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 renowned RPG studio.
Obsidian's CEO Wants to Bring Shadowrun to Life
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 occupied with projects like *Avowed* and *The Outer Worlds 2*, Urquhart clearly stated his desire to tackle 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 acquisition of Activision significantly expanded this list, yet Urquhart remained focused on one particular franchise: "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one."
Obsidian has built a reputation for creating compelling sequels within established franchises. Although they've successfully crafted original worlds (Alpha Protocol, The Outer Worlds), their legacy is deeply rooted in expanding existing 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 expertise in enriching established worlds.
In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart explained the studio's attraction to 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 Obsidian's vision for a Shadowrun game remains unclear, securing the license would undoubtedly place the franchise in capable hands. Urquhart's long-standing passion for the tabletop RPG is evident: "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 recently, but fans eagerly anticipate a new, original entry. The last standalone title, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Remastered versions of earlier games arrived on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, yet the demand for a fresh Shadowrun experience persists.
