With the the advent of high-definition re-releases such as Persona 4 and Final Fantasy X HD, it’s become apparent that HD remakes aren’t just a fad. Publishers left and right are hopping on the bandwagon, while consumers are enjoying the flavor of older titles on newer hardware, as well as the benefits that comes with the territory. But what does Sony think?
During his latest interview with Game Informer, Sony President Shuhei Yoshida shared his enthusiasm for what has become a popular trend of converting best-selling PS2 titles to the more feature-full PS3 and Vita platforms. He stated:
If they are products for the PS2 that people really, really like, and because the PS2 is an SD system, if there are enough people that want to play these games with HD graphics with some updated features like trophy support, 3D support, or network features, it’s going to be win/win for both consumers and publishers
He elaborated with the following:
It’s great for your money, especially when you are a new gamer and have never played these games before. It’s a steal. It’s two brand new titles you can purchase for less than buying one new title. So I think as long as there is this happy win/win situation between consumers and publishers, I would expect more titles will come out in this format.
In tomorrow’s PlayStation Store update, Resident Evil 4 will be available for download in high-definition format for its first time. Soon after, the ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection will do the same for what were arguably the two finest titles on the PlayStation 2. With the Vita offering the same potential as the PS3 but in mobile form, chances are that this trend will continue on into the future.
The question is: does this new trend do more harm than good for the industry? Some argue that it leads to a decrease in new titles and ideas, and instead promotes the recycling of older work. What do you think? Share your opinion in the comments below.
