The Sinking City Remastered arrives on PS5 with free upgrade

A few weeks after the official announcement, Frogwares surprised everyone by releasing the remastered version of The Sinking City for PlayStation 5, now available on the PlayStation Store. Those who already own the original version on Sony's console can upgrade for free, a measure that the developer describes as a way of giving back to the community.

The new remaster represents a significant technical leap, with the complete migration of the game to Unreal Engine 5, 4K textures, enhanced reflections, improvements in detail levels and objects in various scenarios, as well as gameplay adjustments, a new Photo Mode, and new accessibility features. The package reinforces the studio's attempt to solidify the franchise, now under full control after previous legal issues with the distribution of the original game.

"So, after our well-known difficulties with the original version, it's incredible to be able to experience this positive moment and be the ones to fully decide the future of the franchise. Making the update free for the fans who supported us in difficult times is our way of saying thank you," declared Sergiy Oganesyan, publishing director at Frogwares.

The remaster also sets the stage for The Sinking City 2, already announced for PS5. The new title had an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, surpassing the initial goal of US$ 113,000 in less than two hours. In the end, it raised over US$ 625,000, showing that, despite the stumbles of the first game, the fan base remains engaged with the investigative horror proposal inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft.

In the original review of the game for PS4, the rating was 7/10, with praise for the engaging narrative and setting, although combat and technical aspects were pointed out as weak points:

"The Sinking City is a captivating investigation that delves into H.P. Lovecraft's hauntings with an engaging narrative. If you overlook the presentation limitations and the average combat system, it's worth following detective Charles Reed's journey."

With the technical advancements of the new version and the promising future of the IP, Frogwares aims to turn a tumultuous story into a new phase of creative control and reconnection with its fan base.