‘System Shock’ remake aiming for March 2023 launch

by Arthur · January 3, 2023

Originally released in 1994, System Shock ushered in a new era of action games. Combining a compelling story with innovative RPG elements, System Shock was a groundbreaking title that would influence a number of other games such as BioShock and DeusEx. Now System Shock is being remade from the ground up for today’s PC and console gamers.

System Shock was one of the first 3D games to take a methodical approach to exploration while revealing a story-driven narrative through audio logs and messages scattered throughout the game world. It was a revolutionary step forward for the medium at a time when developers were first experimenting with interactive storytelling. Nightdive has given it a complete remake System shock the complete treatment, reimagining the fan-favorite title for modern gamers with brand new HD visuals, updated controls, revamped hacking, and a renovated Citadel Station with all kinds of new areas and secrets to uncover.

“Look at you, Hacker. A pth-pth… pathetic creature of flesh and bones.”

You wake up from a six-month healing coma to find Citadel Station, TriOptimum’s premier research facility, covered in blood. Mutants are enjoying themselves with their fellow crewmates, nightmares of flesh bound to metal roam the dark corridors, and the station’s AI, SHODAN, is aiming the Citadel’s mining lasers…at Earth!

Players were trapped aboard Citadel Station as they fought for survival against the cyborgs and mutated crew members destroyed by a mad AI known as SHODAN, one of the most treacherous antagonists ever conceived. System Shock offered an unparalleled experience that would solidify it as one of the greatest games of all time.

After returning from Gamescom, we’ve been hesitant to share anything so as not to spoil any remaining surprises we have in store. However, we’ve picked a few last things to share before our rapidly approaching March 2023 launch window.

As some of you have already pointed out, this isn’t the first time we’ve announced a tentative launch window, but over the last few years a lot has changed – the scale and scope of the project has evolved dramatically, and with Prime Matter joining the project has allowed us to focus on quality of life improvements, bug fixes and localization support – the last big steps towards releasing a game we’re all incredibly proud of. This has also given us time to go back and polish various aspects of the game that needed that extra polish.

Variants, effects and functions

When accessing a locked area, you will now scan the relevant card to enter.

The Citadel has gone through a bit of a makeover and is ready for its grand finale.

We have created some enemy variants to give the player new challenges in later levels.

This new enemy type is a callback to an original we initially left out but decided to include.

Diego will be making a number of appearances throughout the game – here’s a sneak peek at one such incarnation.

Updated weapon effects, such as the plasma rifle, add a final level of polish.

As you know, slicing has been a high priority for us, and each enemy receives a fully custom dismemberment model – there are a lot of enemies and the amount of effort put into this is staggering. Here’s a look at how the bird mutant will go down.

Until next time –

The System Shock Team

If you get caught during a risky burglary, you’ll be surprised with a greedy TriOptimum executive. After six months in a healing coma, you awaken to find the surgeons missing, the station in disrepair, and the once premier corporate facility now teeming with mindless cyborgs, robots, and mutated beings, all programmed to serve a ruthless AI: Shodan. There is hardly time to think before the first terror is unleashed..

System Shock will have a dramatic and modern version of a score. Combining its rootsy sci-fi elements with dynamic acoustic elements à la BioShock, we strive to set System Shock apart from other more action-based shooters as an atmospheric and dark experience.

Key features:

The Return of SHODAN: The talented Terri Brosius returns to bring her unique vocal venom to the villainous AI Shodan
Hackers are going to hack: System shock features a completely revamped hacking system with new 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DoF) gameplay, which brings new enemies and challenges
Familiar, but … different: Citadel Station is bigger and scarier than ever with brand new areas, traps, puzzles and of course plenty of secrets to uncover
The Sound of Terror: Re-recorded audio logs give players a drip of gruesome knowledge as they piece together exactly what went wrong for the residents of Citadel Station
Robots and zombies and lasers… Oh My: Blast, smash and occasionally escape from reset enemies such as angry Repair-Bots, “Hopper” Mobile Lasers, mutants, cyborgs and all manner of bloodthirsty monsters and aggressive automatons

System shock coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC/Linux (Steam, GOG, Epic Game Store) in March 2023 for $44.95.