Obscure Game Series Revival Planned by Fallout: New Vegas Devs

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

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

During an interview with Tom Caswell on his podcast, Obsidian’s esteemed CEO Feargus Urquhart was asked what non-Fallout Xbox IP he’d like to work on. The studio, renowned for their work on Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, is currently occupied with projects such as Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, but Urquhart has expressed his ardent desire to explore the Shadowrun franchise.

"I hold Shadowrun in high regard. I believe it possesses exceptional qualities," Urquhart stated, adding that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs promptly after the company’s acquisition. With the recent addition of Activision and its expansive catalog, the number of potential projects they could undertake has increased. Nonetheless, Urquhart has focused his attention on a specific IP. "If you were to compel me to choose one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he stated.

Obsidian Entertainment has carved a unique niche for itself in the gaming industry by crafting engaging sequels within existing franchises. While they’ve undoubtedly proven their ability to create unique 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 remarkable talent for expanding existing universes.

In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart offered valuable insights into the studio’s affinity for sequels: "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep on adding on to the vast world. You can keep on coming up with creative 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 Envision 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 longtime 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 realm it inhabits. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1980, 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 1990.

Harebrained Schemes has developed several Shadowrun games in recent years, but fans eagerly anticipate a new, original entry. The last standalone Shadowrun game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2010. Remastered versions of previous titles were compiled for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2010, but the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience persists.