Did you ever think you'd see Shrek 2 Remastered on a PlayStation 5? Well, it's happening. Aspyr is bringing the 2004 movie tie-in game back later this year, and the rumors have proven true. Shrek 2 Remastered will launch for $30 on November 10 across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch 2, Switch, and PC.
The remaster promises improved graphics, a photo mode, cheats, and 4-player co-op both online and locally. All of that sounds like a solid upgrade over the original PS2 version. But let's be real: it's Shrek 2. We all have nostalgia for various middling licensed games—I still like the Super NES Jurassic Park game, personally—but Aspyr's use of the word "classic" on the remaster's Steam page makes me feel like I'm losing touch with reality.
Look, I love digging into the lower tiers of the PS2 library, but this is the kind of thing bargain hunting at your local retro shop or deep dives into emulators were made for. Do we really need remaster studios putting their resources into run-of-the-mill licensed games with Metacritic scores in the low 70s?
I say all this, but moments ago our senior entertainment writer Lauren saw me use the words "Shrek PS2 game" and simply started repeating "OMG" over and over again. So maybe I'm just not the target audience here. Maybe I'll head over to eBay and grab the original game on Xbox in a bit…
At the very least, Aspyr has generally done good work in its previous remasters, which have included the likes of Tomb Raider and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic—both genuine pillars of video game history. The studio was, at one point, set to lead the KOTOR remake, though those plans have long since changed. I guess the studio is at least getting work, even if that work's occasionally unglamorous.
So, what do you think? Is Shrek 2 Remastered a dream come true or has gaming nostalgia finally gone too far? Will you be picking this up in November?
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