Prey (2006) Is Getting A Fan-Made Remaster

Key Takeaways

• Fans are attempting to use the open source Doom 3 engine from 2011 to remaster Prey (2006).
• Given that it was delisted just three years after launch, the PC port wasn’t supported for long, and so it’s now a hassle to get working on modern hardware.
• This port, like dhewm3 before it, seeks to amend that all these years later.

Developed by Human Head Studios, Prey (2006) is an oft-forgotten, classic FPS that follows Cherokee mechanic and veteran Domasi ‘Tommy’ Tawodi as he’s kidnapped by aliens aboard a strange ship known as the Sphere.

While the game was a critical and commercial success, the sequel was cancelled and the original delisted from Steam a mere three years after launch. Bethesda bought the rights from 2K in 2009, but to this day, it’s still not available on PC.

Thankfully, it’s backwards compatible on Xbox.

Given that the original game was so quickly abandoned, it takes some tinkering to get it working on modern hardware all these years later. But fans are working to make it more approachable. Since Prey (2006) was developed in Doom 3’s IdTech 4 engine, they are remastering the game using the open source version that was shared in 2011 (known in the community as a ‘source port’).

Fans have done this before with Doom 3 itself, dubbed dhewm3. Prior to the release of the BFG edition, it made the game run better on modern operating systems, while also implementing native widescreen support, gamepad support, a slew of bugfixes, improved sound, and 64bit support, all while being compatible with the game’s existing mods.

Doing the same for Prey (2006) will make it work better on modern hardware out of the digital box with far less hassle.

The Team Is Looking For Volunteers

Project lead FriskTheFallenHuman admits that work is being limited right now by their “lack of knowledge”, and so they’re hoping that, by releasing what they have so far, they’ll build up a team of volunteers and make more steady progress.

As Frisk explains on the GitHub page, there have been several attempts at a source port of Prey (2006) over the last decade, but none have reached the finish line. This newly founded project is itself “far from being completed”. So, volunteers are crucial in making this dream a reality at long last.

You can download and play the alpha build right now, but in its current state, you cannot beat the game. However, to prevent any legal issues with Bethesda, you will need a copy of the original Prey (2006). While delisted, you can still purchase working CD keys online. Just don’t be fooled by the $100 ones — you can find them for as little as $2 to $5.