Atari has secured the rights to the cult classic survival horror title Cold Fear, originally developed by Darkworks and published by Ubisoft in 2005, marking an important step in game preservation.
As part of GOG’s Preservation Program, players now have the opportunity to experience this atmospheric title on modern platforms—an essential move as original developer support for older games declines. Cold Fear, first launched on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, places players in the role of Tom Hansen, a U.S.
Coast Guard officer.
Hansen boards a Russian whaling ship only to uncover a deadly outbreak: the crew has been transformed into zombies by a menacing parasite.
Released alongside heavyweights like Resident Evil 4, Cold Fear had the challenge of standing out in a landmark year for the survival horror genre.
Despite its modest critical reception at launch, the game was noted for its innovative simulation of a rolling, storm-tossed ship.
According to developer records, protagonist Tom Hansen required nine times as many animations as typical action games of the era, enabling him to dynamically respond to the unpredictable movement of the vessel. Atari highlighted the purpose of its acquisition and the importance of GOG’s Preservation Program, stating that the initiative is designed to give enduring life to classic games.
The program maintains these titles with dedicated technical support and ongoing improvements, ensuring that both long-time fans and new players can access and enjoy these works without the hurdles of outdated hardware or operating systems. Fans of survival horror can now rediscover Cold Fear on GOG.com, where the game is currently available at a discount.
The move underlines Atari’s ongoing commitment to video game preservation and the revitalization of key titles from gaming history, positioning GOG as a vital platform for classic releases.
While Cold Fear never reached the mainstream acclaim of some of its contemporaries, its inclusion in the Preservation Program secures its legacy for future generations of gamers. The acquisition of Cold Fear’s rights by Atari and its re-release through GOG not only preserves a piece of survival horror history but also demonstrates the growing momentum and importance of digital preservation initiatives within the industry.
As part of GOG’s Preservation Program, players now have the opportunity to experience this atmospheric title on modern platforms—an essential move as original developer support for older games declines. Cold Fear, first launched on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC, places players in the role of Tom Hansen, a U.S.
Coast Guard officer.
Hansen boards a Russian whaling ship only to uncover a deadly outbreak: the crew has been transformed into zombies by a menacing parasite.
Released alongside heavyweights like Resident Evil 4, Cold Fear had the challenge of standing out in a landmark year for the survival horror genre.
Despite its modest critical reception at launch, the game was noted for its innovative simulation of a rolling, storm-tossed ship.
According to developer records, protagonist Tom Hansen required nine times as many animations as typical action games of the era, enabling him to dynamically respond to the unpredictable movement of the vessel. Atari highlighted the purpose of its acquisition and the importance of GOG’s Preservation Program, stating that the initiative is designed to give enduring life to classic games.
The program maintains these titles with dedicated technical support and ongoing improvements, ensuring that both long-time fans and new players can access and enjoy these works without the hurdles of outdated hardware or operating systems. Fans of survival horror can now rediscover Cold Fear on GOG.com, where the game is currently available at a discount.
The move underlines Atari’s ongoing commitment to video game preservation and the revitalization of key titles from gaming history, positioning GOG as a vital platform for classic releases.
While Cold Fear never reached the mainstream acclaim of some of its contemporaries, its inclusion in the Preservation Program secures its legacy for future generations of gamers. The acquisition of Cold Fear’s rights by Atari and its re-release through GOG not only preserves a piece of survival horror history but also demonstrates the growing momentum and importance of digital preservation initiatives within the industry.
