The response to the Deus Ex remaster announcement was much less enthusiastic than the developers likely expected. Beneath the YouTube trailer and across Reddit, users have been outspoken in their criticism.
Observers spotted artifacts in the remaster trailer that are typical of AI upscaling, prompting accusations that the team tried to cut corners. Players noted that textures look flat and lack reflections and proper lighting — features that contradict the promised visual improvements. Many say the game doesn’t preserve the original atmosphere, and some claim the character models are worse than those in fan-made mods.
Several commentators speculated that Aspyr used AI to enhance textures, which only intensified complaints about the lack of polish. On Reddit users wrote:
* “This looks terrible. I hope there’s an option to switch to the original visuals while keeping gameplay and UI improvements.”
* “It’s just cheap AI processing with no taste.”
* “Looks like simple AI upscaling of textures.”
* “Models are worse than in the HDTP mod.”
Many argue the visual upgrades feel superficial and fall short of what you’d expect from an official remaster. Others compare this to Aspyr’s previous projects, like Tomb Raider, where AI-driven enhancements were also used and drew criticism for their low quality.
The Deus Ex remaster is scheduled for release on February 5, 2026, for PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. It’s still unclear how the developers will respond to the backlash or whether they can improve the game’s quality before launch.
Source: iXBT.games