I think probably they do have the files for SCII and forward, but I doubt they do for SCI and SE, so the best they can do for those is a straight port (which with regard to SCI, they did previously, on XBOX 360), unless they want to just outright remake them. Assets from games in those eras were very rarely preserved as individual asset files; indeed, if not for the fact that Project Soul were in a habit of re-using their assets for later games, it's probable that they wouldn't even have the assets for SCII (and thus would not have gotten SCII:HDO) since by that point in time, most companies were not in the habit of archiving their assets.
Perhaps, I mean I'm not going to enforce Soulcalibur 1 and SouBlade if they've truly lost the files, but regardless these entries should not be problematic assuming they are archived. For a fighter you've got to keep in mind Soulcalibur was always relatively ahead in a few aspects visually back then so yet again visuals aren't too big a problem and they can preserve its identity.
The Xbox 360 port of Soulcalibur 1 actually has alterations and cut content. I Believe due to microsoft enforcing a file size restriction on "Arcade games" during the period this was ported.
Due to the microsoft thing however, I am believing Soulcalibur 1 has been preserved, I actually think Soulblade may very well the lost one.
But you're still massively under-appreciating how much work this would be, if we're talking about a true remaster and not a port. Because no, SCII:HDO is not just a straight port of SCII vanilla running on better hardware than was available a the time.
I actually think the opposite, I just decided to put it to the test and the Soulcalibur 2 remaster isn't really an enhancement.
The models seem to be 1:1
The textures seemed to be based of the Xbox original/Gamecube ports. I'd wager the differences we see is due to things such as saturation or contrast.
However, the UI seems to be what has legitimately been enhanced with the remaster port, this includes fonts of course.
I'd potentially need to look around some more or even open up some more versions of the ports myself (PAL vs NTSC) and check if there are further visual differences but the remaster doesn't seem to be anything more than netplay and badly made shine which we would have been better without.
Perhaps the shine could be attributed to one of the other versions of the game and isn't even part of the remaster exclusively which is why I'd need to check out some more versions.
So I would pretty much say on a personal note, I do think SC2:HDO is a vanilla port running better hardware mostly, with the best version of the assets from the ports taken and combined into one. The enhancements are insignificant on the textures (from a light analysis on the textures if they can even be considered different), perhaps looking at other parts of the game though there was more work? I'll have to take a look at that too since my comparison wasn't checking everything.
If an HD remaster were as simple as that, the remaster market would be fifty times larger than it is. I reiterate: remastering 5-9 games would be massive undertaking that they could not have any realistic hope of recouping their costs on. It's a fantastic daydream: I've indulged in it myself far more times than any adult can reasonably justify. But I can recognize it for being just that: a daydream.
Not quite, remasters have done the act of simply running on better hardware before although if they don't enhance assets sometimes they throw in new effects, there's also the case where they simply revise the textures through a noise reduction instead of legitimate upgrades. I've definitely witnessed it and it seems to be the case to some extent very literally with SC2. It was not remastered on the level of FFX|X-2 remaster which had many of its textures completely remade without the source and the models themselves either being entirely new or highly dolled up versions of the old models.
If they took the approach of FFX|X-2 then I would say its a huge undertaking for sure, but to me it doesn't seem to be the case nor does it seem necessary they take it that far.
Soulblade may very well be a lost cause
Soulcalibur 1 We may assume there's a more contemporary in house variant. (Netplay must be added)
Soulcalibur 2 We know for sure has been done and has a contemporary variant. (Netplay somewhat done in a sense?)
Soulcalibur 3 has no contemporary variant that we know of so far, but it has enhanced visuals from the arcade edition which is a starting point. (Netplay)
Soulcalibur 4 Isn't necessary to enhance, the port process is the primary objective with potentially prettier effects.
Soulcalibur 5 Isn't necessary to enhance, the port process is the primary objective with potentially prettier effects.
We're left with with SB, SC1, SC3 being the REAL chore.
I understand that regardless it is a big undertaking but, its certainly not something that isn't feasible, this is simply a fighting game nothing more.
This is assuming we can accept remasters on the level that SC2 was, which isn't bad but wasn't huge to do either from a visual standpoint at least.
FFX|X-2 completely remade virtually every single texture, completely new visuals for the UI an arranged soundtrack and updated character models with international release exclusive content added, I'd argue a far bigger chore. Though Square may be more financially capable I suppose, its still quite a bit extra. That and honestly, Soulcalibur could just be remastered 1 by one, though I suppose we are talking more for in the form of a collection to be fair.
Now that I can certainly agree with: I'd happily buy any re-release of any mainline game in the series, even if the port had no graphics upgrade or online capability: I'd buy each for twenty to thirty dollars (or pounds) apiece just for the convenience of having them all on one current generation machine. But I'm not the average consumer. If they re-released 5-9 games in one compendium, they couldn't charge much more than $60, just because of how the market for digital re-releases works. That's just not remotely enough for them to turn a profit, even without a graphical upgrade or online capability (and having those features absent would drastically reduce the number of people willing to buy the product at any given pricepoint).
Even getting a game to emulate and run bug free on contemporary systems is a cost in itself, nevermind mixing in netcode and matchmaking for online play, graphical updates and all the other bells and whistles expected of a compilation. Now, don't get me wrong, if they did make a nine game compilation complete with online capacity and upgraded visuals for each entry, I'd pay $300 for it. They couldn't beat me off with a stick as I tried to stuff the cash into their pockets, tears of joy streaming down my face. But again, I don't there's enough people like me to even begin justifying such an effort.
Despite us potentially not representing the average consumer which I very much agree with, I do think as a fan base Soulcalibur is solid enough to get the sales going for remasters among fans to be good enough. There's also the fact that even the average gamer isn't exactly going to look at it and think "its worse than current day games", its remasters. Nowadays its easier in the very current period we are in to try and make the most of remakes and remasters too. I'm sure some people who aren't even dedicated would go for it.
Sadly in truth, I can not speak to for the porting process or netplay, especially the damn netplay.
I've had some experience with some things regarding the whole idea of "porting" but I'm not going to act like I know the nitty gritty with my small experience on porting. I definitely don't think the porting process would be hellish assuming preservation is all well and good however, but yet again I'm not too deep in with this.
Netplay might be a far cry though... I can't comment or even begin to speculate.
I myself would be trying to assault them with my money to get my hands on it however!
But no one has gotten their "own" stage in SCVI
Indian Port - Maxi
Shrine of Eurydice - Sophitia
Windswept Plains - Talim
Snow-Capped Showdown - Groh
Master Swordsman's Cave - Kilik
Astral Chaos - Inferno
Ostrheinsburg Castle - Nightmare
Cursed Moonlit Woods - Raphael/Amy
Sunken Desert Ruins - Hwang/Lizardman/Voldo/Mina (Not 100% sure)
Kunpaetku Temple - Asteroth
As you said though, the stages are far more vague in this game and less personal to the characters, its a pity we didn't get more as I like them along side our more specific older ones...
Well, importing new stages across different engines and platforms would not really save them as much time as you may be thinking.
The engines aren't really the problem in this instance thankfully, unless they've lost the assets in some VERY different format. They're definitely not tragic due to engine though.
Some assets can be re-used, but rendering them such that they look tonally consistent with the rest of the game as constructed in the present engine would actually arguably end up being more work than starting from scratch, particularly as they would have to upres everything without making it look like crap.
The backgrounds would be the big problem, I don't really recall but mesh wise I believe SC4 and SC5 were quite a bit less than SC6, so the background would have to be done up, but the main stage and nearby pieces could almost be kept the same in some stages I'd say.
The textures might be a headache, but having the stage shape itself be almost done is far closer than 0% instantly.
In all fairness they could just wipe the textures and start those from scratch, I don't really know how they'd most desire to approach it.
I don't think this is a case where starting from scratch would be easier, at least not always, there's definitely some stages that are very well easier to just upgrade from.
Beyond that, fully half or more of the locations in SCIV and SCV would just not make sense for SCVI's narrative. I think it could all just come off as ill-fitting to SCVI.
SC6 is a celebration, I don't think we should be concerned with the narrative impact of pretty stages, I certainly wouldn't care as long as they did it.
They would be ill fit to SC6 assuming they were left dark and moody, but if they just made them vibrant and perky they wouldn't clash much. I mean take a look at SC6 already, the character models are literally all recycled with the prime of their enhancements literally being the textures.
But that said, I really do think stage design for the franchise hit it's zenith in SCIII and SCIV, so I'd be thrilled to see some of those stages return. Thesmophoros' Imperial Garden? You bet. Phantom Pavillion? Hell yeah. Sailor's Rest? Oh baby!
Oh don't get me started, there's some stages I want really want back, especially SC3, I adore the cathedral stage so much, its gorgeous! I'd kill for Sailors rest and Thesmorphoros' Imperial Garden too. I honestly want in particular Distant Marsh!
Maxi | The Adrian 
;D
