GoldenEye 007 Remaster Won't Be Free If You Physically Own Rare Replay

Rare has made an announcement on Twitter, stating that GoldenEye 007 will not be available to players who physically own Rare Replay.

[darthv72]

It is a strange situation but not something we didn't already know about.

[SyntheticForm]

That's so weird.

[luckytrouble]

Doesn't Microsoft already have a system for authenticating discs to allow the download of enhanced versions? If this was a third party here I would get it, but there is no real excuse when you're a Microsoft first party studio.

[Sciurus_vulgaris]

There is some significant licensing involved with releasing Goldeneye 007.

[luckytrouble]

Ah yes, and small indie company Microsoft could not possibly navigate such things. Glad someone is here to give them an excuse.

[Orchard]

Just because you’re a big company doesn’t mean it’s easy to get competitors like Nintendo and Amazon on board.

[Petebloodyonion]

Then why allows the digital owners to have the game? Shouldn't licensing issues and others restrictions apply?
It's not like the game will magically appear on the disk.

[FallenAngel1984]

What a kick in the Mr Pants

I’ve never seen such a strange decision for a physical and digital version of the same game

[AzubuFrost]

And yet Naughty Dog, Bethesda, Atlus, Namco Bandai, Nintendo get free passes when they remaster/remake their games for the umpteenth time.

[shinoff2183]

Some of those situations are quite a bit different. Cool white knighting though

[SoulWarrior]

Comparing this barebones port to any remaster/remake is an insult to those games lol.

[Petebloodyonion]

I'm the first one to call Sony, Bethesda, Ubisoft, etc... when they try to resell you the same game or charge you for an upgrade patch but this isn't the same thing because, in your example, the SCAM... Sorry, I meant the justified asking price, applies to all customers.

Here it's different because Rare just created 2 classes of Rare Replay owners: the lucky one who gets to have an extra game and the unlucky one who doesn't.

[FallenAngel1984]

Way to detract from this odd decision

[porkChop]

It's not really a "decision" though. They've said it has to do with the licensing issues. It's just like how only Nintendo gets online multiplayer. It's a really complicated mess of licensing and clearly Nintendo was able to strongarm some stuff.

[IanTH]

I suspect it is a form of decision, though. "Licensing issue" sounds more like code for "would cost us more money". They didn't say impossible, just issue. Not saying it isn't justifiable, money is money, they can't justify taking a total bath. The fact they chose to separate the userbase is questionable, though. Then again, it also does nudge people towards thinking about digital as the better option for future purchases. Which, let's be honest, is the future all these companies would prefer.

[Deathdeliverer]

So no online AND it’s going to cost ya. If they asking for anything over $10 (and that’s still kinda high as multiplayer is what put this game on the map, not single player) then they are banking heavy on nostalgia to drive your hand than common sense. I still have my 64 (3 actually) AND Goldeneye 64. I’m good.

Also, it kinda highlights how cool SharePlay is on PS4 & now 5. Even though it’s a offline multiplayer game, you could “pass a controller” to an online friend and they could play with you. It really is a cool feature nobody talks about but I use it all the time with nidhog and towerfall acension.

[SonyStyled]

I used SharePlay a handful of times a few years ago. I think it’s kind of forgotten because it requires PS+ and you were only allowed an hour per game “passing the controller.” One player is also streaming off the others console

[Deathdeliverer]

Its mileage will definitely vary. But games that didn’t have online suddenly had online. Of course connections matter, but everyone I did it with was fine. Even beat final fight double impact on the hardest difficulty online with it even though the game has no online. The PS+ requirement is no big deal. If you’re interested in playing anything online you would already have plus. Also that hour was nbd. Close SharePlay, start it again, and boom. Continue the game in like 15 seconds. By passing the controller I’m talking about play together, not them playing alone although both are cool.

[sadraiden]

The only reason why this game is being re-released at all is because of heavy nostalgia.

Despite the 90s nostalgia wave being long over, people are still clinging to this idea of reliving their childhood, one capitalistic motion at a time, even though n64's and emulation haven't stopped existing.

[XxINFERNUSxX]

While I loved this back on the N64, played the hell out of multiplayer😊 They kinda missed an opportunity to do a full remake from the ground up, and also bring it to the PC as well. It could have been a new engine, ray tracing, etc etc. Then imagine all the mods from the PC community. I would have bought it in a second, whatever the price 😁

[CobraKai]

That sucks. Goldeneye woulda been the pinnacle of Rare Replay for me. I think I’ll just get it on Switch instead.

[Orchard]

Don’t do it, it’s even worse on Switch - the Xbox version is the superior version.

[NotoriousWhiz]

Switch gamers are having control scheme issues. Plus then you also have to buy the expansion pack (assuming you don't already have it). At least with Xbox you have the dual stick control option, and you only have to buy rare replay (which I think is $15, and frequently goes on sale).

Also, a lot of Switch gamers have been misled about the online for Goldeneye. It's not some new online mode. It's just networked gaming over the NSO emulator. Same as every other NSO game. It's also just with friends only. No randoms. And it'll still be split screen even when online.

[CobraKai]

Really? I didn’t know I needed the expansion pass to even buy it. Yeah that’s worse.

I’ll just plug my N64 back in and dust off the old CRT.

[MetroidFREAK21]

They mentioned this prior to launch

[Owlbert]

It's the N64 version with all bugs present...no 60fps not even 480p resolution 🤷

[Orchard]

Pretty sure that’s not accurate. Watch any of the YT or Twitch streams and it’s clearly not 480p.

[sadraiden]

That's what owlbert just said.

[Orchard]

He’s saying it’s < 480p, it’s not.

[Knushwood Butt]

Not a good look.

[sadraiden]

Imagine not playing this game in some form for the past 25 years.

[Orchard]

Hmm? Who’s saying they haven’t played through it?

I play through the MGS series every year. Great games are fun to replay.

[SoulWarrior]

It's also a very disappointing port on both systems, graphical glitches, 30fps cap, frame pacing issues on Xbox, very low effort and barebones. Why not base it off the 2007 XBLA version? 60fps, toggle between the new graphics and original, instead we get this no effort disappointment.

[Petebloodyonion]

Honestly, that sucks!
I don't see a reason (unless it's not doable) to prevent the Physical owner from playing the game especially when you can't buy it. If MS can validate the ownership of a 360 game I'm sure it can find a way to validate the ownership of Rare Replay.

[JokerBoy129]

I own it physically and I'm playing it free...

[Father__Merrin]

I installed this last night and before I installed via game pass browser it flagged up as "owned" even though I've always had the disc version