Deus Ex Remastered just got the worst endorsement possible from the person who understands its art direction better than anyone else on the planet. Jerry O’Flaherty, the original art director, saw the remaster for the first time during an interview with the FRVR podcast and his reaction was visceral, unfiltered, and absolutely scathing. “Oh, what the f*ck,” he said. “No. This did not need to happen. Sorry, whoever was involved in this.”
The Problem Everyone’s Talking About
The Deus Ex Remastered, being developed by Aspyr Media and published by Embracer, is coming February 5, 2026. The game is supposed to update the classic 2000 immersive sim with new textures and improved lighting. But the moment Aspyr showed off the remaster at PlayStation’s State of Play, gaming communities went nuclear. The visuals looked… fine, but not great. Not exceptional. Certainly not what you’d expect from a major remaster in 2025.
The textures are sharper, sure. The lighting is more detailed. But the overall presentation feels like something that would have impressed people in 2007, not 2025. It’s technically improved, but visually it doesn’t capture the essence of what made the original game’s art direction so special. The minimalist, almost abstract approach to character faces and environments gave the original Deus Ex a timeless quality. The remaster’s attempt at photorealism loses that magic.
Why O’Flaherty’s Critique Matters
O’Flaherty isn’t just any critic complaining on the internet. He literally created the visual language of the original Deus Ex. He understands what made it work back in 2000 and why a straightforward photorealistic approach misses the point entirely. During the podcast interview, he explained his philosophy on art direction in ways that completely validate his criticism of the remaster.
“I always talk about the nose,” O’Flaherty said, “and it’s just like you paint the nose and then paint this one little spot of white, and suddenly it’s got specularity. The actual kind of specular properties, you just know? And now it freaking looks real.” He’s pointing out that back in the 2000s, artists had to be creative with limited technology. They’d use minimal details to suggest lighting and form through clever artistic choices.
But here’s the thing: that creative limitation forced artists to make meaningful design decisions. Every pixel, every texture, every color choice mattered because you couldn’t just render photorealism. Now that technology allows photorealism, games are chasing it mindlessly, losing the artistry that made older games special. Deus Ex’s visual design was intentional. The remaster’s approach is just… more detail for the sake of more detail.
The Timing Makes It Worse
The timing of this remaster couldn’t be worse for Deus Ex fans. The franchise has been absolutely gutted. The Adam Jensen prequel trilogy that started with Human Revolution ended on a cliffhanger with Mankind Divided in 2016. A new Deus Ex game was in development, and it got cancelled in 2024, resulting in significant layoffs at Eidos-Montréal. The writer of the cancelled game revealed that Adam Jensen’s story was supposed to connect to the original game’s protagonist and villain Bob Page in an epic narrative conclusion.
That game is gone forever. The franchise is now in the hands of Embracer Group, which has a reputation for acquiring studios, stripping them for IP, and then mismanaging everything. Fans have been desperate for something, anything, to keep Deus Ex alive. So Aspyr got the contract to remaster the original classic. But instead of creating something that honors the original while respecting its artistic legacy, they created something that feels corporate and soulless.
What Should Have Been
A proper remaster wouldn’t have just updated textures and slapped on modern lighting. It would have restored the gameplay systems from the original before they were cut for console optimization on the PS2 version. It would have added back the immersive sim depth that made Deus Ex feel revolutionary. It could have been a lovingly crafted restoration that invited new players into one of gaming’s most influential titles.
Instead, it feels like Aspyr was given a checklist: update textures, improve lighting, fix bugs. Do it on budget and on schedule. Ship it in February. Mission accomplished. That’s the Embracer way. Execute the minimum viable remaster and move on to the next IP to milk.
The Bigger Issue
O’Flaherty’s frustration points to a real problem in game development. Publishers want quantity over quality. They want recognizable IP getting remasters because that’s guaranteed marketing interest. But they don’t want to invest enough money to make those remasters truly special. The result is a glut of mediocre remasters that disappoint fans and frustrate the original creators.
Imagine if someone remade your life’s work, and instead of respecting your original vision while improving on the technical limitations you faced, they just made it shinier without understanding why you made the choices you did. That’s what O’Flaherty is experiencing right now.
FAQs
When does Deus Ex Remastered release?
Deus Ex Remastered is scheduled for February 5, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. It will be available on multiple storefronts including Steam and the Microsoft Store.
Who is developing the remaster?
Aspyr Media, a studio owned by Embracer Group, is developing and publishing Deus Ex Remastered. Aspyr has a track record of handling remasters and remakes of older games, including Knights of the Old Republic Remake and various Star Wars titles.
What did Jerry O’Flaherty actually say about the remaster?
During an interview with FRVR podcast, O’Flaherty’s first reaction was “Oh, what the f*ck. No. This did not need to happen. Sorry, whoever was involved in this.” He then went on to discuss his philosophy about art direction and why modern approaches to photorealism can lose the artistry of original games.
Is the remaster just a graphics upgrade?
Yes, from what’s been shown, Deus Ex Remastered is primarily updating textures, lighting, and general visual fidelity. It doesn’t appear to include significant gameplay changes or restoration of systems cut from the original game’s console versions.
Why do fans hate the visuals?
Fans and critics have noted that while the remaster is technically an upgrade from 2000, it doesn’t feel like a 2025 remaster. The visual improvements feel incremental rather than transformative, and the photorealistic approach loses some of the intentional artistic design that made the original special.
Is there a new Deus Ex game coming?
A new mainline Deus Ex game was in development but was cancelled in 2024, resulting in layoffs at Eidos-Montréal. The writer revealed it was supposed to connect Adam Jensen’s story to the original game’s antagonist, Bob Page. There are currently no announced plans for a new Deus Ex game.
Who was Jerry O’Flaherty and why does his opinion matter?
Jerry O’Flaherty was the original art director on Deus Ex. He shaped the visual language and aesthetic direction of the classic game. His understanding of the game’s art design is unmatched, which makes his criticism of the remaster particularly damning.
Should I buy Deus Ex Remastered?
That depends on whether you want an updated version of the classic game or whether you’d prefer to play the original. If you’ve never experienced Deus Ex, the remaster will work fine for a first playthrough. If you’re an original fan hoping for something special, temper your expectations based on what’s been shown and O’Flaherty’s reaction.
Conclusion
The irony of Deus Ex Remastered is that it exists in a franchise graveyard. The new games are cancelled. The franchise sits in Embracer’s trophy case gathering dust. And now even the remaster of the original classic is getting dunked on by the person who created its iconic art direction. Jerry O’Flaherty’s blunt criticism isn’t just about visuals. It’s about respect, understanding, and honoring the work of previous generations. Deus Ex Remastered had the chance to be special, to show players why this 25-year-old game still matters. Instead, it’ll probably be a forgettable technical update that leaves everyone wanting more. When the original creator sees your remaster and says “no, this did not need to happen,” that’s not a good sign.