Obsidian Entertainment's CEO has expressed a keen interest in reviving a lesser-known Microsoft IP. Dive into this article to discover why this franchise has piqued the interest of the acclaimed RPG studio.

Obsidian CEO Wants to Bring Shadowrun to Life

Fallout is Cool and All, But…

In a captivating interview with Tom Caswell on his podcast, Obsidian's CEO Feargus Urquhart shared his enthusiasm for exploring a non-Fallout Xbox IP. Despite being deeply engaged with projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart's passion for the Shadowrun franchise is unmistakable.

"I love Shadowrun. I think it’s super cool," Urquhart remarked. Following Microsoft's acquisition, he requested a comprehensive list of IPs, which expanded significantly with the addition of Activision's catalog. Yet, it was Shadowrun that captured his imagination. "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 engaging sequels within established franchises. While they've showcased their ability to build original universes with games like Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, 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 has consistently expanded and enriched existing worlds.

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 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 Urquhart and Obsidian plan to expand the Shadowrun universe remain under wraps, the prospect of the studio taking on the license is thrilling. Urquhart's personal connection to the franchise is evident, as he shared, "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 its cyberpunk-fantasy setting. Originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has inspired numerous video game adaptations. After FASA Corporation's closure, the pen-and-paper rights changed hands multiple times, while Microsoft retained the video game rights following its acquisition of FASA Interactive in 1999.

In recent years, Harebrained Schemes has developed several Shadowrun games, but the community is eager for a new, original installment. The last standalone game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Although remastered versions of previous titles were made available for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, the fanbase continues to yearn for a fresh Shadowrun experience.