Ryse: Son of Rome has always been a strange case in Xbox history. It launched in 2013 as one of the Xbox One’s day-one exclusives, received mixed reviews, and then managed to stay alive in players’ memories for more than a decade.
Now, according to a new leak, Crytek may be working on a remaster of Ryse: Son of Rome. Nothing is official yet, but having received a cult following and maintained relevance throughout the years, it is very likely we will see this remaster.
The original felt like a true next-generation video game at the time. The visuals alone were incredible for 2013. The facial animations, lighting, and cinematic cutscenes made it one of the best-looking games of the Xbox One launch window. Even today, it holds up next to many contemporary titles.
While not a perfect game, it was Ryse’s clear identity that made players so attached to it. It had brutal sword combat, flashy Roman spectacle, a strong cinematic presentation, and a memorable main character. If you gathered 100 gamers right now, they may not all remember the name Marius Titus, but they surely would remember how he looks.
Instantly recognizable.
However, a remaster would not fix some of its drawbacks, such as the highly repetitive combat and the short campaign, but it would fix some of the obvious limitations. Most likely, we can expect higher resolutions, 60 FPS, better textures, improved lighting, maybe smoother animations, and modern console support. These would be some basic adjustments for a remaster. I am hoping Crytek will get into combat responsiveness or improving some of the more repetitive encounters, but I am keeping my expectations in check.
Does this mean we are getting a comeback?
Having shinier graphics for a buck does not automatically confirm that a sequel is on the way, as is the case with the recently announced The Wolf Among Us Remastered. But it sure means that Crytek is interested in bringing attention back to this game, possibly turning it into a franchise in the future. This could be the safest move from them, as just last year Crytek put development on Crysis 4 on hold due to financial reasons. Yeah, they are not having a good time.
To be honest, Ryse is one of those games that still feels like unfinished business. Ancient Rome remains a powerful setting, and not many modern action games are exploring it. A sequel could expand the combat, add more weapons, explore more parts of the Roman Empire, and build a much larger story than the original was able to deliver.
A remaster alone does not change much. Instead, it could open the door to what I and other fans alike expect and want for the future. Out of all the talks and conversations about underrated Xbox exclusives, wasted potential, and games that deserved a second chance, there is no better candidate for a revival than Ryse: Son of Rome. The second chance is worth talking about.