Some players prefer the 2015 Until Dawn’s look to the 2024 remake—not because the remake simply has fewer technical details, but because it changes the game’s presentation. The remake adds updated models, environments, effects and animation, while also shifting the camera and visual direction. Those choices can make the new version look more detailed to one player and less atmospheric to another.
What changed in the 2024 remake?
PlayStation says it rebuilt Until Dawn in Unreal Engine 5 for PS5 and PC, updating character models, environments, interactive props, visual effects and animation. The remake also introduces a third-person camera and adds or expands locations and interactions. PlayStation described the project as a cinematic update designed to create a more intimate experience through visual storytelling—not simply a resolution upgrade. PlayStation’s August 14, 2024 announcement sets out those changes and goals.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Until Dawn -PS5 | $42.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Until Dawn (PS5) | $40.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Unholy - PlayStation 5 | $32.60 | Buy on Amazon |
That is the publisher’s description of its aims. More detailed assets do not, by themselves, establish that the remake’s overall look is better or that players will prefer it.
Why can a more detailed remake look worse to some players?
Detail is only one part of visual style
Sharper models, richer textures and more elaborate effects can improve technical detail without preserving the qualities a player liked in the original. Color, lighting, composition and atmosphere all shape the image. If a remake changes those elements, someone may find the result less convincing or less unsettling even while recognizing the work in its assets.
#1 Best Overall
- Decide the fate of eight survivors in this seminal horror classic, rebuilt and enhanced with new content for PS5 consoles.
- Explore a rich, detailed environment brought to life with cutting-edge visual enhancements and stunning performance capture by an all-star cast.
- Discover new collectibles, interactions, and all-new areas as you survive the night and unravel the mystery.
- Bring the horror to life in your hands through haptic feedback and adaptive triggers on the DualSense wireless controller.
- Enjoy a brand-new third-person camera, movie-like cinematography, musical score, and reauthored audio design that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Camera movement changes the horror experience
The remake’s more mobile third-person camera changes how scenes are framed compared with the original’s more fixed cinematic presentation. Framing affects what stays visible, how a character occupies the scene and how a reveal lands. In a horror game, that can alter tension and mood as much as a change in lighting or color. The camera is therefore part of the remake’s visual direction, not just a technical feature.
People value different things in the comparison
Some players may prioritize detail and updated effects; others may prefer the original’s color, framing or atmosphere. The discussion in a Reddit thread using the “way worse” framing illustrates that disagreement, but comments are examples of individual reactions—not a representative poll or evidence that most players share one view.
Rank #2
- When eight friends return to the isolated lodge where two of their group vanished a year prior, fear tightens its icy grip, and their mountain retreat descends into a nightmare with no escape.
- Face your fears and determine who survives Until Dawn in this seminal horror classic, rebuilt and enhanced for PS5 consoles.
- Create your own gripping tale as you control a group of unique characters portrayed by an all-star cast, including Hayden Panettiere, Brett Dalton, and more, and decide their fate through your choices. Through dynamic animations and nuanced facial-capture performances, learn what makes each character tick, and who among the group has what it takes to survive.
- Discover new collectibles, all-new environments to investigate, and re-cut narrative sequences that deepen the mystery further. Through the DualSense wireless controller, interact with the world like never before, and get closer to the action with an all-new, immersive third-person camera. Plus, enjoy a brand-new musical score and reauthored audio that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the journey.
How to make a fair visual comparison
A useful comparison separates the questions that often get bundled into “looks worse.” Compare the same scenes where possible, and consider:
- Detail and materials: character models, textures, environmental detail and effects.
- Color and lighting: whether the image’s mood and readability work for you, not only whether it appears brighter or sharper.
- Composition and camera: how the remake’s more mobile framing changes what you see and how a scene feels.
- Performance and platform: which version, platform and patch are being compared, and whether frame pacing or frame rate affects the experience.
Platform and patch can affect what you see
Performance comparisons need a date and platform attached. In its review of the PS5 remake, Push Square reported a 30 fps target on PS5 and contrasted it with the original running at 60 fps through PS5 backwards compatibility. That difference can affect how motion feels, but it does not settle which version has the preferred art direction.
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- Enter the stadium and take part of one of the biggest competitions across 34 sports: from swimming, soccer, extreme bike, weightlifting, trampoline and much more!
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Digital Foundry’s technical review specifically revisited the PS5 version after patch 1.05 and also examined the PC release and the 2024 remake against the 2015 original. Its description says patch 1.05 fixed uneven frame pacing with the PS5’s 30 fps cap, while issues remained. That is a patch-specific assessment; it should not be treated as a description of every later build or platform.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is the remake objectively worse-looking?
“Way worse” is a reaction, not an established technical consensus. The available coverage identifies changes in color and camera presentation, while audience comments show that viewers disagree about their effect. The evidence supports a narrower conclusion: the remake changes more than asset detail, and players can reasonably prefer different presentations. Without a representative survey, it is not possible to say how widespread that preference is.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- A Unique Gameplay Blend - Combines meticulous exploration, intriguing puzzle solving, infiltration and stealth with innovative shooting dynamics.
- A Versatile Unique Weapon - Use four different emotions: anger, fear, sadness and desire to interact with the environment (destroy obstacles, trigger mechanisms, overload circuits, illuminate your way) or to confuse, lure or damage your opponents.
- Masks! - Everybody in the unholy world hides behind a mask and it can be the difference between life or death. Build your own mask to get new skills and improve your abilities or wear other masks to infiltrate, confuse your enemies and impersonate your opponents.
- Languages - English voice. Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), English, French (France), German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, and Spanish in-game text.
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