A Tragic Sign of the Times...
It’s a trend we’ve been seeing far too often in the gaming industry: devs making significant changes to remasters or remakes, supposedly to “enhance” the experience for modern audiences.
The developers claim changes were made to appeal to both new players and returning fans. The proven and sad part about doing that is you lose EVERYONE.
These changes feel far more driven by ideology that is pushing the industry down a "woke" path than anything else. For your protection doesn't work with gamers - and altering beloved games without community input? That's a definite no-no.
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is knee-deep in Capcom's decisions to cut content everywhere, in the name of 'modernizing gameplay' - and it's sparked outrage among gamers everywhere. While some of these changes may appear subtle on the surface, they represent a far broader issue: a disconnect between developers and the fans they claim to serve.
So what’s really going on with the censorship claims surrounding Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster?
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Censorship
I've covered in detail just from the initial trailer before the game released that some keen fans saw how they race-swapped the butcher. That was clearly, just the tip of this iceberg...
Spend even a few minutes online in gaming forums or social media, and you’ll see people shouting about censorship in various upcoming games.
In some cases, these claims are exaggerated, but in others, they are right on the mark. In the case of Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, we are firmly in the latter camp, as multiple changes have actually been confirmed by Capcom themselves.
Why Capcom. Why are you like this?
Filthy Commie Bastard! ...Uhhh... I mean... You Animal!
One of the most glaring instances of censorship involves the removal of a key piece of dialogue from a boss fight with Cliff Hudson. In the original game, Cliff, a hardened Vietnam War veteran, refers to the player as a “filthy communist” during the fight.
This line was entirely scrubbed from the remaster, and in it's place? "You are nothin' but a filthy animal!"
The change here has... caused frustrations.. to say the least. Fans argue that this line, while politically charged, fits with the mature tone of the game and the character’s background... and washing it away from the dialogue lessons the impact and attempts to erase a very real history.
Get the Picture?
Or when a cutscene changes a photo shown off of 'my sexiest shot' and changed to 'my funniest shot of a bunch of Lego-headed people.... because it's too risqué for MATURE gamers? WTF are we even doing here, Capcom?
This is a mature-rated game, after all... So why is Capcom suddenly so concerned with softening its language? It’s decisions like this that leave me wondering whether developers are sanitizing games in ways that fundamentally alter the original experience, and for what reason?
Is this truly about modernizing content, or is it about appeasing certain cultural and ideological pressures? I think you already know where I stand on this one... But it gets worse...
The Removal of the Erotica Points System
Another significant change comes with the removal of the “Erotica” Prestige Points system. In the original Dead Rising, players could earn points by snapping photos of survivors, and certain photos—such as those that captured cleavage—would earn you points toward leveling up. This was in line with the irreverent, over-the-top tone of the game, which never shied away from its playful approach to mature themes. But no! In the remaster, that mechanic has been stripped out completely - because, boobs bad, of course.
Capcom gave the following statement to explain the decision:
"When developing Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, we tried our best to create a game that would please returning core fans and appeal to new players alike. As development progressed, we inevitably discovered that we couldn’t include everything from the original game. In the case of the Erotica points system, this was something we discussed at length and decided to remove; not so much as a response to a changing cultural climate, but because we felt there is no need to have a reward points system on this basis. Additionally, when considering Frank’s situation, it is not an appropriate reward for survival and not a skill required of a journalist trying to stay alive for the next 72 hours during a zombie apocalypse. However, players will still have the right to choose their picture subjects freely, and even though they won’t receive points, it is up to them to decide what photos they will take to represent their journey."
Capcom’s statement is telling. They claim that the removal of the system was not directly due to a “changing cultural climate,” but it’s hard to believe otherwise. The fact that such a well-known and distinct feature of the original game was removed because it didn’t align with Capcom’s modern vision of what is "appropriate" speaks volumes about the direction the industry is headed. We need to call this shit out at EVERY turn. Removing features like this signals a broader movement towards a more sanitized, less provocative gaming experience—a move driven not by player demand, but by a desire to adhere to modern sensibilities... The same modern trends that are being made for the fictitious modern audience.
Woke Censorship Run Amuck...
The changes in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster fit into a pattern that has become all too familiar in recent years. Devs are more and more altering classic games, not because fans asked for it, but because THEY believe certain content is no longer acceptable in today’s cultural landscape. Why is that? Could it be that they may have... I dunno... and agenda to push? Whether it’s cutting dialogue that could offend someone (spare me btw on this one...geez) or removing mechanics that explore more risqué themes... the trend points to an industry being overrun by developers with an agenda.
Capcom’s decision to remove the “communist” line and the Erotica points system from Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is a classic example of woke censorship. Instead of letting players experience the game as it was originally intended—offensive moments and all—they’ve opted to sanitize it, assuming they know what’s best for everyone. This pathetically patronizing approach underestimates the intelligence of gamers and more importantly, erodes trust between developers and their core fanbase. After all, it’s the fans who made Dead Rising a cult classic, not Capcom’s PR team.
...and none of this takes into account the downgrade in explosions, and overall grapohic quality just doesn't seem to have the love and passion put into it that shows any kind of love from the developers.
Is It Worth the Price?
With all this in mind, many players are refusing to purchase or pre-order the game, feeling that the remaster doesn’t respect the spirit of the original. But for those still on the fence, here’s what you need to know about the pricing:
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster – $49.99
Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster Digital Deluxe – $59.99
For the extra $10, you’ll get some in-game goodies like the Frank West 2006 Costume, Chuck Greene Costume, and the Willamette Parkview Mall Bee Costume.
These cosmetic add-ons are fun, but they do little to offset the loss of key gameplay features that made the original game stand out... and as for me, I have literally zero interest in supporting any game that is created with the modern audience in mind.
The censorship in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster is unfortunately - a symptom of a much larger issue in gaming that I touch on all-too often: the intrusion of woke ideology into game development.
As more and more remakes and remasters are altered to fit a modern agenda, it begs the question—where does it end? This is the definition of the slippery slope that I've been warning of for years... and here we are.
Will we see more iconic franchises reimagined, stripped of their character and edge, all in the name of being "appropriate" for today’s audience? You can bet on it - until gamers close their wallets on this garbage... and in this case, hell, buy the original if anything. It's uncensored, and costs 1/5th the price.
Capcom’s decisions in Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster may seem minor to some, but to long-time fans, it’s yet another example of developers losing touch with the community that made their games great in the first place... and IMHO, no matter how 'minor' it may seem, that's exactly when we need to rise up and speak out against it.
~Smash
This was one of the games I was actually interested in buying…until I read your article. Thanks, Smash!
Modern society is soft, and they need to stop caring what other people think. Same thing with movies, we don't get movies like blazing saddles anymore. It's just sad get rid of your ethics department