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Nightdive Studios Revisits System Shock 2 for Remastered Edition
At this year’s Game Developers Conference, discussions with Nightdive Studios founder Stephen Kick and VP of business development Larry Kuperman centered on the studio’s return to the iconic System Shock 2 for its highly anticipated remastered version. This endeavor marks a significant milestone for Nightdive, given that System Shock 2 was instrumental in the studio’s inception.
The Unlikely Revival of System Shock
Kick recounted the improbable narrative of how he embarked on securing agreements to resurrect the dormant franchise. He unveiled a previously unknown detail: the rights to System Shock were, for a considerable period, held by an insurance firm that lacked understanding of their value or potential.
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System Shock 2’s PC Origins and Rights Acquisition
“Initially, my impetus was simply to get it functioning correctly,” Kick stated, referring to his endeavor with System Shock 2. Following his tenure at Sony Online Entertainment, he and his partner embarked on a road trip through Central America. “I carried a netbook—small and portable—and the only software it could effectively run were classic PC titles.”
However, he encountered difficulties running his physical copy of System Shock 2, and a digital version was unavailable on GOG, then known as “Good Old Games.”
Tracing the Rights to an Insurance Firm
“I began informally investigating the fate of Looking Glass Studios and the subsequent disposition of the rights,” Kick explained. “This quest led me to a G4 TV article, archived on the Wayback Machine, detailing how, upon Looking Glass’s closure, the rights transferred to Star Insurance, an insurance provider based in the Midwest.”
He contacted Star Insurance. “I located their general counsel’s email on their website and inquired: ‘Do you still possess the rights to System Shock?’ They responded almost immediately, but inquired if I was interested in developing System Shock 3. At the time, possessing minimal funds and situated in Guatemala, I was not positioned to undertake a triple-A project. Instead, I proposed re-releasing the original games.”
Strategic Rights Division and EA’s Trademark Laps
The rights to the series were initially divided, with Star Insurance acquiring the intellectual property copyright and Electronic Arts (EA) holding the trademark. “This strategic separation was orchestrated by Warren Spector to prevent any unauthorized System Shock projects,” Kick clarified. “He revealed this to us years later.”
Fortuitously, EA’s trademark had recently expired due to inactivity when Kick contacted Star Insurance. Consequently, the insurance company had recently gained complete ownership but lacked a clear strategy for leveraging it.
A Business Proposal and GOG’s Skepticism
“I presented them with a business proposition that was expedient and cost-effective — particularly in comparison to developing a new triple-A title — which would allow them to capitalize on the System Shock rights,” Kick stated. “They concurred, and I forwarded the contract to GOG, as they initially doubted my claims.”
Kuperman elaborated, “[Former GOG SVP Oleg Klapovskiy] was skeptical that Steve genuinely possessed the rights. Steve had contacted them via the support email, which was subsequently forwarded to Oleg with a note: ‘This individual asserts he holds the rights to System Shock.'”
“Oleg responded, suggesting, ‘He’s likely being dishonest. It’s probably nonsense.’ This response was relayed back to Steve. Oleg is known for his brevity, often employing colorful language.”
Conspiracy Theories and a System Shock Renaissance
“Even currently, he remains unconvinced that I simply inquired via email,” Kick remarked. “He suspects I have familial connections at Star, or that there was some concealed plan, because [GOG] had been attempting to secure the rights for an extended period.”
Subsequently, Kuperman joined Nightdive and proceeded to acquire the remaining rights to the series held by Star Insurance. Since then, the System Shock franchise has experienced a resurgence under Nightdive’s stewardship.
Looking Ahead: System Shock 2 Remaster and Future Projects
In addition to the forthcoming System Shock 2 remastered edition, slated for release on June 26th, Nightdive’s comprehensive remake of the original title garnered significant acclaim in 2023. It was recognized as a standout “best remake,” even in competition with titles like the Resident Evil 4 remake. While Nightdive has not definitively announced their post-System Shock 2 plans, anticipation is building for updates regarding future endeavors.