant franchises back to life and have them sell well.
Fair, but I'd rather other IPs get the remake treatment or port or remaster or collection treatment, not the safe options.
Otherwise fan translations or native ports or whatever it is it seems.
I think Jak moreso than a lot of his contemporaries still holds up in a spit-shine remaster. The cartoony look and motion, the solid if basic artstyle...
Don´t get me wrong, I'd easily buy a remake like Spyro got a few years back - and this proof-of-concept looks fun, even if Jak needs a bit of a redesign - but I´m not petitioning Sony to reconsider. As long as the games are available to modern-day-gamers on non-legacy hardware, I think we're fine.
Speaking of, are the Jak games available? I vaguely remember seeing them on the PS-storefront on the PS4, so I guess they're BC on the PS5 even if they haven´t gotten proper ports to that hardware.
@Oram77 It depends for if a game gets a good overhaul i love it especially new controls. I tried to play syphon filter again but its impossible to enjoy for me the control are just so bad.
@Flaming_Kaiser Like I said I'm all up for any remake at this point
Damn. Now I want it. Looks gorgeous!
I always preferred the first one. But it still plays just fine.
@whmchrish Yes, all 6 games are available to play on PS4/5. Jak 1 to X have the ok-ish PS4 versions, and Lost Frontier and Daxter are both available on the PS4/5 PSP emulator. The PS4-only PS2 emulator isn't great, which is why a lot of people want ports to the new PS4/5 PS2 emulator.
@AdamNovice I, for one, am glad that Guerilla moved on. I absolutely love the Horizon stuff. Didn't care a bit for the Killzone stuff. I also like what Sucker Punch are doing with the Ghost series, but I wouldn't mind a more mature return to the Infamous series. They could really deepen that lore and make it cool as hell in this or the next generation.
@Oram77 I said for me yes give me Legend of Dragoon. Im certain they could have remade that and tons of other Classics. A Dark Cloud would awesome too, Twisted Metal World Tour, Legend of Legacy, Wild Arms just to name a few.😁
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