Nightdive Revives Classic Thief: The Dark Project with a Remaster

Nightdive, known for their remastering expertise with titles like Star Wars: Dark Forces, Doom, and System Shock 2, has revealed their next project: a remaster of the iconic Thief: The Dark Project.

There’s a part of me that wants to shield Thief from any developer’s touch, as I view it as one of the most flawless games ever made. But then I remind myself that remakes can’t tarnish the original. This gives me pause to consider: what if they actually get it right?

Released in 1998, Thief was Looking Glass’s third major achievement, following Ultima Underworld and System Shock. Widely regarded as the pioneer of the first-person stealth genre, it tells the story of master thief Garrett and his heists throughout the City. This game laid the groundwork for modern titles like BioShock and Dishonored. Its blend of a familiar first-person perspective with a focus on stealth was a significant shift from the more explosive gameplay of Quake and Hexen II, emphasizing a non-lethal approach that still stands out in the industry today.

Thanks to dedicated modders, Thief remains one of the most accessible ’90s games on contemporary systems, with tools like NewDark, RoguePatcher, and TFix enhancing its playability in widescreen. So, why a remake?

The answer lies in Nightdive’s success with the System Shock remakes. While this won’t be a complete ground-up remake like their impressive version of the first System Shock, it seems to be a remaster akin to their work on the sequel. And if it doesn’t meet expectations, the original will always be there to enjoy.

Nightdive plans to update all the art, including textures and models, and introduce new cutscenes and animations. In a bold move, Thief will also feature a weapon and item wheel in its UI, which sounds promising! Details are still sparse, as the announcement mainly celebrates the original game, but we do know that the PC version will support the countless custom maps and campaigns created by fans over the years, which is fantastic.

The teaser showcases a remaster that appears incredibly faithful to the original, yet sharper and more detailed. (Though I’m not sure the blurry door textures needed to stick around?) The new guard audio still captures that unmistakable vibe, and it’s spot on. Just writing about this makes me eager to dive back into the game, so I’ll definitely be revisiting it when the finished version drops.

Now, if only Nightdive could secure the rights to remake Deus Ex.