System Shock director wants to make an “XCOM-like” strategy in the same world
Frankly, I’m shocked
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TheSystem Shockremake may be out now, but that doesn’t mean developer Nightdive Studios is done with the IP.
There’s aSystem Shock 2remaster coming soon after all, but there might be more. Nightdive CEO andSystem Shockremake director, Stephen Kick, spoke to TRGin an interview about the development of the game. Towards the end of the conversation, Kick revealed that the team may have plans for the franchise going forward, but not necessarily jumping right into a remake ofSystem Shock 2.
“There’s been a lot of discussions about what it is we want to do next,” Kick says in our interview, “whether that be a full on remake ofSystem Shock 2or if we want to let the Enhanced Edition breathe on its own for a bit.
“But we’ve talked about exploring the System Shock universe in different genres. Maybe anXCOM-like that takes place before the events ofSystem Shock 1, where you’re the resistance on Citadel Station, fighting SHODAN’s cyborgs and machines. Personally, I think that would be really cool. To kind of experience it from a different angle.”
Naturally, this isn’t confirmation that Nightdive Studios is indeed working on a strategy game akin toXCOM 2within the System Shock universe. But it’s certainly a pitch that almost writes itself.
Nightdive has already done much of the hard work in creating assets for theSystem Shockremake. Citadel Station’s labyrinthine structure and tight corridors would also make great level design fodder for a turn-based strategy title.
I can easily imagine creating and naming my own Citadel Station survivors, carefully developing their skills and growing attached to them as they fight and inevitably perish in the wake of SHODAN’s mutant cyborg army.
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And speaking of SHODAN, it’s easy to picture the rogue AI taunting you as you and your troops struggle to survive against her onslaught. The more I think about it, the more I want it to be real.
Whether we end up getting something like, say,System Shock Tacticsor not, the future of the series is looking positive at Nightdive Studios. Given the strong critical reception the remake has garnered thus far, it’s pretty unlikely the team is done with the franchise just yet.
In other PC gaming news,Apple has revealed it’s working on Windows emulationfor Mac, which should make gaming onApplemachines more accessible than ever.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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