Concerned Your Friend Might Be an Alien Monster? Channel Those Fears with the Newly Released The Thing Remastered

No need to worry—your friends and family definitely aren’t secretly The Thing. But in the newly released remaster of the classic PS2 game, anyone could be a hidden threat.

After Nightdive Studios delivered the much-anticipated System Shock remake last year, they announced in June that a remaster of The Thing was in the works. Originally developed by Computer Artworks, this PS2 game served as a sequel to John Carpenter’s iconic 1982 movie of the same name. Although it was set for a 2024 release, there was a lot of speculation about whether it would meet that timeline. That is, until last night when Nightdive Studios pulled a fast one and released it unexpectedly! Now, the game is available on a wide range of platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC through Steam, GOG, and Humble. Talk about having plenty of options!

According to Nightdive Studios, “The character models, textures, and animations have been expertly crafted, with advanced 3D rendering techniques employed for improved lighting and atmospheric effects,” which they’ve dubbed as creating a “suspenseful and disgustingly detailed remaster to thrill modern audiences.” In this immersive sequel, players step into the shoes of Captain J.F. Blake, leading a special forces team through the icy landscapes of Antarctica to unravel the mystery surrounding Outpost 31. The catch? The Thing still lurks, and any NPC has the potential to become it.

The game includes a trust system that could leave players in a tense situation. If your team becomes overly suspicious of you, they might turn against you, suspecting you’re The Thing—or even suspect other NPCs! It’s a clever mechanic that had a few hiccups in the original version, like instances where players could get stuck without a way forward. I’m really interested to see if Nightdive managed to iron out those issues in this remaster.