Six years on from its preliminary reveal, System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster is lastly releasing for consoles and PC later this yr, following the primary System Shock‘s remaster in 2023.
After a reputation change (it was initially referred to as System Shock 2: Enhanced Version) and 6 years of cautious however difficult growth, the highly-anticipated remaster is lastly coming to PS5, PS4, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC on June 26, 2025.
A prolonged PlayStation Weblog, written by Nightdive Studios communications supervisor Morgan Shaver, goes into element on why the remaster has taken so lengthy to develop. In abstract, it is a mixture of incomplete supply code and developer Nightdive’s penchant for consideration to element.
Nightdive’s Alex Lima chimes in right here, saying that “in depth reverse engineering” was required to have System Shock 2 playable on fashionable {hardware}.
“The sport engine that System Shock 2 makes use of is giant and sophisticated,” provides Nightdive’s Lexi Mayfield. “It was initially designed for PCs from the late Nineteen Nineties with a mouse and keyboard and was solely used for 3 video games. In consequence, porting the sport to PlayStation was a protracted and arduous course of, from each a coding and interface perspective.”
For System Shock 2: twenty fifth Anniversary Remaster, gamers can count on improved visuals in addition to help for superior shaders and far greater refresh charges, resulting in significantly better presentation and efficiency general.
Initially a PC unique, the sport has additionally acquired controller help for the primary time ever now that it is coming to consoles. Actions like leaning round corners, quick-swapping objects, weapons, and psi powers have been “streamlined” for controllers. A brand new quickbar and context menu must also imply gamers will spend much less time fiddling round their busy inventories.
Personally, I am an enormous fan of the unique System Shock 2. I really like nearly every part about it, from its terrifying mutated human enemies, horrific environment, and an unimaginable soundtrack that bounces between moody horror and fast-paced, pulse-pounding techno.
The star of the present is undoubtedly SHODAN, a rogue AI that serves as System Shock 2’s main villain. SHODAN is delightfully evil, her warped speech patterns continually flitting between creepy and foolish with out ever going overboard in both division. She’s so good at each taunting and mocking the participant, making for a continually entertaining and intimidating risk.