Obsidian Entertainment’s CEO has shown strong interest in an underappreciated Microsoft IP. Read on to discover why this franchise has captivated the renowned RPG studio.

Obsidian CEO Wants to Bring Shadowrun to LifeFallout is Great, But…

During an interview with Tom Caswell on his podcast, Obsidian's CEO Feargus Urquhart was asked what non-Fallout Xbox intellectual property he’d like to develop. The studio, known for its work on Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, is currently occupied with projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, but Urquhart has made it clear that Shadowrun is a franchise he’d love to explore.

"I love Shadowrun. I think it’s super cool," Urquhart stated, adding that he requested a list of Microsoft intellectual properties shortly after the company’s acquisition. With the recent addition of Activision and its extensive catalog, the list of potential projects they could work on expanded. Nevertheless, Urquhart focused on one intellectual property in particular. "If you had to pin me down on one, yes, Shadowrun is the one," he stated.

Obsidian Entertainment has established a prominent position in the gaming industry by developing engaging continuations within established franchises. While they’ve clearly shown their capacity to create original settings with Alpha Protocol and The Outer Worlds, their reputation is strongly connected with celebrated RPG series. From their contributions to Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II and Neverwinter Nights 2 to Fallout: New Vegas and Dungeon Siege III, Obsidian has consistently showcased an aptitude for expanding existing universes.

In a 2011 interview with Joystiq, Urquhart provided insights into the studio’s preference for sequels: "RPGs have numerous sequels because you can continually build upon the world. You can consistently develop new narratives. I believe from that viewpoint, it’s advantageous to create these even if they’re sequels because you get to explore someone else’s world."

How Urquhart and Obsidian plan to expand the Shadowrun universe remains unclear. However, should the studio obtain the license, enthusiasts of the RPG can be confident that their cherished world would be in skilled hands. The CEO himself admitted to being a longtime admirer of the tabletop RPG: "I purchased the book upon its initial release. I likely possess four of the six editions."

What Happened to Shadowrun?

Shadowrun's history is as complex as the cyberpunk-fantasy world it occupies. Born as a tabletop RPG in 1989, it has since spawned numerous video game adaptations. While the tabletop rights underwent multiple ownership changes following FASA Corporation's closure, 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 await a new, original title. The last standalone Shadowrun game, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, was released in 2015. Remastered versions of previous titles were compiled for Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2022, but the community's desire for a fresh Shadowrun experience endures.