By KEVIN HOOVER
Video games and movies make for odd bedfellows. Despite the cogent argument that one or the other should, could or will work when crossing the line into the other’s realm of being, the reality of the whole affair is that it misfires more often than not. While Uwe Boll is still hoping to outlive the infamy of his House of the Dead debacle and we all await with fingers crossed to see if Until Dawn can adeptly transition from shiny disc to silver screen, one property that got it right on both accounts–thank the gaming gods–is John Carpenter’s The Thing.
Following its stealthy, digital-only release last December, the game is now set to receive a physical release in both Standard and Deluxe packages for Nintendo Switch and PS5.
From the press release:
“Last December, renowned remaster developer Nightdive Studios made waves in the retro gaming space for its surprise digital launch of THE THING: REMASTERED during the PC Gaming Show. Now, in collaboration with Universal Products & Experiences, Nightdive Studios has proudly announced physical Standard and Deluxe Editions of The Thing: Remastered for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
THE THING: REMASTERED is a faithful restoration of the 2002 third-person survival horror shooter inspired by Universal Pictures’ genre-defining 1982 film, The Thing. Nightdive Studios has upgraded this horrifying classic for the modern era through its proprietary KEX Engine for play on current-generation gaming devices up to a 4K resolution at 120FPS. Improvements to character models, textures and animations have been hand-crafted by Nightdive Studios, with the implementation of advanced 3D rendering for updated lighting and atmospheric effects–for a suspenseful and disgustingly detailed remaster that reanimates the thrilling game for modern audiences.“
The Standard Edition includes the base game, while the Deluxe Edition’s extras include a SteelBook collector’s case, poster, sew-on patches and a replica of in-game protagonist Captain Blake’s ID card. Both editions will release day-and-date with the film’s 43rd anniversary: June 25th, 2025.
Both editions of the game are available for pre-order now at all the usual outlets and through Atari’s website, while digital copies of the game are currently available for purchase through Steam and GOG, PlayStation 4|5, Xbox One and Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
