"Fallout: New Vegas Developers Eager to Revive Obscure Series"

Obsidian Entertainment's CEO has shown a strong interest in reviving a lesser-known Microsoft IP, sparking excitement among fans and the gaming community. Dive into the details to understand 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 on Tom Caswell's podcast, Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian, shared his enthusiasm for exploring non-Fallout Xbox IPs. Despite being busy with projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart expressed a particular fascination with the Shadowrun franchise.

"I love Shadowrun. I think it’s super cool," Urquhart remarked, revealing that he sought a list of Microsoft IPs shortly after the company's acquisition. With Activision's vast catalog now part of Microsoft's portfolio, the options have expanded, but Urquhart's focus remains clear. "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he affirmed.

Obsidian Entertainment has established a reputation for breathing new life into existing franchises with their work on titles like Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, and more. Their portfolio also includes original creations such as Alpha Protocol, showcasing their versatility in the RPG genre. Urquhart's comments in a 2011 Joystiq interview highlight the studio's approach to sequels: "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep on adding on to the world. You can keep on coming up with new 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."

While the specifics of how Obsidian would expand the Shadowrun universe remain undisclosed, Urquhart's personal connection to the franchise as a fan of the tabletop RPG adds a layer of authenticity to their potential involvement. "I bought the book when it first came out. I probably own four of the six editions," he shared, underscoring his deep-rooted passion for the series.

What Happened to Shadowrun?

Shadowrun, a tabletop RPG launched in 1989, has a rich history intertwined with its cyberpunk-fantasy setting. After FASA Corporation's closure, the pen-and-paper rights changed hands several times, while Microsoft retained the video game rights following its acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999.

Recent years have seen Harebrained Schemes develop several Shadowrun games, yet fans are eager for a new, original installment. The last standalone title, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Although remastered versions of earlier games were released for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, the community's appetite for a fresh Shadowrun experience continues to grow.