Fallout: New Vegas Devs Want to Work on Obscure Series

Obsidian Entertainment's CEO has expressed strong interest in developing a lesser-known Microsoft game franchise. This article explores why this particular franchise has caught the attention of the acclaimed RPG studio.

Obsidian's CEO Wants to Breathe New Life into Shadowrun

Beyond Fallout: A New Frontier

Urquhart declared his fondness for Shadowrun, calling it "super cool." He mentioned requesting a list of Microsoft IPs following the company's acquisition of Obsidian. The subsequent acquisition of Activision significantly expanded this list, yet Urquhart remained focused on one specific IP: "Shadowrun is the one," he confirmed.

Obsidian has established a reputation for crafting compelling sequels within existing franchises. While their original IPs, such as Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, demonstrate their creative prowess, their legacy is undeniably linked 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 showcases its ability to expand existing game universes.

A 2011 interview with Joystiq revealed Urquhart's perspective on the studio's preference for sequels: "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep adding to the world, keep coming up with new stories. It's great to work on sequels because you get to play in someone else's world."

While the specifics of Obsidian's vision for Shadowrun remain undisclosed, securing the license would undoubtedly place the franchise in capable hands. Urquhart's long-standing personal connection to the tabletop RPG reinforces this: "I bought the book when it first came out. I probably own four of the six editions."

The Shadowrun Saga: 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 anticipation for a new, original entry remains high. The last standalone title, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions of previous games were released across Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience persists.