Comparison of Graphics: Days Gone Remastered vs. Original Version

In the gaming community, there’s been quite a buzz around the release of Days Gone Remastered, and not all of it is enthusiastic. Fans are curious about why this remaster was even deemed necessary, especially considering the visual differences seem minor at best in some cutscenes. Unlike the striking overhaul seen with Horizon Zero Dawn’s remaster, this one seems to only make modest improvements when compared to the original 2019 game on PC.

Bend Studio, the creators of Days Gone and a first-party team under PlayStation, released the original game back in 2019. Though it was met with a mix of reviews, mostly due to various bugs and technical issues, these were eventually ironed out, and the game went on to sell over seven million copies by 2022. Despite its commercial success, a sequel seems unlikely. There were reported internal issues at Bend Studio, leading to the departure of the game’s directors and dashing hopes for a Days Gone 2 – one of the most anticipated sequels among PlayStation fans.

Recently, Bend Studio was reported to be working on a yet-to-be-announced open-world live-service project. However, PlayStation leadership scrapped that endeavor just last month. Following this setback, most believed Bend Studio wouldn’t have much to offer for the remainder of the PlayStation 5’s lifespan. But the team surprised everyone by announcing Days Gone Remastered at PlayStation’s February 2025 State of Play event. Despite promising better graphics, improved foliage draw distances, shadows, and lighting, early unofficial comparisons haven’t convincingly supported these claims.

The YouTuber Cycu1 offered a glimpse into Days Gone Remastered by comparing the State of Play reveal with the PC version of the original, utilizing a high-end RTX 4080 at 4K Ultra settings. On a quick look, the remastered version appears quite similar to the original. Although tighter zooms show some detail improvements, the difference is nowhere near the leap seen in Horizon Zero Dawn’s latest remaster. It’s worth pointing out that Cycu1’s footage analysis was limited to cutscenes, which might not highlight the game’s visual enhancements effectively. Perhaps a better demonstration would be through uninterrupted gameplay.

It’s possible that the original game’s already impressive visual fidelity makes the remaster’s enhancements less noticeable. Only time will tell if Days Gone Remastered significantly raises the graphical bar set by its predecessor. Beyond visuals, the remaster also adds more value with expanded accessibility features, an enhanced photo mode, support for the DualSense controller, and new game modes like Horde Assault and Permadeath – all of which come with a modest $10 upgrade fee for current owners.