Obscure Games Seeking Revival with Obsidian's Support

Obsidian Entertainment's CEO has expressed strong interest in developing a lesser-known Microsoft game franchise. This article explores why this particular IP has caught the eye of the renowned RPG studio.

Obsidian's CEO Wants to Breathe New Life into Shadowrun

Beyond Fallout: A New Frontier

In a recent podcast interview with Tom Caswell, Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart revealed his top choice for a non-Fallout Xbox franchise to develop. While currently immersed in projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart clearly stated his enthusiasm for Shadowrun.

"I love Shadowrun. It's incredibly cool," Urquhart declared, explaining that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs following the acquisition. The subsequent addition of Activision's extensive library broadened the possibilities, yet Urquhart remained focused. "If I had to choose just one, it would be Shadowrun," he confirmed.

Obsidian has established a reputation for crafting compelling sequels within established franchises. While they've successfully created original worlds (Alpha Protocol, The Outer Worlds), their legacy is deeply rooted in renowned RPG series. From Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, Obsidian consistently demonstrates expertise in expanding existing universes.

A 2011 Joystiq interview shed light on Obsidian's preference for sequels: "RPGs lend themselves to sequels because you can continuously build upon the world and create new narratives. It's advantageous to work on sequels, even if they're not original IPs, because you get to explore someone else's established world."

How Urquhart and Obsidian envision a Shadowrun expansion remains to be seen. However, should they secure the license, fans can expect the franchise to be in exceptionally capable hands. Urquhart himself is a longtime fan of the tabletop RPG: "I bought the book upon its initial release. I likely own four of the six editions."

Shadowrun's Evolving Legacy

Shadowrun's history is as complex as its cyberpunk-fantasy setting. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it's spawned numerous video game adaptations. While the tabletop rights have changed hands several times following FASA Corporation's closure, the video game rights remained with Microsoft after its 1999 acquisition of FASA Interactive.

Harebrained Schemes has produced several Shadowrun games recently, but fans eagerly anticipate a new, original title. The last standalone entry, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions of previous games were released across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience remains strong.