Days Gone Remastered: A New Dawn for Deacon St. John?

Our little rumor was actually right, and we got the “Days Gone Remastered PS5” announcement at the State of Play 2025 event last week. To be honest, while we’d been hearing whispers of a remaster/remake, I didn’t expect it to surface here. Let’s dive into it.

Days Gone Remastered PS5: What’s New in the Apocalypse?

When I saw the Bend Studio logo and the opening seconds of the trailer, I was genuinely hyped. I really enjoyed “Days Gone” – although, to be frank, I felt a bit rushed towards the end, as if they were dragging out the final hours. Overall, I’d give “Days Gone” a solid 8/10, which is a testament to its strengths.

What truly grabbed me was the sheer scale of the zombie hordes, the relentless masses swarming towards you, forcing you to survive by any means necessary. Yes, we had “World War Z” with its similar huge zombie numbers, but “Days Gone” coupled that with a compelling story and, crucially, I loved the bike mechanics and handling. That bike felt like an extension of Deacon, and the freedom it provided was fantastic.

However, halfway through the announcement trailer, I felt a wave of disappointment. I was expecting more significant graphical enhancements, some quality-of-life improvements, and maybe even a story DLC. The base game, especially the PC version, already looks pretty good, to be honest. The PC version is essentially an upgraded version of the original PS4 release, so a mere graphical boost isn’t enough to warrant the “Remastered” tag. I’m sure when the game releases, comparison videos will flood YouTube, and most viewers will struggle to spot much difference.

New Features and Game Modes Await

Yes, there are new additions coming to this remastered version:

• Permadeath Mode: For the masochistic players among us, a permadeath mode adds a new layer of tension and challenge. One mistake, and it’s game over.
• Speedrun Mode: Perfect for those who’ve mastered the game and want to test their skills against the clock. Optimize your routes, master the combat, and see how fast you can survive the apocalypse.
• Challenge Mode: a way to test your skills as the game provides you with a high score on a scoreboard.

Is this “Remastered” version exclusive to PS5? Not exactly. The “remaster” is primarily a PS5 upgrade, bringing it to the level of enhancements already enjoyed by PC players. PS5 owners will get to experience the game with higher framerates and a smoother experience, which is great. For PC players, there won’t be any further graphical enhancements, but the new modes and accessibility options will be added, as a paid DLC.

Revival or Cash Grab? The Future of Days Gone on PS5 and PC

To be honest, it could be a good thing, but it’s far from a sure thing. Bend Studio hasn’t explicitly stated that strong sales of this “upgrade” will guarantee a sequel. However, if it receives positive reception and boosts sales of the base game, it might just reignite the sequel hopes that many of us still harbor.

Personally, I think Sony should have offered the new modes as a free update for existing owners. Then, they could have bundled the “upgrade” with a story DLC and sold that at a reasonable price. Instead, it feels like they’re simply trying to squeeze more money out of their back catalog by slapping a “Remastered” tag on it.

If this were a full-blown remake, I’d be more understanding of a full-price release. But for a few modes and minor improvements, I’m not willing to pay as a PC player – I’ll definitely wait for a sale.

Ultimately, I’m torn. I love “Days Gone,” but this feels like a missed opportunity. I hope I’m wrong, and the Remastered version surprises me. But for now, I’m cautiously optimistic.

What do you think? Are you excited for “Days Gone Remastered,” or are you feeling a bit underwhelmed? Let me know in the comments!

And while you’re here, be sure to check out my previous blog post where I talked about my Hype for 2025 in “Epic Games Coming Soon: 14 Titles You NEED To Watch!“