New Vegas Devs Eager to Revive Obscure Series

Obsidian Entertainment’s CEO has expressed a keen interest in revitalizing a lesser-known Microsoft IP. Dive into the details to discover why this franchise has piqued the interest of the renowned RPG studio.

Obsidian CEO Wants to Bring Shadowrun to Life

Fallout is Cool and All, But…

In a recent interview with Tom Caswell on his podcast, Obsidian’s CEO Feargus Urquhart shared his enthusiasm for exploring a non-Fallout Xbox IP. Despite their ongoing projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart's interest in the Shadowrun franchise is unmistakable.

"I love Shadowrun. I think it’s super cool," Urquhart remarked, revealing that he sought a list of Microsoft IPs following the company's acquisition. The addition of Activision's vast catalog further expanded their options, yet Urquhart remains focused on Shadowrun. "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he affirmed.

Obsidian Entertainment has established itself as a master of crafting compelling sequels within established franchises. While their original titles like Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds showcase their creative prowess, 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 expands existing universes with finesse.

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

The specifics of how Urquhart and Obsidian envision expanding the Shadowrun universe are still under wraps. However, should they secure the license, fans can trust that their beloved world would be in capable hands. Urquhart himself is a long-time fan of the tabletop RPG, stating, "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 complex as the cyberpunk-fantasy world it portrays. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has inspired numerous video game adaptations. The pen-and-paper rights changed hands multiple times after FASA Corporation's closure, while the video game rights stayed with Microsoft following its acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999.

Recent years have seen Harebrained Schemes develop several Shadowrun games, but fans are eagerly awaiting a new, original entry. The last standalone Shadowrun game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Remastered versions of previous titles were released for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the community's yearning for a fresh Shadowrun experience remains strong.