The recent emergence of an HD remaster of Scarface: The World is Yours has stirred a mix of excitement and skepticism within the gaming community. A modder, in particular, has raised concerns about the legitimacy of this release, suggesting it may not have the necessary authorizations.
Publisher’s Response
In light of the unexpected developments, the game’s publisher has issued a statement indicating that they have “entered urgent discussions with multiple parties concerning the project’s status.” They elaborated that, after thorough consideration, the decision was made to temporarily hide the store page. This action aims to address ongoing licensing and technical issues that have surfaced due to the premature release of certain builds on other platforms.
The statement further explained, “The current page was initially intended as a placeholder while we worked through ongoing licensing and technical matters. Unfortunately, the unintended release of certain builds on other platforms caused unexpected complications and concerns. Because of that, we feel it’s necessary to pause and re-evaluate.”
Unexpected Listings
Earlier today, a re-release of the original Scarface game, which debuted on PS2, Xbox, and PC in 2006, appeared on the Epic Games Store without prior notice, priced at .99 / £23.79. Shortly thereafter, it was also listed on Steam, with the publisher, EC Digital, noting that the game had been “unintentionally pushed live on a different platform earlier than planned.” They are now accelerating efforts to finalize a Steam version.
The listing claims that the Steam release will feature an “optional HD graphics upgrade,” utilizing AI-assisted techniques to enhance certain visual elements. However, the accompanying trailer appears to be a rehash of the original 2006 promotional material, complete with the same licensed music.
Community Reactions
Reddit user PCMachinima, who purchased the game from the Epic Games Store, discovered that it is essentially the existing PC version, bundled with two fan-made patches, SilentPatch and Fusion Fix. This revelation prompted a statement from Silent, the developer behind the SilentPatch mod, who expressed surprise at the lack of communication regarding their work’s inclusion. They further speculated that NBCUniversal, the rights holder for the Scarface movie, might not be aware of this release.
“I KNOW that the holder of the Scarface license wasn’t willing to re-release the game, so this is suspect,” Silent remarked. They later indicated that their investigations suggested the movie IP rights holder appears to be unaware of the situation, with the store listings having been published prematurely.
Advice for Players
Given the current uncertainties surrounding the game’s legitimacy, players are advised to exercise caution and refrain from purchasing the Epic Games Store version until further clarification is provided.
Interestingly, a sequel to Scarface: The World is Yours was once in the works, featuring Tony Montana’s adventures in Las Vegas. Although the project was ultimately shelved, concept art and gameplay footage from a pre-alpha state surfaced online in 2022, reigniting interest in the franchise.
