THQ Nordic and newcomer Alkimia Interactive showed off a remake of Gothic 1 at this year’s THQ Nordic Showcase and, well, it’s looking pretty good.
The open world RPG, originally released in 2001 by now defunct developer Piranha Bytes, is claimed to feature an even more complex and deep life simulation than the pioneering original game. NPCs with scripted scheduling and reactions are somewhat commonplace these days, but the original Gothic was ahead of its time with the implementation of an immersive world well before Bethesda impressed us all with Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion in 2006.
To be sure, the gameplay on display looks impressive, particularly for a remake of such an old title, but it’s important to caveat that the developer Alkimia Interactive is new to the scene, so it’s hard to say whether or not the studio can actually pull its claims off.
Exploring the game’s world looks to have some expanded options, too. Diving and free climbing are showcased, which should provide an interesting wrinkle to exploration for a game that’s already well regarded in this area.
Unfortunately, there’s no new information on when the Gothic 1 Remake will actually release. Embracer’s previous comments on the game’s release window put it in the 2024/2025 financial year, which means if everything holds, the game should arrive sometime before April 1, 2025.
