Remakes and remasters are often disliked by many gamers, yet major publishers clearly see big incentives in developing these types of games — and this is confirmed by the research company Ampere Analysis.
According to a new study, video game remakes and remasters have gathered 72.4 million players across Xbox, PlayStation, and Steam during 2024 and 2025, generating a total of $1.4 billion in spending on premium games and microtransactions.
Ampere also highlighted another interesting fact: among the 42 games analyzed (15 remakes and 27 remasters) released between January 2024 and September 2025, consumer spending on remakes was 2.2 times higher than on remasters.
Remakes vs. Remasters: Which Is the Better Choice?
It might seem that producing a remake is always more profitable than making a remaster. However, Ampere points out that a true remake requires more time, money, and marketing. On the other hand, remasters can be made faster and at a lower cost, though they tend to attract a smaller audience.
The Ampere chart comparing the commercial performance of remakes and remasters shows some exceptions. One of the most notable is The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered, which earned over $180 million, far surpassing the impressive $120 million (and more) from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. On average, however, remakes — though fewer in number — tend to earn more than remasters.
Why Publishers Keep Returning to the Past
Katie Holt, a senior analyst at Ampere Analysis, stated: “As games and IP development costs escalate, publishers are increasingly raiding their back catalogues for cost-effective remakes and remasters.”
Holt concluded, “Publishers deciding between a full remake versus a remaster have to balance franchise planning, investment risk, age of content, platform support, and more when choosing which route to take.”
