Shrek 2 Remastered leaks on Xbox store and its absolutely glorious

Pandora's box has well and truly been opened and our childhood years of gaming have been pouring out.

Grand Theft Auto is back. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is returning. Even The Simpsons Hit and Run has a community-made remaster in anticipation of the real deal.

Our adolescent years are unfolding in front of our very eyes.

But, let's be honest, few franchises are quite as deserving of a comeback as Shrek.

The green ogre has remained a pop-culture icon, with memes, merchandise, and another big-screen adventure on the horizon.

Naturally, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to dust off one of his most memorable video game outings.

Now, it looks like our prayers have been answered. Well, sort of. In a rather fitting twist, Shrek 2 has emerged thanks to a store listing that seemingly went live before its big reveal. Because apparently, even Far Far Away can't keep a secret.

Shrek 2 Remastered looks absolutely glorious with 4K upgrades

Despite having avoided any rumours or gossip in its development cycle, Shrek 2 Remastered has just been leaked by the strangest of culprits: with a full trailer available to be viewed, showing cinematics and gameplay, the title accidentally appeared on the Xbox Store ahead of its expected official announcement, giving fans an early look at the returning 2004 game.

The listing, which has since been taken down, also revealed screenshots and a handful of upgrades that should make revisiting this childhood favourite a rather tempting prospect.

Developed by Aspyr, the remaster promises improved textures, an enhanced user interface, 4K resolution, and updated cutscenes. There's also a new Photo Mode, alongside a Cheat Mode that lets players unlock cheats during their adventure.

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Better still, the original's co-op chaos is coming along for the ride. The listing claimed that the game will support up to four players, with local couch co-op, online multiplayer, and even a mixed option combining local and online play. So, yes, you can apparently reunite the gang without everyone having to squeeze onto the same sofa.

The game follows the broad story of the hit animated film, taking players acrossi Far Far Away and its familiar fairytale locations. You'll be able to switch between heroes, battle enemies, tackle bosses, and solve puzzles using each character's unique abilities.

There's no confirmed release date just yet, and the Xbox listing doesn't establish exactly when the remaster will arrive. However, an official reveal is expected at the Xbox Showcase on 20 October, so we may not have to wait long for more details.

Until then, it's time to dust off those Shrek memes. This really is the kind of news that makes you want to shout, "Somebody once told me..."