System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster Preview – How Nightdive Studios approaches remastering an influential classic PC game

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Raised in the ’90s, I was immersed in PC gaming, transitioning from the final days of MS-DOS to the earliest versions of consumer Windows. Classic games such as DOOM, Quake, and Rise of the Triad were my childhood favorites. Companies like Nightdive Studios seem to share a fondness for this era, releasing several modern versions and remasters (even of each of the mentioned games) in recent times, along with a complete overhaul of 1994’s System Shock. The slogan on their website is: “Resurrecting forgotten gaming gems from the abyss.

At RPG Site, we’re keen on games that incorporate role-playing aspects, and titles like System Shock and particularly its sequel have been intriguing us ever since Nightdive Studios secured the license around a decade ago. This acquisition played a significant role in the establishment of Nightdive Studios itself. During GDC 2025, I had the opportunity to try an early build of System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, while discussing the eagerly anticipated remaster with Larry Kuperman, VP of Business Development at Nightdive, and producer Grover Wimberly from Nightdive.

If Nightdive secured the rights to System Shock over a decade ago, one might wonder why it’s taken so long for the remastered version of System Shock 2 to hit the shelves, especially since its title has been altered in honor of the game’s upcoming 25th anniversary in 2024.

Kuperman shares that initially, our focus was on remaking the original System Shock. This project took longer than expected, but it was definitely worth it as it turned out to be an award-winning title. Alongside this project, other companies have approached us with requests for additional work. These projects necessitated shifting resources from one task to another. We’ve worked on remakes of DOOM 1 and DOOM 2, as well as Quake 1 and Quake 2. In other words, once we were offered these projects, there was no second thought – of course, we were eager to take them on! As a result, our schedule has been quite busy, but this game has been in development for some time.

Instead of a full rebuild like the initial “System Shock”, its pioneering sequel is receiving an upgrade, known as remastering.

In terms of enhancing a cherished oldie, Kuperman outlines Nightdive’s strategy: “Our aim is to evoke the exact emotional response players had when playing the game originally. The game has a powerful emotional resonance, especially in its horror aspects, so we strive to maintain that essence. We believe that a game should feel familiar, as you remember it, rather than exactly as it was back then, considering you might have been viewing it on a 14-inch CRT monitor.

As someone who’s yet to experience the original release of System Shock 2 in its purest form, I’ve certainly heard tales of its enduring impact on games such as Bioshock and the immersive sim and horror genres at large. However, diving into the built-remaster this week felt oddly reminiscent – in a delightfully nostalgic way that harks back to the 90s game design ethos.

According to Kuperman, we’ve aimed to preserve the core essence of the original game. So, if you’re someone who’s played System Shock 2 before, most aspects should feel quite recognizable to you.

What enhancements are being incorporated into the remastered version of System Shock 2? As for new gameplay elements, not much is being added. However, porting a classic PC-only title to multiple consoles is no small feat, particularly in terms of control adjustments. Producer Wimberly elaborates on this challenge:

It’s worth noting that the original System Shock 2 was a PC-exclusive game, playable only with a mouse and keyboard. However, for the first time ever in this remaster, we’ve optimized the game for controller support. Our goal isn’t just to bring it to PC users, but also to all current console platforms. Consequently, any functionality that was designed for mouse and keyboard use must now be adaptable for controller play as well. We’ve been demonstrating the game to Steam Deck players who are curious about how the controls work on such devices.

Nightdive recognizes that remastering classic games isn’t just about transferring old ROMs onto Steam. In line with their ‘resurrecting forgotten gaming gems’ philosophy, one novel addition to the 25th Anniversary Edition is a Vault, which will store a diverse collection of content related to the original development of the game.

Kuperman mentions that the remastered version of System Shock 2 will include a feature known as ‘The Vault.’ This feature was initially introduced with Quake and it will contain various images and elements showcasing the game’s historical legacy, which they consider essential for preserving its unique history.

As a gamer, I understand Nightdive’s careful approach when remastering games. They don’t want to stray too far from the original design, fearing changes that might distort the unique values and features that made the game so endearing in the first place.

Back then, it seemed reasonable to assume that players would be able to figure out game mechanics on their own, without explicit instructions. You might not have needed the four coffee cups you picked up because you could, and soon realized that resources would be scarce and required careful management.

Kuperman elaborates, “From those earlier games, we discovered a key aspect: the games didn’t provide clear directions or waypoints. Instead, they allowed players to explore and figure things out on their own. This independence was an essential part of those games. As for improvements, we aim to design our new projects in such a way that first-time players can easily grasp the game mechanics and understand how the games function.

While navigating through the remastered demo of System Shock at GDC, I spent time familiarizing myself with the menus and exploring a deserted spacecraft. Suddenly, I heard Larry give a soft laugh.

I’m consistently captivated as I observe newcomers figuring out how to play System Shock 2 for the very first time.

25th Anniversary Edition of System Shock 2 will be available on multiple platforms starting June 26, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, as well as PC through Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG.

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2025-03-23 11:56