Obsidian Entertainment CEO Eyes Shadowrun for Next Big Project

The head of Obsidian Entertainment has expressed strong interest in developing a game based on a lesser-known Microsoft property. This article explores why this particular franchise has caught the eye of the renowned RPG studio.

Obsidian's CEO Wants to Breathe New Life into Shadowrun

Beyond Fallout: A New Challenge

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

Obsidian has built a reputation for crafting compelling entries in established franchises. While their original works like Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds demonstrate their creativity, their legacy is firmly rooted in expanding existing RPG universes. From Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, their expertise in expanding existing worlds is undeniable.

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 rewarding to work on these, even if they're sequels, because you get to explore someone else's universe."

While the specifics of Obsidian's Shadowrun vision remain unclear, securing the license would undoubtedly place the franchise in expert hands. Urquhart himself is a longtime fan of the tabletop game: "I bought the book when it first came out. I probably own four of the six editions."

Shadowrun's Past and Future

Shadowrun's history is as complex as its cyberpunk-fantasy setting. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has seen numerous video game adaptations. Following FASA Corporation's closure, the pen-and-paper rights changed hands several times, but the video game rights remained with Microsoft after its acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999.

Harebrained Schemes has produced several Shadowrun games recently, but a new, original title is highly anticipated by fans. The last standalone game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions appeared on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the demand for a fresh Shadowrun experience remains strong.