DreamWorks Shrek 2 Remastered is out now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and PC, bringing back the 2004 co-op game 22 years after it first launched. Aspyr, the Austin studio known for ports and remasters, released it on 10 November, and Xbox told fans to “play now” in a post at 19:04 UTC, or 11:04am Pacific.
The remaster costs $29.99, although a 10% launch discount on Steam brings it down to $26.99 until 17 November. It is also one of the last notable releases before GTA 6 arrives on 19 November, and Aspyr has made no secret of that.
The original Shrek 2 game launched in North America on 4 May 2004, about two weeks before the film opened in US cinemas. Activision published it, and Luxoflux built the PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube versions that this remaster is based on. The original PC release was a separate game, developed by KnowWonder with younger players in mind. It went on to sell more than 4 million copies worldwide by early 2005, and its four-hero team play has kept it popular with players who grew up on it. Aspyr also has history with the game, having handled the Mac version of the original two decades ago.
What is new in Shrek 2 Remastered
According to Aspyr, the game has been rebuilt with improved textures, an enhanced interface and reworked cutscenes. It runs at up to 4K resolution on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Switch 2 in docked mode, while the original Switch misses out on 4K. Two features are completely new: a Photo Mode for capturing scenes and a Cheats Menu that can make the adventure easier.
The journey itself is unchanged, running from Shrek’s swamp to Fiona’s castle in Far Far Away, with Easter eggs from the film along the way. Aspyr has not said what frame rate the remaster targets on consoles, as its announcement does not mention one.
Co-op remains the main attraction, just as it was in 2004. Up to four players can team up on one sofa, online, or in a mix of both, and anyone can swap between heroes at any time. Shrek, Fiona, Donkey and their friends each have their own abilities, which are used to fight enemies, beat bosses and solve environmental puzzles. The console original had 11 levels, and Aspyr has not listed any new levels among the additions. On Steam, online multiplayer runs through Epic Online Services, according to the store page.
Shrek 2 Remastered price, platforms and PC requirements
The standard digital edition is the only version currently on sale, priced at $29.99, with launch discounts that vary by store and region. Alongside Steam and Xbox, the game is available on the PlayStation Store, the Epic Games Store and the Nintendo eShop. Physical copies are coming as well, with Aspyr telling fans on X that physical pre-orders should open in the coming week. Full details of the features are in Aspyr’s official announcement from October.
The PC version is light by modern standards, needing just 15 GB of storage on Windows 11 with DirectX 12. Steam lists the minimum and recommended specifications below, and both sit well within the reach of most gaming laptops sold in the last five years. Interface, audio and subtitles are all available in English. Subtitles are also offered in 11 more languages, including Japanese, Polish and Brazilian Portuguese.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 (64-bit) | Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-10400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | AMD Ryzen 5 3600X or Intel Core i5-10400 |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD RX 570 | Nvidia GTX 1070 or AMD RX 5700 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
Why Shrek 2 Remastered launched nine days before GTA 6
Aspyr leaned into the GTA comparison from the very first trailer. Its announce trailer on 20 October parodied the style of Rockstar’s GTA 6 trailers, arriving in the middle of the biggest launch build-up in years. Xbox’s pre-order post that day passed 845,000 views and 12,000 likes.
GTA 6 has since become the most pre-ordered game, according to Sensor Tower’s estimates, so launching nine days earlier gives Shrek a clear window.
The films may have shaped the timing too. Aspyr’s announcement also promoted Shrek 5, which DreamWorks has moved to 30 June 2027, and Video Games Chronicle suggested the remaster may first have been planned to accompany the film. It now joins a crowded month of November 2026 game releases, led by Rockstar’s open-world game. Older games keep finding new audiences, as Call of Duty: Black Ops II showed by returning to the best-seller charts this year. The original Shrek 2 won Favourite Video Game at the 2005 Kids’ Choice Awards.
