System Shock 2 makes its console debut after 24 years

Is it ever too late to play a classic? We would say: absolutely not. So, almost 25 years after its original release, Nightdive Studios has finally ported the classic cyber FPS title System Shock 2 to Xbox Series and PS5 consoles.

Originally released in 1999, System Shock 2 was a late sequel to the original 1994 title which was one of the early examples of RPG and puzzle elements in a true first person shooter. The sequel, developed by future Bioshock designer Ken Levine, amped up the RPG elements, serving as a forefather to future classics such as Deus Ex.

Taking place 42 years after the events in the original game, System Shock 2 takes place aboard the spaceship Rickenbacker. While escorting the Von Braun, an experimental faster-than-light starship, on its maiden voyage, something goes terribly wrong. The protagonist, a soldier, will wake up in a cryo-tube on the Von Braun, where it will soon be clear that something has gone terribly wrong. The ships' crew were infected with an unknown virus that left many dead or mutated into horrible monsters.

Nightdive Studios, recently acquired by Atari, have been making a name for themselves releasing updated versions of old classic titles, such as PowerSlave and Blade Runner. Using their in-house developed KEX engine, the studio uses reverse engineering techniques to make sure to bring to gamers the best version possible of many old big (and smaller) classics: faithful, but with quality of life improvements.

For System Shock 2, the studio has also been working with the fan community at systemshock.org, in order to make sure that all the more famous mods can work also on the newer console version.

Nightdive has announced that it is working to update all cinematics, textures and character models, along with overhauls to the co-op multiplayer experience.

Currently, there is no release date for System Shock 2 console, but it is expected to release in the near future. With the original game’s modern remake launching at the end of this month, this is a great time to capitalise on a remaster.