Poker Night at the Inventory Returns with a Remaster in March

Why It Matters

The remaster revives a cult classic, expanding Skunkape’s portfolio and showcasing the feasibility of modernizing legacy Windows games for Linux, while generating cross‑title revenue opportunities.

Key Takeaways

• Skunkape Games releases Poker Night remaster March 5, 2026.
• Updated graphics, lighting, and gameplay fixes improve poker simulation.
• New unlockables include Team Fortress 2 items as collateral.
• Remaster built on same engine as Sam & Max trilogy.

Pulse Analysis

The 2010 release Poker Night at the Inventory was a quirky spin‑off from Telltale’s early catalog, pairing characters from Sam & Max, Homestar Runner, Penny Arcade, and Team Fortress 2 in a fast‑paced poker showdown. Though it garnered a cult following, the title vanished from stores after 2019, leaving fans without an official way to replay the experience. Skunkape Games, formed by former Telltale developers, announced a full‑scale remaster slated for March 5, 2026, reviving the game for a new generation of players.

The remaster leverages the same upgraded engine Skunkape used for the Sam & Max trilogy, delivering overhauled graphics, dynamic lighting, and refined poker mechanics that address long‑standing simulation quirks. Quality‑of‑life upgrades include streamlined menus and new unlockable content, notably Team Fortress 2 items that can be wagered as collateral. Distributed via Steam and playable through Proton and Wine, the title exemplifies how legacy Windows games can be modernized for Linux users without sacrificing performance, reinforcing the growing viability of cross‑platform releases on open‑source stacks.

From a business perspective, the release taps into nostalgia while expanding Skunkape’s portfolio beyond its Sam & Max revivals, positioning the studio as a go‑to steward for dormant Telltale IPs. The inclusion of Team Fortress 2 cosmetics creates cross‑title synergy, encouraging players to invest time in both ecosystems and potentially driving microtransaction revenue. Moreover, the timing aligns with the industry’s broader push to monetize classic games through remasters, suggesting that other dormant titles may soon receive similar treatment, bolstering the retro‑gaming market.

Poker Night at the Inventory returns with a remaster in March

By Liam Dawe · 5 Feb 2026 at 2:37 pm UTC

Poker Night at the Inventory originally from Telltale Games is coming back to life from Skunkape Games, a small crew of former Telltale employees. Originally released in 2010, it has been unavailable since 2019, but this new crew will be releasing the remaster on March 5th.

Modeled after Telltale's very first release, 2005's Telltale Texas Hold'em, Poker Night at the Inventory was an experimental game created in three months by people who went on to lead the mega‑hits The Walking Dead: A Telltale Series and The Wolf Among Us.

The game pits Max (the irreverent rabbity‑thing from Sam & Max), Strong Bad (of Homestar Runner fame), Tycho (from the long‑running Penny Arcade webcomic), and Team Fortress 2 mercenary The Heavy in a fast‑paced poker tournament punched up with jokey trash‑talk.

Skunkape Games' remaster includes overhauled graphics and lighting, gameplay fixes to improve the poker simulation, and new unlockables and quality‑of‑life features. The game was updated using the same engine and process as the team's recent remasters of Telltale's Sam & Max trilogy.

And for those who remember it and enjoyed this part of it – Team Fortress 2 items are returning as well. The press release noted that you can equip a unique item to offer as collateral when cash runs low. So just like in the original game, you get to win them and use them in Team Fortress 2.

Release Date: 5 March 2026

Platform: ⚛ Proton / Wine

Official link: Steam

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Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.