Fallout Devs Reviving Forgotten Franchise

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 renowned 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 desire to tackle the Shadowrun franchise.

Urquhart enthusiastically declared his love for Shadowrun, noting that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs following the company's acquisition of Obsidian. The subsequent acquisition of Activision significantly expanded this list, yet Urquhart's focus remained unwavering: "Shadowrun is the one," he affirmed.

Obsidian has established a reputation for crafting compelling sequels within established franchises. Although they've successfully created original worlds with titles like Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, their legacy is deeply rooted in expanding well-known RPG universes. From Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, Obsidian consistently demonstrates a mastery of enriching existing worlds.

In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart explained the studio's preference for sequels: "RPGs lend themselves to sequels because you can continually build upon the world and create new narratives. It's advantageous to work on sequels, even if they're not original IPs, because you get to explore someone else's established universe."

While the specifics of Obsidian's vision for Shadowrun remain undisclosed, securing the license would undoubtedly place the beloved franchise in exceptionally capable hands. Urquhart's long-standing passion for the tabletop RPG is evident: "I bought the book upon its release and likely own four of the six editions."

The Shadowrun Legacy: A Look Back

The history of Shadowrun is as complex as its cyberpunk-fantasy setting. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has spawned 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 developed several Shadowrun games in recent years, but the community eagerly anticipates a fresh, original entry. The last standalone game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions of previous titles were released in 2022 for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC, yet the demand for a new Shadowrun experience persists.