Remedy’s Max Payne Remakes to Get AAA Sized Budget

Key Highlights:

• Remedy confirms the Max Payne 1&2 remake has a budget similar to Alan Wake 2 (around $55 million).
• The remakes made “considerable progress” in 2023 and are expected to enter full production in early 2024.
• Rockstar Games is fully funding the project, which is being developed as a major new AAA release.
• Based on Remedy’s typical timelines, the Max Payne remakes likely won’t launch until late 2026 or early 2027.
• New artwork potentially from the remakes was spotted at Remedy’s office earlier this year.

In an exciting update, Remedy Entertainment has revealed the Max Payne 1 & 2 remake project has a development budget on par with their upcoming survival horror game Alan Wake 2. This confirms the reimaginings are receiving major AAA-level investment from publisher Rockstar Games.

Big Budget for Max’s Return

Analysts previously estimated Alan Wake 2’s total costs around $75 million, including $21.5 million for marketing. Remedy’s latest financial report indicates the Max Payne remakes have secured a “similar development budget” in the $55 million range.

This sizeable investment underscores Rockstar’s ambitions for bringing the cult classic Max Payne games into the modern era with top-tier production values.

Remedy noted the generous budget will allow them “to be a major new game with great potential.”

Steady Progress in 2023

While the remakes were only announced as a concept last April, Remedy stated the team made considerable progress throughout 2023. They expect the titles to “advance to the next stages of development” alongside other upcoming projects like Control 2 within the first half of 2024.

Based on previous updates citing the remake entering a “production readiness” phase, this likely refers to kicking off full-scale active development in the coming months.

If following Remedy’s standard pipeline, this could point to the remakes targeting a late 2026 or early 2027 release window.

First Signs of Life

Earlier this year, Remedy shared photos from their office showcasing new Max Payne 2 artwork displayed prominently on the walls. Some fans speculated these could represent the first visual teasers for the upcoming remake versions.

With a AAA budget now confirmed and clear development momentum, Max Payne fans have plenty of reasons to look forward to seeing the hard-boiled cop’s iconic adventures realised with modern tech and presentation.

Rockstar is putting their full financial might behind the ambitious resurrection of one of their most beloved IPs.

All that remains is for the developers to fully knock these highly-anticipated remakes out of the park upon release in a couple years’ time.