Canadian visual artist and light designer Karim Abou Shousha, working with Ubisoft Montreal, explored what a modern remake of the classic Max Payne could feel like by crafting one of the earliest levels in Unreal Engine 5. His approach blends atmospheric lighting, motion and texture work, and a keen sense of the original’s noir mood to hint at how a contemporary rebuild might look on next‑gen hardware.
In the preview work, the protagonist’s character model reads as a rough, early-stage prototype. It appears to be a quick concept rather than a final, polished asset. The video demonstrates UE5’s standard female mannequin as a stand-in for the hero, underscoring that the focus is on environmental design, lighting fidelity, and engine capabilities rather than on a finished character rig.
This glimpse shows what the original Max Payne, released in 2001, looked like in its era—an unmistakable snapshot of early 3D action storytelling with a distinctive visual style and kinetic gunplay. The classic scenes and level geometry are preserved in spirit, while the lighting and post-processing demonstrate how the game’s atmosphere could be reinterpreted with modern tools. All screenshots of Max Payne can be viewed in the gallery (VG Times).
Shortly after, it was announced that full‑fledged remakes of Max Payne and Max Payne 2 are moving forward. Remedy Entertainment is developing both titles on the Northlight engine, the same scalable technology that powered Quantum Break and Control. The remakes are planned for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, signaling a substantial visual and performance upgrade across platforms while aiming to retain the core narrative and punchy pacing that defined the originals.
Earlier demonstrations by Hossein Diba offered another look at the main character, Max Payne, reimagined for a contemporary audience. The artist’s reinterpretation focuses on updating the iconic lawman’s silhouette and gear in ways that align with today’s photorealistic expectations, while still honoring the series’ distinctive mood and storytelling cadence. The current momentum around the remakes places emphasis on fidelity, reworked animation pipelines, and the balance between nostalgic memory and fresh, modern gameplay dynamics.
These previews and announcements sit within a broader industry trend: reviving classic franchises with rebuilds that leverage modern engines to deliver richer textures, dynamic lighting, improved physics, and more expansive environmental detail. For Max Payne, the challenge is not only to reproduce the famous bullet‑time sequences and noir–crime atmosphere but also to translate that essence into a package that feels contemporary without betraying the original’s identity. The result could be an experience that appeals to longtime fans and new players alike, offering a seamless blend of retro flair and current‑generation gameplay expectations.
Industry observers note that the Northlight engine provides the tools needed to elevate the game’s signature mood through real‑time global illumination, improved character shading, and more convincing particles and debris during combat. At the same time, developers must decide how closely to adhere to the original’s level layout and storytelling beats while allowing for modern pacing, balance, and accessibility options. The remakes aim to preserve the tension, noir atmosphere, and tight level design that made the first two Max Payne titles enduring favorites in late‑1990s and early‑2000s gaming.
As the project progresses, fans and critics alike will be watching for how the remakes handle key moments: the rain‑slicked streets, the stark interiors, and the sharp, brutal action that defined the series. The potential for enhanced gunplay, updated cutscenes, and more expressive character performances could redefine what a Max Payne remake feels like, while staying faithful to the original’s gritty, noir‑tinged storytelling. The outcome will depend on striking the right balance—between homage and reinvention, between fidelity to the source and creative experimentation that takes advantage of current hardware capabilities.
For now, the conversation about Max Payne’s remakes centers on the promise of higher fidelity visuals, refined controls, and a renewed sense of cinematic tension. As Remedy and its partners continue to refine the Northlight‑based versions for PC and current‑generation consoles, audiences in Canada and the United States can anticipate a reimagined noir experience that honors the legacy of the original while inviting a new generation of players to step into its rain‑soaked world (VG Times).