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 desire to work on a non-Fallout Xbox IP. While the studio, renowned for Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, is currently occupied with projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart clearly stated his enthusiasm for the Shadowrun franchise.

Urquhart declared his fondness for Shadowrun, calling it "super cool." He explained that he requested a list of Microsoft IPs following the company's acquisition of Obsidian. The subsequent addition of Activision and its extensive library further expanded the possibilities, yet Urquhart remained focused on one particular franchise: "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he confirmed.

Obsidian has established a reputation for creating compelling sequels within established franchises. While their original works, such as Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, demonstrate their capacity for world-building, their legacy is undeniably linked to prominent 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 showcased its ability to expand upon existing universes.

In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart explained the studio's preference for sequels: "RPGs have a lot of sequels because you can keep on adding to the world. You can keep 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 Obsidian's vision for a Shadowrun game remains unclear, securing the license would undoubtedly place the beloved franchise in capable hands. Urquhart himself is a long-time fan of the tabletop RPG: "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 title remains high. The last standalone game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, launched in 2015. Remastered versions of earlier titles were released for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, but the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience persists.