Obscure Series Revived by Fallout Veterans

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 acclaimed 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 the studio, celebrated for Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, is currently engrossed in projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart clearly stated his enthusiasm for Shadowrun.

Urquhart declared his fondness for Shadowrun, calling it "super cool." He explained that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs shortly after the acquisition. The recent addition of Activision's extensive library expanded those possibilities, yet Urquhart remained focused on one specific IP: "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one."

Obsidian has built a reputation for crafting compelling entries in existing franchises. Although they've successfully created original worlds (Alpha Protocol, The Outer Worlds), their legacy is strongly tied to established 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 skill in expanding existing universes.

A 2011 Joystiq interview shed light on Obsidian's preference for sequels: Urquhart explained that "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep on adding to the world. You can keep on coming up with new stories."

While Obsidian's vision for a Shadowrun game remains unclear, fans can be confident that the franchise would be in capable hands. Urquhart himself is a longtime fan of the tabletop RPG, admitting, "I bought the book when it first came out. I probably 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 has spawned various video game adaptations. Following FASA Corporation's closure, the pen-and-paper rights changed hands multiple times, but Microsoft retained the video game rights after acquiring FASA Interactive in 1999.

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