Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remasteredwas one of the biggest surprises of September’s State of Play event for Sony. WithLegacy of Kainbeing one of the essential series of its generation, theSoul Reaverspin-offs fromCrystal Dynamicshave become beloved among many gamers. In these games, the story follows Raziel, the vampire-turned-wraith lieutenant of the titular Kain. From the iconic character design to the exploration of the dark fantasy genre, aSoul Reaverremaster has been a long-awaited announcement for a lot of fans.
Despite this excitement, this is also a bittersweet reminder of how long ago the reign of theLegacy of Kaingames was. It has now been over 20 years since the last mainline chapter in the series was released withLegacy of Kain: Defiance.The desire for moreLegacy of Kainhas continued to keep hope afloat for a new entry, but there has yet to be anything concrete announced. At least, until now. Now that bothSoul Reavergames are getting the remaster treatment, this could be the first step needed to bring a sixthLegacy of Kainchapter to life.
The Soul Reaver Remaster Could Reignite Interest in Legacy of Kain
Bringing a Classic Franchise to a New Audience
The only recent instance of aLegacy of Kaingame being available to this current generation of gamers is 2014’sNosgothspin-off, but the free-to-play multiplayer title doesn’t capture the same energy as the franchises' single-player narratives. IftheSoul Reaverremastermanages to get the attention of the newer generation, then there could very well be a chance for developer Crystal Dynamics to bringLegacy of Kainback from the grave.
WithCrystal Dynamics regaining control ofLegacy of Kainback in 2022, many fans of the series have been wondering if this could be the start of a new era for the franchise. The audience for the upcoming remaster is already set, but to justify bringing the series back with full force, an even larger player base will likely have to kickstart a revival. Hopefully, theSoul Reaverremaster can do just that.
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 and 2 Remasteredwill be released on July 16, 2025.
A Soul Reaver Remaster is Arriving At an Interesting Time
Now Could Be the Perfect Time to Bring Legacy of Kain Back
Recently, revivals of classic franchises from the late 90s and early 2000s have been having a big moment. This could make now the right time for Crystal Dynamic to finally addressyears ofLegacy of Kainrumorsby making gamers' wishes a reality. The remake and reboot renaissance that has been happening can cause fatigue if not done properly, but there have been plenty of beloved franchises given a new lease on life through this method, andLegacy of Kainwould be another great series to be given this treatment.
Other Classic Franchises and Games That Have Been Revived
Whether it’s a full-blown franchise or a single game, sometimes rebooting a series or giving a title a fresh coat of paint is enough to bring forth a new audience. TheSoul Reaverremaster could do the exact same thing for theLegacy of Kainseries as a whole. It may not be a complete overhaul,likePrince of Persia: The Lost CrownorGod of War’s reboot, but it could be enough to get the ball rolling.
OnceSoul Reaver 1 and 2 Remasteredlaunches, it will be compelling to see if the game attracts gamers who didn’t get to grow up with theLegacy of Kainfranchise. Only time will tell, but the upcoming remaster will likely only make the desire for moreLegacy of Kainthat much stronger.
