Night Dive Studios may have failed to recover posh operative Cate Archer’s dossier, but they are set to revive another classic 90s character, with a remake, and the promise of so much more.
After releasing System Shock Enhanced Edition, the studio managed to snag the full rights to the System Shock franchise. Originally developed by Looking Glass Studios, the System Shock games took players into a world threatened by the presence of a malevolent AI named SHODAN, taking the fight to cyberspace, as well as outer space.
System Shock’s IP rights were embroiled in a legal battle of their own, between Electronic Arts, the game’s original distributor, and Meadowbrook Insurance Group, the legal entity that acquired Looking Glass’ properties upon closure.
Night Dive actually negotiated with these and other entities as far back as October 2012 to secure the rights to rerelease the game, first as a GOGcom exclusive on February 2013, and then to Steam later that year.
A System Shock 3 is not a done deal yet, as Night Dive explains their specialty isn’t actually in making completely new games. However, they are working on an enhanced edition for System Shock 2.
Night Dive seems to at least be in contact with the original concept artist Robert Waters. Of course, longtime fans will know Looking Glass was brimming with talent, from Ken Levine and Paul Neurath, to Warren Spector and Randy Smith. Many of these developers went on to form their own studios, and build their own legacies with their own games. The sky is literally the limit on whom Night Dive can collaborate on to bring the series back.
Who would you like to see work on a System Shock 3? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
