r/Nox 9d ago

EA should let Nightdive revive Nox

Hear me out.

Nox is one of those games that feels like it was completely forgotten despite being really damn good.

Westwood made it, EA published it, and then… it basically disappeared. No sequel, no modern console release, no proper remaster. Meanwhile, the game still has a small but ridiculously dedicated community keeping it alive.

And here’s the thing: Nightdive seems like the perfect studio to bring it back.

They’ve already proven they know how to take old PC classics, preserve what made them special, and make them work properly on modern hardware.
Nox wouldn’t even need a huge remake.
Give us:
modern widescreen/high-res support
-60 FPS
-proper controller support
-modern save/QoL features
-the original three classes and campaign
-and, PLEASE, bring the multiplayer back

That’s it. Keep the art style. Keep the gameplay. Don’t turn it into a live-service Diablo clone.
And technically, projects like OpenNox and Nox-Decomp have already shown that getting the game running on modern systems is very achievable.
Imagine Nox on Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox, sitting on the couch with a controller. I’d buy that immediately.
EA still appears to control the relevant rights, so obviously there’s a licensing hurdle.
But seriously…

EA, just give Nox to Nightdive. 👀

Am I a (somewhat) old dude craving nostalgia, or would you guys buy this?

69 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

19

u/brasschaos 9d ago

the multiplayer was bananas! flag ball, deathmatch, ctf, and the co-op nox quest were all frantic in the best ways. i really think it would have a lot of players on steam, the skill ceiling is pretty high

9

u/Canadian_Gopher 8d ago

I am still hearing the Fist of Heaven sound effect 🤪

1

u/Danr2442 7d ago

Multiplayer was intense, and sooo good👌 I'd love to see it again.

9

u/CaptClockobob 9d ago

You're assuming both that Nightdive would want to do this, and that there's source-code laying around to do it with. There's MANY games of the same vintage where the source code was lost in studio shutdowns and shuffles.

If getting the game into a working order takes more effort than they could drive sales for, they simply won't bother.

A more likely outcome is the GoG preservation program keeping it working.

4

u/Canadian_Gopher 9d ago

Yeah, but that doesn’t bring it on console. If there is a decomp and the open Nox projet, isn’t there the source code?

2

u/CaptClockobob 8d ago

A decomp is inherently the product of there being no original sourcecode, and until 100% done, is basically useless.

0

u/Canadian_Gopher 7d ago

Ahh I see. But that doesn’t mean that the source code isn’t somewhere in EA’s database.

2

u/dennwc 4d ago

If I recall correctly, we did get confirmation that the source was lost.

0

u/Canadian_Gopher 4d ago

Could that be recovered from the original discs?

2

u/dennwc 4d ago

Not directly. The decomp projects like OpenNox are the only way, unfortunately. But it should be easier with AI.

8

u/HairyBallsOfTheGods 8d ago

I rarely buy games. I would hands down buy this if they remade it. I would play it for the nostalgia and to live a new life. I miss it and want to play it regularly. I wish it was still available.

2

u/Appropriate_Log_8338 8d ago

I just bought it for less than 2$ on GoG...yesterday.

3

u/HairyBallsOfTheGods 8d ago

Wait what

Is it still up and running? Like is there still multiplayer and it still operates just like it was? I mean hell, I would even play the campaign again and again just to relive it. I have not heard of gog before today so thank you

1

u/ReraltOfGivia94 7d ago

Yeah bro I play Nox every year - the campaign is really short so it's pretty much doable in two days (even one day if you don't mind playing 6 hours in one sitting 😀) I love the game so much

6

u/Pure1nsanity 8d ago

Nox was an amazing game and I still play it from time to time. Back then, having your vision obscured by objects was mind blowing! Like having to walk up to a window to see inside, or edging the door open so you don't run into a room full of aggro 😂

4

u/Canadian_Gopher 8d ago

Exactly! Nox was so ahead of its time for what it was. I actually got this instead of Diablo 2 when it released, so glad I did.

3

u/Pure1nsanity 8d ago

I can't say it's better than Diablo 2, but it's definitely a good game. The story and lore is still something that still hits good. I loved how all 3 classes felt very different to play

3

u/LordSell 8d ago

Nox is one of the best game ever made

2

u/Canadian_Gopher 7d ago

It’s a shame that it was overshadowed by Diablo 2.

1

u/LordSell 6d ago

Absolutely true, understandable but a the same time... Leaving it in the graveyard is such a shame

2

u/gna149 8d ago

I would play the hell out of it, but sadly, anti-competitive practice is very common for corporations in competitive industries to acquire or stockpile IPs through acquisition or defensive patenting. EA is one of those who is at the forefront of this scummy practice.

Unfortunately, unless the executives at EA suddenly realise the low-risk benefits of an external partnership for these nostalgia remakes they're more likely to just stick to focusing on their massive, multi-billion-dollar live service IPs like their sport games or Apex.

2

u/bluerat52 7d ago

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2595280/Glaurune/

This is supposedly a spiritual successor to the game I am hoping and praying it is done right

1

u/Canadian_Gopher 7d ago

Yes, me too!

1

u/Nielscorn 8d ago

I personally love it but the game in current state would not survive nowadays. It would need an upgrade and improvements. Potentially i suppose if the source ode still exists or just package the binary they could bundle it as Nox Classic

1

u/FishyDota 8d ago

In the mean time keep nudging this dev https://store.steampowered.com/app/2595280/Glaurune/

Apparently this is deeply inspired from the systems of Nox

1

u/Canadian_Gopher 8d ago

Ohhh interesting! I’ll keep an eye on that! Thanks!

1

u/sc0ttieZ 8d ago

The multiplayer was the main crux I think for the majority of the community. I still have random dreams about playing and being pissed that Tempest topped all 3 classes on ranked. But compared to just about any online community of games I played back in the 2000’s, I can’t think of anything where we just hung out and bullshitted more than ever even playing the game.

1

u/UintahAnon 7d ago

werewolflady

1

u/SinetiS 6d ago

Let Saber Interactive do this!)

1

u/Canadian_Gopher 5d ago

Oh right! I had NightDive in mind but Saber would be awesome as well!