NV Devs Seek Obscure Gem Revival

Obsidian Entertainment’s CEO has expressed keen interest in a lesser-known Microsoft IP. Read on to learn more about why this franchise has captured the attention of the acclaimed RPG studio.

Obsidian CEO Wants to Bring Shadowrun to LifeFallout is Cool and All, But…

"I love Shadowrun. I think it’s super cool," Urquhart stated, adding that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs shortly after the company’s acquisition. With the recent addition of Activision and its extensive catalog, the list of potential projects they could work on increased. Nevertheless, Urquhart honed in on one IP in particular. "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he stated.

Obsidian Entertainment has carved a niche for itself in the gaming industry by crafting compelling sequels within existing franchises. While they’ve undoubtedly proven their ability to create original worlds with Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, their legacy is deeply intertwined with renowned RPG series. From their work on Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, Obsidian has consistently demonstrated a talent for expanding existing universes.

In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart offered insights into the studio’s affinity for sequels: "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep on adding on to the world. You can keep on coming up with new stories. I think from that perspective, it’s great to be able to make these even if they’re sequels because you get to go play in someone else’s world."

How Urquhart and Obsidian envisions expanding the Shadowrun universe remains uncertain. However, if the studio were to secure the license, fans of the RPG can rest assured that their beloved world would be in capable hands. The CEO himself confessed to being a long-time fan of the tabletop RPG: "I bought the book when it first came out. I probably own four of the six editions."

What Happened to Shadowrun?

Shadowrun's history is as intricate as the cyberpunk-fantasy world it inhabits. Born as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has since spawned numerous video game adaptations. While the pen-and-paper rights underwent multiple ownership changes following FASA Corporation's closure, the video game rights remained with Microsoft after its acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999.

Harebrained Schemes has developed several Shadowrun games in recent years, but fans eagerly await a new, original entry. The last standalone Shadowrun game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Remastered versions of previous titles were compiled for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, but the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience persists.