First announced back in 2015, Nightdive Studio’s remake of the 1994 sci-fi horror classic System Shock is set to debut in March, and the developers recently released a revamped demo as part of Steam’s Next Fest. A much-needed modernization of the decades-old DoS game, Nightdive Studio’s new version of System Shock breathes fresh life into the long-stagnant IP while simultaneously staying faithful to its aesthetic and hardcore RPG elements.
While System Shock and its 1999 sequel earned praise on their own, their prestige grew in later years thanks to their statuses as spiritual predecessors to the more widely-known BioShock franchise. Rumors concerning a fourth BioShock installment have been circulating for some time, and, though some believe the title could be properly revealed within the year, fans of the series shouldn’t overlook the upcoming return of System Shock.
The new System Shock demo released as part of the Steam Next Fest celebration rehashes a lot of the same content seen in previous demos, but a few crucial changes have been made that for keen fans to pick up on. The most obvious new addition is an entirely original opening sequence which takes place on Earth and fleshes out the background of the game’s protagonist. It also helps to establish the rogue AI SHODAN, setting the stage for some seriously sinister sci-fi scenarios.
As was the case with previous demos for the new iteration of System Shock, combat and inventory management come across as a bit clunky, though that’s certainly an intentional preservation of the original game’s design philosophies. It’s also apparent that the remake won’t be shying away from the RPG elements of the 1994 classic, something from which the BioShock franchise moved away. Plus, the game boasts a distinctive pixelated, quasi-low-res style that serves to blur the line between the mid-1990s and the modern day.
Of course, BioShock fans who aren’t all that interested in the System Shock series also have Judas to look forward to. Set to be the inaugural title from developer Ghost Story Games, the project is being headed by Ken Levine, a principal figure behind the System Shock and BioShock games. Judas isn’t likely to release in 2023, however, so those craving a similar experience may want to give Nightdive Studio’s newest effort a shot regardless. That said, this year seems to be a huge one for sci-fi horror with titles like the recent Dead Space remake and the upcoming Atomic Heart earning all kinds of attention.
System Shock will be available in March 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.