Overview of Recent Updates
- Nightdive Studios has launched a significant console update for The Thing: Remastered, addressing numerous bugs while boosting overall performance.
- This title represents a unique blend of squad-based shooting mechanics paired with survival horror, marking Nightdive’s most successful launch to date.
- The Patch 1.1 update introduces several fixes, including game crashes, performance enhancements, and even new character clothing.
Nightdive Studios, known for revitalizing classic video games, has rolled out an exciting update for The Thing: Remastered. With an array of console improvements and bug resolutions akin to R. J.MacReady’s flamethrower, this update has been long awaited. Founded in 2012, Nightdive specializes in acquiring rights to forgotten games and transforming them for contemporary consoles. With an impressive library that includes remastered versions of titles like Turok, Doom, and Quake, The Thing: Remastered sets the stage for even more thrilling restorations in the future.
Originally launched in 2002 on the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox by Computer Artworks, The Thing seamlessly combined squad shooter gameplay with survival horror, inspired by John Carpenter’s legendary 1982 film. Following its remaster in December 2024, it quickly became a commercial hit, establishing itself as Nightdive’s most rapidly selling title. The game acts as a sequel to the film, centering around Captain Blake, a U. S.Army Special Forces operative dispatched to unveil the fate of the original crew at an Antarctic station that fell victim to an extraterrestrial entity.
As of February 11, 2025, Patch 1.1 is now available for console players, complementing last year’s updated version of System Shock. Among the major enhancements included in this update are fixes for game crashes that occurred during combat with Thing creatures, improvements in depth of field visuals, and notably, new trousers for character Whitley. The Steam Deck now enjoys uncapped frame rates when using the Vulkan renderer, and the Nintendo Switch has also benefitted from performance optimizations.
Patch 1.1 for The Thing: Remastered is now available on consoles with bug fixes for the Conspiracy Theorist achievement + old saved games retroactively fixed, performance optimization for Switch, new trousers for Whitley, and more! â\u009d„ï¸\u008f🩸 ðŸ“\u009d https://t.co/r1zZ8FsOlQ pic.twitter.com/zqeRnPl7nB — Nightdive Studios (@NightdiveStudio) February 11, 2025
The retro gaming community eagerly welcomed the updates in The Thing: Remastered, particularly the resolution of frustrating aspects from the original 2002 release. Additionally, interest is growing around the possibility of a physical edition of the remastered game, with Nightdive Studios indicating that more information on this will be available later in the year.
The momentum continues for Nightdive, as fans urge the studio to revitalize more cult classics. One title frequently mentioned is Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth, a survival horror game from 2005 by Headfirst Productions. Though it struggled commercially, it gained acclaim for its faithful adaptation of H. P.Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos. Nightdive’s commitment to revive these hidden gems is commendable and well-received, as the community’s desire for further remasters continues to expand.
Patch Notes for February 2025 Update
General Fixes
- Resolved issues with the Conspiracy Theorist achievement, with retroactive fixes for old saved games.
- Corrected a scenario where Stolls stopped functioning near the black tech lab door.
- Fixed a crash caused by detonating C4 on the airstrip level.
- Addressed intermittent crashes during encounters with Thing creatures.
- New “Most Recent”button added to the load game menu for easier access to recent saves.
- Autosaves now reflect their respective level names for user convenience.
- Corrected an issue where characters couldn’t ascend to higher surfaces after falling from curbs in roads.
- Resolved a crash issue when exiting the game.
- Fixed the input options menu where bindings sometimes failed to appear on the first launch.
- Addressed a crash issue in Strata Medibay when Fisk dies before revealing the code.
- Fixed Blake’s hand clipping issue during his initial cutscene with Faraday.
- Corrected the failure to trigger the second camera angle in the weather station cutscene.
- Enhanced performance during dynamic query game operations.
- Game version information is now available in the options menu rather than the interstitial screen.
- Game version display visibility minimized for a less disruptive user experience.
- Reestablished upward pan when the game over screen is displayed.
- Updated the achievement description for Colin’s Fate.
Gameplay Adjustments
- Corrected issues with weapon firing rates not functioning as intended (excluding the pistol).
- Ammo and health dispensers now adjust output based on difficulty setting, changeable in-game.
- Marked certain grenades as “volatile, ”ensuring they explode upon damage as intended in the original game.
- Adjusted Blake’s facing direction post cutscene in the weather station level.
Level Improvements
- Fixed an explosive barrel mishap occurring in the penultimate level due to a tripmine charge.
- Concealed the out-of-bounds “Back Door Key”that resembled a document in the submersible level.
- Corrected collision detection issues where characters appeared to sink into snow in the first level.
- Fixed instances where players could get stuck in the handrail within the watchtower on the third level.
- Renamed character Carter to Hawk in the Strata Medibay level to utilize unused voice lines.
- Restored missing green light to a save terminal in the third level.
- Fixed computer IDs related to the Conspiracy Theorist achievement in the weather station level.
- Adjusted a high medipack dispenser in the level that was excessively elevated.
- Corrected poor collision on the weather station’s external stairs.
- Altered orientation of a few incorrectly placed ammo boxes.
- Addressed multiple collision bugs in the Norwegian outpost preventing players from falling through the world.
- Eliminated persistent sound duplication bugs that led to audio becoming entirely silent.
Display Enhancements
- Addressed flickering pixel issues caused by depth of field effects.
- Corrected the glass opacity on the doors in the submersible.
- Improved normal maps for several posters and boards.
- Provided Whitley with new trousers for character customization.
Audio Fixes
- Resolved issues with speech audio incorrectly following the speaker’s movements.
PC Specific Changes
- Updated the on-screen watermark in the editor build for clarity.
- Introduced support for autoexec.cfg, allowing users to customize console variables not typically saved to kexEngine.cfg.
- Implemented performance enhancements for the D3D11 renderer.
Steam Deck Updates
- Remedied frame rate issues that capped performance to half the screen refresh rate while using the Vulkan renderer beyond the Steam client.
General Console Fixes
- Fixed disappearing head and legs for Blake when transitioning out of first-person mode.
- Resolved rapid light flickering issues in the Norwegian base.
Nintendo Switch Optimizations
- Enhanced performance for improved gaming experience.
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