Over on the Exputer forums, prominent leaker eXtas1s has claimed that Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy will be releasing for Game Pass sometime in August, though it’s unknown if it will be playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming as well. Interestingly enough, the same has been corroborated by Windows Central as well.

Meanwhile, the leaker claims that the trilogy of Crash remakes will be joined by fellow platforming remake trilogy Spyro Reignited Trilogy, as well as beloved remake duology Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. It’s unknown, however, whether they will also release for the service in August.

The leaker goes on to say that they currently have no information on when we can expect Call of Duty games to begin being added to the Game Pass catalog. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will, of course, launch day 1 for the service this October, but it remains to be seen how long we’ll be waiting for prior instalments in the series to follow suit.

In a recent video uploaded by YouTube channel DidYouKnowGaming, which cites information from anonymous sources, it’s claimed that after the success of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, developer Vicarious Visions pitched another remake duology to Activision in the form of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. 

Allegedly, the original plan had been to combine remakes of the series’ first four instalments in a single package, though as development on Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 progressed, Vicarious Visions decided that the focus would have to remain on the first two games, with the idea being to return to the next two games afterwards.

However, as per the video, Vicarious Visions’ pitch for a second remake was rejected by Activision, with the company instead deciding that the studio would be better utilized for support work on the Call of Duty franchise.

Vicarious Visions would also go on to develop Diablo 2: Resurrected, and was folded into Blizzard Entertainment in 2021. The followed year, what was formerly Vicarious Visions was renamed as Blizzard Albany.

Tony Hawk himself has also previously stated that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 was indeed in the works at Vicarious Visions before the studio merged with Blizzard. Read more on that through here.

Curiously, the offline mode seems to be exclusive to the Steam Deck, and running the game by default on any other PC operating system still requires an Internet connection. Players, however, have discovered a way to trick the game into thinking that it is running on a Steam Deck, even if the player is on a PC running on Windows 11.

The trick into running the game offline revolves around setting the right launch option for the game, with Windows players needing to use an environment variable, while Linux players can simply use the command “steamdeck = 1 %command%”.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 made its way on to Steam earlier this month after spending almost 3 years as exclusive to the Epic Games Store. The game is also available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Patch 1.1 Notes for Steam – 10/18/2023

• The keyboard overlay now works properly for Steam Deck users.
• Steam Deck users can now play offline.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 remasters the first two mainline games in the series with rebuilt visuals, new pro skaters and the original soundtrack (plus some new songs). It also adds several mechanics from later games like Reverts, Wall Plants and more. Multiplayer with leaderboards is also supported.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 earned critical acclaim at launch (check out our review for more details), with 2.8 million units sold digitally in its first month. Along with the Epic Games Store, it’s also available on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Before Vicarious Visions merged with Blizzard Entertainment, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 was rumored to be in the works. Learn more about that here.

This. Is. Epic. Drop in to Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 on Steam, October 3. Add it to your Wishlist: https://t.co/IngePbHODE pic.twitter.com/XDgJvZ9mN0

— Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 and 2 (@TonyHawkTheGame) September 26, 2023

#16. SHADOW OF THE COLOSSUS (2018)

Back in 2005, Sony delivered what is, to this day, considered one of the greatest games ever made in Shadow of the Colossus, and while its 2018 remake obviously didn’t have the same impact, it certainly did justice to its source material. Bluepoint Games smartly decided not to mess with a winning formula too much, and instead, with its remake, decided to merely accentuate the original’s biggest strengths and polish up some of its rough edges. For newcomers and veteran fans alike, 2018’s Shadow of the Colossus is an excellent way to experience this all-time classic.

#15. DEMON’S SOULS (2020)

Merely a couple of years after releasing the aforementioned Shadow of the Colossus, Bluepoint Games and Sony delivered yet another excellent remake in the form of PS5 launch title Demon’s Souls. Once again, the developer approach the FromSoftware classic with great respect, choosing to keep the vast majority of the core experience intact and instead glowing up its visuals and production values. The Soulslike genre has come a long way since its made its debut with Demon’s Souls in 2009, but for those who want to go back to the beginning, the 2020 remake is an unmissable experience.

#14. CRASH BANDICOOT N.SANE TRILOGY

Crash Bandicoot was essentially dead and buried until not too long ago, but thankfully, Activision decided to bring the franchise with a bang. Developed by Vicarious Visions, Crash Bandicoot N.Sane Trilogy perfectly encapsulated everything that the original PS1 trilogy was about, capturing all of its highs and lows and wrapping them up in gorgeous modern-day visuals to demonstrate just why this iconic platforming franchise took off the way it did.

#13. BLACK MESA

Starting as a fan-made unofficial remake of the original Half-Life, Crowbar Collective’s Black Mesa had an eventful journey behind the scenes, but when it finally launched as an official remake with Valve’s blessing in 2020, it proved to be well worth the wait. From its new content additions to the smart ways in which it evolved the original game’s mechanics to, of course, the gorgeous visual glow-up it brought to the table, Black Mesa proved to be a worthy reimagining of one of the all-time greats.

#12. MAFIA: DEFINITIVE EDITION

The Mafia franchise has certainly been through the wringer over the years, and recent years in particular have been tough on its fans. In 2020, however, we thankfully got a respite from the dourness thanks to Mafia: Definitive Edition, an incredible remake of the series’ very first outing. The original Mafia’s story and writing and its excellent period setting are still fondly remembered as some of its biggest strengths, and all of that was able to shine that much brighter in the remake. Some of the gameplay and design choices felt a little aged, yes, but for fans of the series in particular, it was a wonderful blast from the past.

#11. THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: LINK’S AWAKENING

Despite being a handheld-only game, The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening has always held a special place in the hearts of Zelda fans, so to say that its Switch remake proved to be more than up to the task of remaking it for a new generation is no small praise. The biggest change it made, of course, was to its visual style, and while the new aesthetic may initially have proved to be an almost jarring change, ultimately, it turned out to be the perfect foil for the weird, bizarre adventure that is Link’s Awakening. Meanwhile, from its setting to its story to its world and dungeon design, the remake proved in more ways than one that the game’s qualities truly are timeless.

#10. TONY HAWK’S PRO SKATER 1+2

Much like with Crash Bandicoot, Activision and Vicarious Visions brought yet another dead and beloved franchise back into the limelight with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, and it would be safe to say that the results were even more resoundingly successful. Though one might argue that the original Tony Hawk games were a product of their time, going back to their incredibly tight and endlessly enjoyable gameplay, their oodles of content, their pumping licensed soundtrack, and all the visual upgrades that came with the remake only proved that the skateboarding masterpieces are just as great today as they were when they first launched.

#9. POKEMON FIRERED/LEAFGREEN

Game Freak loves remaking Pokemon games, and it’s done a fair few of them over the years, but it’s far to say that all but one (which we’ll get to in a bit) have failed to match the brilliance of their first remaking effort. Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen took players back to where it all started, bringing Kanto back to life on the Game Boy Advance with updated visuals and combat and progression mechanics, and the end result was absolutely glorious. It’s been nearly two decades since this duo of remakes first launched, but they still stand as one of the series’ greatest games to date.

#8. METROID: ZERO MISSION

Metroid: Zero Mission presents the definitive take on Samus Aran’s original adventure, remaking it so comprehensively, and so thoroughly modernizing it, that it functionally renders the original game entirely obsolete. You never have to even consider playing the original, because everything it did, Zero Mission did as well, but better, while doing even more on top. Keeping the same basic map, enemies, plot progression, and power ups, but with modern game design sensibilities and some better signposting for new players, and adding a triumphant epilogue at the end that truly showed us how the story of Samus Aran began, Zero Mission remains a high watermark not just for the Metroid franchise, but remakes in general.

#7. YAKUZA KIWAMI 2

Yakuza 2 is a fan favorite game for a lot of reasons, including characters such as Ryuji and Kaoru, hilariously over the top but epic setpieces such as a golden castle bursting from the underground into the streets of Osaka, or an actual brawl with a tiger, and the introduction of the fan-favorite Sotenbori map. It’s a beloved game and any remake needed to treat it with appropriate care. Kiwami 2 did a good job of that, to say the very least. While it was nowhere near as faithful to Yakuza 2 as the original Kiwami was to Yakuza 1, taking liberties with story, music, and even content, it nonetheless delivered an exceptional outing for the Yakuza franchise that ranks as one of the franchise’s highs.

#6. RESIDENT EVIL (2002)

The folks at Capcom are the masters of remakes, and that can all be traced back to 2002, when the Japanese company released a ground-up remake of the original Resident Evil for the GameCube. Even though the original RE1 was barely six years old at that point, the remake felt like a ridiculous jump forward, thanks in large part to astoundingly gorgeous visuals that somehow still manage to hold up to this day. RE1 remake also added significant portions of new content to the original game that enriched the experience in ways we couldn’t have imagined, from new areas to story additions to, of course, Lisa Trevor. The fact that the remake is still widely held up as one of the best survival horror remakes of all time should tell you all you need to know about how good it was.

#5. FINAL FANTASY 7 REMAKE

Remaking a game as legendary as Final Fantasy 7 is far from an enviable task, and it becomes even less enviable when you decide to change it from head to toe to the extent that it essentially turns into an entirely different game. With Final Fantasy 7 Remake, that’s exactly what Square Enix did though, and it was a risk that paid off. Covering only the first few hours of the original and turning them into a full-fledged first instalment of a trilogy, the 2020 remake boasted incredible visuals and spectacular combat, and somehow managed to make what was essentially a small section of the original game feel like a fleshed out experience in and of itself. Add to that the smart changes it made and the ways in which it played on fans’ expectations, and what we got was what may even be one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made.

#4. DEAD SPACE (2023)

There was a long period of time where it looked like there was no hope whatsoever that the Dead Space franchise would be able to come back to life, but thanks to Motive Studio’s recent remake of the 2008 original, that’s exactly what it’s done- and how. The Dead Space remake is, in a word, spectacular- a standard-bearer not only for how to remake a beloved classic, but also for survival horror games as a whole. The psychological horror, the nightmares that the decrepit Ishimura hides around every corner, the gripping story and the way it unfolds, the brutal and visceral combat and how incredibly enjoyable it remains from start to finish- everything that was true about Dead Space back when it came out is still true in its 2023 remake, but even more potent and even more effective.

#3. RESIDENT EVIL 4 (2023)

Of all the Resident Evil games Capcom has made so far, this one was probably the trickiest proposition, thanks, of course, to its immense legacy- but they proved to be more than up to the task. The RE4 remake is a masterclass in all the ways that the original was, and then some. With its pacing and its combat and the sheer, constant tension that pervades every second of the experience, it emulates the highest highs of its source material from start to finish, while it also finds a way to make just the right amount of clever, unexpected changes to keep even the most hardened of veterans on their toes, all while still remaining incredibly faithful to the game that it tries to recreate. Suffice to say, Resident Evil 4 is a masterpiece, twice over.

#2. POKEMON HEARTGOLD/SOULSILVER

Game Freak and Pokemon both peaked with Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The original games, Gold and Silver, were already considered the best instalments of the franchise and some of the best RPGs ever made, so to actually take those games and somehow make them even better was an astounding achievement. By and large, HeartGold and SoulSilver were very faithful to the original games, but smart visual and mechanical changes made them feel much more modern, allowing the timeless design of this densely packed experience to shine that much brighter. With a combination of next to no cuts, plentiful improvements, and the core excellent of the originals brought over as is, HeartGold and SoulSilver instantly cemented themselves as Pokemon’s best outing- a crown, many might say, they still hold to this day.

#1. RESIDENT EVIL 2 (2019)

For our money, 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remains the absolute king of remakes, which, given the lofty company it keeps in this list, is huge praise. The jump from the original RE2 to its remake is absolutely massive, but even going from fixed cameras and tank controls to over the shoulder and third person shooting, the remake still manages to perfectly capture the essence of the original. Hell, it even enhances it. The gorgeous visuals, the stellar level design exhibited throughout the entire game (and in RPD in particular), the excellent boss fights, the implementation of Mr. X- all of it combines to make for a survival horror experience for the ages. The changes that the RE2 remake makes are, admittedly, pretty radical ones, and while some might bemoan the loss of, say, the zapping system, ultimately, they all contribute significantly to giving the game its own identity, so that the remake is able to stand alongside the original rather than either replacing it or being overshadowed by it. For fans of RE2 in particular, that alone is a massive achievement that cannot be overlooked.

Yakuza: Like a Dragon is playable on PS4 and PS5, telling the story of Ichiban Kasuga. After taking the fall for a crime and being released after 18 years, he finds himself betrayed and seeking revenge. Unlike previous Yakuza titles, Like a Dragon is more of a turn-based role-playing game with abilities, classes, dungeons, and much more.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 Cross-Gen Deluxe Bundle is being offered in August, which means it’s playable on PS4 and PS5. It’s a ground-up remake of the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater titles but includes moves from later games, new music, and new skaters. Finally, Tarsier Studios’ Little Nightmares on PS4 is a 2.5D horror platformer where a young girl named Six must escape from a terrifying place called The Maw.

Those who haven’t claimed last month’s offerings, namely Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time, Man of Medan and Arcadegeddon, should do so by August 1st.

Dealabs use billbil-kun has accurately leaked PlayStation Plus’ monthly fee offerings for subscribers consistently for several months. Now, the user claims that PS Plus essential – the lowest tier of the service – is going to have a strong August, offering Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, and the original Little Nightmares. Those are three great and very different games, so subscribers who haven’t played them yet might want to keep an eye out.

Sony hasn’t made an official announcement yet regarding the August lineup, but it shouldn’t be long before that happens. Stay tuned, and we’ll keep you updated on any new details coming our way.

Before basically every studio at Activision was working on Call of Duty, the publisher was absolutely killing it on remakes of some of its classic franchises, from Crash Bandicoot to Spyro. Activision even remade Crash Team Racing and finally gave us a Crash Bandicoot 4.

By far one of the best remakes they put out, however, was Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. The game originally released on Xbox One, PS4, PC (via the Epic Games Store) and PS4 last year, and an enhanced port for Xbox Series X|S and PS5 hit in March. Now, we finally have confirmation that the game is coming to Switch on June 25th and will retail for $39.99. Activision didn’t offer many details beyond a release date, but it’s fair to say that the Switch port is probably based on the original release, and not the enhanced editions.

Despite Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 being the fastest game in the series to sell 1 million copies, the future of the series is uncertain after developer Vicarious Visions was merged with Blizzard earlier this year. Despite that, however, Vicarious Visions is still in charge of the Switch port. You can check out some Switch footage here.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 will be the next major game to receive a native next-gen port, and as you’d expect, it’s going to be receiving some pretty impressive upgrades to take advantage of the more powerful hardware of the newer consoles. Activision recently confirmed via the game’s official Twitter page what those enhancements are going to be, specifically on the PS5.

On PS5, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 will feature two graphics modes- one that runs at 1080p and 120 FPS, and one that runs at 4K and 60 FPS. Meanwhile, it’s also been confirmed that the game will support the Activity cards, 3D audio, haptic feedback, and adaptive triggers. Cross-gen progression is also supported, while the game will also use the console’s SSD for “immediacy”. No details for the Xbox Series X/S versions have been confirmed yet.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is currently available for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It launches for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on March 26, and will also be releasing for Nintendo Switch later in the year- though that version has no specific launch date yet.

https://twitter.com/tonyhawkthegame/status/1374405006397382660

Most major games that launched in the months before the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S came out have either already received ports for the new consoles, or will be receiving them at some point in the future. One game that’s coming to the new consoles soon is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2. This being an Activision game, the next-gen upgrade paths here are not as convenient as other publishers have gone with, with owners of the game’s standard editions having to pay an additional $10 for the upgrade, while those who own the deluxe editions can do so for free.

As it turns out, however, there’s a catch even where the former is concerned. As spotted by The Gamer, Activision’s FAQ page for next-gen upgrades of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 states that while those who own the game’s standard edition on Xbox One digitally will be able to upgrade to the game’s upcoming Xbox Series X/S version (upon paying the additional $10), that won’t be the case if you own the game physically.

Next-gen upgrades for the game aren’t offered for the game on Xbox One if you own it on disc at all, which means you’re going to have to cough up the full price again if you want the game’s upgraded version. What’s curious is that the same isn’t the case with PS4 to PS5 upgrades, where even those who own the game’s physical standard edition can upgrade to the PS5 port.

No reason has been given as to why this is the case, but hopefully Activision will clear this up soon.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 is currently available on PS4, Xbox One, and PC, and set for release on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S on March 26, with a Nintendo Switch version coming later in the year.