NeoGAF points the way to this press release of an Outcast remake called OUTCAST - Second Contact that will be released next year (thanks DSOGaming). This announcement is hosted on German site Planet Adelpha, which declares it will be the home of future updates about the plan. Here's word:

– Bigben, the video game publisher and distributor, is pleased to announce that they have signed a licence agreement with the studio Appeal to publish the video game OUTCAST - Second Contact, a remake of the cult PC game Outcast.

Released on PC in 1999, Outcast is an action-adventure game that has been recognized as one of the first open-world video games. Outcast has been hailed by critics and received numerous awards for the quality of its graphics and innovative gameplay, and remains a milestone in the history of video games.

This expanded and updated version of the 1999 game, currently being developed by the team behind the franchise, will be released at the start of 2017 under the name OUTCAST - Second Contact.

"Outcast succeeded beyond our hopes and we take great pride in seeing that it remains a classic for many players today." stated Yves Grolet, co-founder of APPEAL. "We're now using the same team and passion to work on the remake that fans have been demanding for years. Our objective is to show just how modern the game is with cutting-edge graphics and improved gameplay, while retaining the charm of the original which won over so many players."

"Outcast is a cult classic that is part of the video game repertory," added Alain Falc, CEO of Bigben. "I am delighted that APPEAL came to Bigben and have the faith in us to supervise the evolution of such a popular franchise, which people will enjoy discovering or rediscovering on next-gen consoles," he concluded.