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 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 IP he'd like to develop. While currently immersed in projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart clearly stated his enthusiasm for the Shadowrun franchise.
"I love Shadowrun. It's incredibly cool," Urquhart commented, explaining 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 remained focused on one specific franchise. "If I had to choose just one, yes, it would be Shadowrun," he confirmed.
Obsidian has established a reputation for crafting compelling entries within established game universes. Although they've successfully created original worlds (Alpha Protocol, The Outer Worlds), their legacy is deeply connected to renowned RPG franchises. From Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, Obsidian consistently demonstrates expertise in expanding existing worlds.
In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart highlighted the studio's attraction to sequels: "RPGs lend themselves to sequels because you can continually build upon the world and create new storylines. From that perspective, developing sequels is advantageous because you get to explore someone else's established universe."
While Obsidian's vision for a Shadowrun project remains unclear, securing the license would undoubtedly place the beloved franchise in capable hands. Urquhart's long-standing passion for the tabletop RPG is well-documented: "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 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 recently, but fans eagerly anticipate a new, original title. The last standalone Shadowrun game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions of earlier games were released for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience remains strong.
