Original Artists Feel Sidelined by Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
Electronic Arts recently announced Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted, a highly anticipated remaster of the beloved tower defense classic. While fans are eager for the updated experience, artists who contributed to the original 2009 title have voiced their disappointment at not being involved in the project.
Rich Werner, an artist who worked on the original Plants vs. Zombies, took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his frustration. “Just saw the post about PVZ reboot. It's cool, but wish someone would at least contact me. Kinda sux. I'd be down to help with it.. whatever, I guess. Par for the course,” Werner posted, expressing a common sentiment among creators whose work is revisited without their consultation.
Echoing Werner's sentiments, Enrique Corts, the background artist for the original game, replied to his former colleague. Corts noted, “Yeah, I was the background artist for the original PvZ too and it felt super weird seeing all my work like redone in HD and of course I had nothing to do with it. Would've been happy to do those reworks myself.” His comments highlight the peculiar feeling of seeing one's foundational work updated by others, particularly when an offer to contribute was not extended.
Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted is set to launch on October 23. The remaster will be available on PC via Steam and EA app, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and both generations of Nintendo Switch. Beyond the original game's content, Replanted promises fresh new modes, additional levels, and the inclusion of local co-op, offering a renewed experience for both long-time fans and newcomers. Notably, the game will not support Russian language localization at launch.
The reactions from the original artists raise an interesting point about game preservation and remasters in the industry. While companies often own the intellectual property, the human element of creation can sometimes be overlooked. For players, this news serves as a reminder of the many hands involved in bringing their favorite games to life, and the ongoing discussions around creator recognition in an evolving landscape of re-releases and remakes. Despite the artists' personal disappointment, the game's release is still on track to bring a modernized version of the classic to a new generation of consoles and PC.
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