Developer Frogwares is breathing new life into their Lovecraftian detective game with a significant technical upgrade that marks another positive step in the title's complicated journey. After regaining control of their intellectual property following a publisher dispute, the Ukrainian studio continues to support The Sinking City with an ambitious remaster that leverages cutting-edge technology.
A Free Upgrade for Existing Owners
In a move that will please fans of the original 2019 release, Frogwares has announced that The Sinking City Remastered will be provided at no additional cost to all existing owners across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S platforms. This generous approach comes after the game's troubled history, which saw it caught in publishing limbo for years, preventing proper post-release support including critical bug fixes and DLC availability on certain platforms.
Unreal Engine 5 Visual Overhaul
The remaster represents a significant technical leap, moving the game from Unreal Engine 4 to the more advanced Unreal Engine 5 architecture. Comparison screenshots reveal a striking visual upgrade with noticeably crisper textures replacing the sometimes muddy appearance of the original. The atmospheric horror elements benefit particularly from the enhanced lighting system, which creates more subtle and effective shadows throughout the game's flooded environments.
The Sinking City Remastered - Technical Improvements:
- Engine upgrade from Unreal Engine 4 to Unreal Engine 5
- 4K textures throughout the game
- Reworked lighting system
- Improved reflections
- Support for NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and TSR upscaling
- New photo mode
- Enhanced locations with additional detail and objects
Technical Enhancements
Players can expect a comprehensive suite of modern graphical features including 4K textures, improved reflections (particularly important in a game featuring abundant water), and support for multiple upscaling technologies including NVIDIA DLSS, AMD FSR, and TSR. These improvements should help the game run smoothly even at higher resolutions while maintaining visual fidelity.
New Features and Refinements
Beyond the graphical enhancements, The Sinking City Remastered will introduce a photo mode, allowing players to capture the game's Lovecraftian horrors in carefully composed screenshots. The remaster will also feature enhanced locations with additional levels of detail and objects, potentially improving both the visual density of environments and the detective gameplay that forms the core of the experience.
A Second Chance for an Ambitious Title
The original release of The Sinking City received mixed reviews, with praise for its detective mechanics and atmospheric world building offset by criticism of its combat elements and technical issues. This remaster offers an opportunity for both new players and those who bounced off the initial release to experience the game's unique blend of detective work and cosmic horror under better conditions.
Release Timeline
While Frogwares hasn't announced a specific release date for the remaster, it's likely to arrive well before the sequel, which has an estimated delivery date of December 2025 according to its Kickstarter campaign. The studio's continued productivity is particularly impressive given that they remain primarily based in Ukraine during an ongoing war, a circumstance that warrants patience regarding exact release timings.