GoldenEye 007is fondly remembered by many, rewriting what could be expected from first-person games upon its original 1997 release and firmly establishing home consoles as a viable source of multiplayer entertainment. Fans have long wanted to re-experience the remastered thrills and fun of the title on consoles for some time, and it appears that their wishes have finally been answered.
A remaster ofGoldenEye 007was recently announced for both Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles, much to the initial delight of each console’s player base. That being said, the confirmation that online multiplayer for the title will be exclusive to Nintendo Switch Online and will be unavailable for Xbox consoles has created somewhat of a backlash, perhaps signaling a huge missed opportunity.
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The Basics of GoldenEye 007 Remastered
The remaster forGoldenEye 007was recently announced during thehighly anticipated Nintendo Direct presentation, being developed by Rare, the same company who originally developed the game all the way back in 1997. The game is set to boast improved graphics and performance, but will still adhere strictly to the nostalgic gameplay of the original title.
As previously mentioned, theGoldenEye 007remaster will be available on both Nintendo Switch and Xbox consoles. Nintendo was the publisher of the original game, and the fact that Rare is now owned by Microsoft makes the selection of these two platforms for the remaster all the more understandable. It was later confirmed by Rare itself that the remaster ofGoldenEye 007will be made available via thehighly successful Xbox Game Pass subscription serviceviaRare Replay.
On Xbox consoles, theGoldenEye 007remaster is set to boast 4k resolution and enhanced framerates as a part of its improved graphics, as well as local split-screen multiplayer. Despite these benefits, online multiplayer for the title is entirely limited to theNintendo Switch Online service, meaning Xbox players will only be able to relive the entertainment ofGoldenEyemultiplayer locally.
The Implications of No Online For Xbox’s GoldenEye 007
While there are of course a lot of benefits to Xbox fans with the presence ofGoldenEye 007’sremaster on the platform and via Game Pass, the absence of online multiplayer is undoubtedly a huge downside that a lot of fans are voicing their concerns over. It is true that the multiplayer of the originalGoldenEye 007flourished via the couch co-op split-screen medium, but this of course is a product of the time in which the game was released.
In the modern day gaming landscape where less importance is placed on couch co-op, the decision to not include online play via Xbox Live will only serve to ostracize a large portion of the player base from experiencing multiplayer. Not only this, but it can be argued that Xbox Live is much more suited to the kind of online play that the Switch version of the game is set to receive. It is no secret thatNintendo consoles are much more catered to couch co-opgameplay, with the Nintendo Switch being no exception.
Eliminating online play from the Xbox version of the title will only dampen the appeal and longevity ofGoldenEye 007’sremaster, which is made all the more disheartening when considering just how long the game has been anticipated for. Though many fans will still enjoy co-operative play on a local scale, the loss of online content for Xbox consoles appears to be a glaring missed opportunity for theupcoming remaster ofGoldenEye 007.
GoldenEye 007is available now for Nintendo 64 and is coming to Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
