Obsidian Entertainment's CEO, Feargus Urquhart, has publicly expressed his strong desire to develop a game based on Microsoft's Shadowrun IP. This revelation follows an interview where he was asked which non-Fallout Microsoft franchise he'd most like to tackle. While currently occupied with projects like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, Urquhart emphatically stated his preference for Shadowrun, calling it "super cool" and highlighting it as his top choice from a list of Microsoft IPs he reviewed after their acquisition of Obsidian.
This interest aligns with Obsidian's proven track record of crafting compelling sequels within established franchises. Their history includes notable contributions to RPG giants like Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II, Neverwinter Nights 2, and Fallout: New Vegas. Urquhart himself has previously discussed the studio's affinity for sequels, noting the inherent expandability of RPG worlds and the opportunity for continuous storytelling. He even revealed his personal history with Shadowrun, stating he's owned the tabletop RPG rulebook since its initial release.
The Shadowrun franchise, originating as a tabletop RPG in 1989, has seen multiple video game adaptations throughout its history. While Harebrained Schemes has recently produced several Shadowrun titles, including a 2022 remaster compilation, a new, original entry remains highly anticipated by fans. The last standalone release, Shadowrun: Hong Kong, dates back to 2015, leaving a significant gap in the series' recent history. However, should Obsidian secure the license, the future of Shadowrun appears to be in potentially capable hands, given their expertise in developing and expanding existing RPG universes.
