Obsidian Entertainment’s CEO would love to make one other Xbox IP that isn’t Fallout

Obsidian Entertainment's CEO would love to make one other Xbox IP that isn't Fallout

What you need to know

  • Obsidian Entertainment CEO Feargus Urquhart spoke with the Limit Break Network podcast about a number of topics, including other Xbox-owned IP he’d like to work on. 
  • Urquhart noted that he’d be interested in making a Shadowrun game, saying that it’s a “super cool” world to explore. 
  • Obsidian Entertainment is currently working on fantasy role-playing game Avowed and a spacefaring adventure, The Outer Worlds 2.

As a researcher who has spent countless hours immersed in the vibrant worlds of RPG games, I can confidently say that the prospect of Obsidian Entertainment taking on Shadowrun is an exciting one. With my own personal history as a long-time fan of Shadowrun, dating back to when the first edition hit shelves in 1989, I find myself eagerly awaiting the potential collaboration between these two powerhouses.


Obsidian Entertainment, the development team behind Xbox games, currently has several projects underway. However, their CEO, Feargus Urquhart, is also interested in delving into another Xbox intellectual property.

In a chat with Tom Caswell on the fresh Limit Break Network podcast, Urquhart was inquisitively questioned about potential Xbox intellectual properties other than Fallout that he’d prefer Obsidian to develop. Without hesitation, Urquhart mentioned Shadowrun as his preference. He explained that after Obsidian became part of Xbox Game Studios, one of the first things he did was request a list of Microsoft-owned IPs, with Shadowrun being one of his top picks.

He expresses his enthusiasm for Shadowrun by saying, “Shadowrun really appeals to me; I find it incredibly exciting!” He continues by stating that if he had to choose just one game, it would be Shadowrun without a doubt. He shares that he bought the original book and now owns almost all of its editions, four out of six to be exact. In his opinion, Shadowrun is an exceptionally cool intellectual property.

You can check out the full podcast below:

While tuning into the podcast, I noticed that Urquhart delved into various subjects, among them being the revival of Fallout, primarily due to the Amazon Prime Video television show, updates regarding the progress of The Outer Worlds 2, and additional intriguing points.

Shadowrun has a complicated history

Initially, Shadowrun emerged as a tabletop role-playing game, with its first version debuting in 1989. Essentially, Shadowrun blends elements of cyberpunk futurism and dark fantasy, where influential corporations and criminal organizations harness magical abilities alongside elves, dwarves, and other mythical beings who inhabit the modern world.

Initially created by FASA, various editions emerged over time. Later, the rights for the pen-and-paper version were passed on to WizKids, a company eventually bought by Topps. Currently, Topps permits the rights to be used by Catalyst Game Labs (CGL).

Concurrently, digital rights for video and computer games were separated from FASA Interactive, a company acquired by Microsoft in the year 2000, but later shut down in 2007. Since then, Microsoft has granted game development rights to Harebrained Schemes, leading them to produce several role-playing games and expansions within the Shadowrun universe. Their games, initially released back in 2022, are now playable on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PlayStation, and Windows PC platforms.

Analysis: Absolutely

It’s clear that Obsidian Entertainment is intensely focused on both Avowed, set for release in February 2025, and The Outer Worlds 2. However, I can’t help but imagine how well a Shadowrun project would align with their capabilities. Admittedly, this might just be hopeful speculation, but I eagerly anticipate the possibility of witnessing Obsidian’s unique style in a gritty, cyberpunk universe infused with magic. With Xbox Game Studios’ resources at their disposal, such a project could truly be a sight to behold under the guidance of Obsidian’s talent.

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2024-08-14 02:39