Nightdive Studios, known for bringing classic games back into the spotlight, is working on a remaster of System Shock 2, a landmark title that significantly influenced the first-person shooter genre. Stephen Kick, the studio’s founder, shared insights during a recent discussion at the Game Developers Conference. This journey began after he encountered difficulties playing System Shock 2 on modern hardware while on a trip.

Initially, the rights to System Shock were held by an insurance company with no clear direction for the franchise. ‘I couldn’t get my copy to work,’ Kick recounted. His quest to track down the rights led him to a surprising discovery: the ownership rested with an insurance firm.

‘When I contacted them, they expressed interest in possible new projects, including System Shock 3. I proposed re-releasing the original titles instead,’ Kick explained. The timing was fortuitous; EA’s trademark had lapsed, granting full rights to Kick’s proposal.

With System Shock 2 Remaster set to launch on June 26, anticipation is building. Nightdive’s earlier remake of the first game received accolades for reigniting interest in the series. Fans eagerly await what’s next, as Kick and Kuperman work on revitalizing the beloved franchise. The response from the gaming community has been overwhelmingly positive, with expectations high for the upcoming releases.