If you prefer an article instead of a video, here’s IGN: I recently replayed through the original System Shock 2 recently and shared my thoughts here, here, and here. Fair warning: I’m biased...
If you prefer an article instead of a video, here’s IGN:
System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster launches on June 26, 2025, developer Nightdive Studios has announced.
The modernized version of the much-loved, 1999 sci-fi horror action role-playing game is set for release on PC and, for the first time, consoles. Expect a launch on Windows PC via Steam, GOG, the Epic Games Store, and the Humble Bundle Store, and on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X and S, and Nintendo Switch.
Nightdive Studios rebuilt System Shock 2 for modern platforms using its proprietary KEX Engine. As you’d expect, it has improved visuals, enhanced gameplay, improved performance, cross-play co-op multiplayer, and mod support, among other modern video game features.
I recently replayed through the original System Shock 2 recently and shared my thoughts here, here, and here.
Fair warning: I’m biased because I first played it back when it came out and loved it, so I can’t give a fully standalone opinion on it now. The short version of my thoughts is that I think it’s still quite good (in particular the sound design), but the front half is better than the back half. If anyone’s ever been disappointed by Xen in Half-Life then you know the feeling (maybe they just didn’t know how to end FPS games in the 90s?).
I’m excited for a proper remaster because I still think this game can resonate with modern audiences, especially because retro horror seems to be “in” at the moment. I do kind of wish they had given it the full remake treatment like they did with the OG System Shock though, but it also doesn’t really feel necessary like it did with the original. Modern gamers will find even the original version of this a lot more accessible out of the box than its predecessor.
Yes, I'm sort of glad they're not doing a ground-up remake. Not just because it would take much longer--the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release? But...
Yes, I'm sort of glad they're not doing a ground-up remake. Not just because it would take much longer--the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release? But also because you're right--the environmental graphics mostly still hold up decently well [NB: and mods with higher quality texture packs have already been around for decades] and it's really just the character models that would be off-putting to a modern gamer. But even so, I always felt like the uncanniness is part of the horror; I recall a good write-up in the 2000s arguing why SS2 was the greatest PC game of all time and the phrase "the tragic grotesquery of the inhabitants" being a feature-not-a-bug is still stuck in my head 20 years later. Like, to the point that I probably won't even ever play the remaster, and just continue playing the original like I do ever other year or so.
Eight! It also felt longer because they kept teasing a release and then pushing it back. I went to check the Wikipedia page for the specific details and found this summary that feels like it might...
the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release?
Eight! It also felt longer because they kept teasing a release and then pushing it back. I went to check the Wikipedia page for the specific details and found this summary that feels like it might be just a touch passive aggressive: 😆
being delayed several times (with release windows of 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023)
I am genuinely glad that it finally made it out and that it’s actually good. I had all but written it off, to be honest.
And I agree with you that the uncanny vibes in SS2 still hit. It wasn’t as scary as when I was younger, of course, but I was still plenty uneasy for my playthrough.
SS1 was a full remake. This is simply a remaster of SS2. So, technically a sequel, but not spiritually a sequel. They're not rebuilding the entire game from scratch, and it's going to look more...
SS1 was a full remake. This is simply a remaster of SS2.
So, technically a sequel, but not spiritually a sequel. They're not rebuilding the entire game from scratch, and it's going to look more dated because they kept the original graphical style.
I played it back in the mid 2000s when it was kind of old but not ancient. Loved it but never finished it. Still replaced half my windows system sounds with Shodan voice clips
I played it back in the mid 2000s when it was kind of old but not ancient. Loved it but never finished it.
Still replaced half my windows system sounds with Shodan voice clips
I'm excited for this. Despite being an ImSim fan since playing Thief: The Dark Project back in 98, I hadn't played System Shock 2 until about 2 or 3 years ago and I really enjoyed it. I had tried...
I'm excited for this.
Despite being an ImSim fan since playing Thief: The Dark Project back in 98, I hadn't played System Shock 2 until about 2 or 3 years ago and I really enjoyed it. I had tried it several times previous, but it didn't really stick until those few years ago. As @kfwyre stated, the latter half doesn't hold up great, but it's great fun and the front half being so good really drove me forward in finishing the latter half.
All that said, I played System Shock Enhanced Edition (not Remake) in 2020 and I actually loved it much more than two. Not that it's necessarily a better game, but I was just kind of surprised given how lauded 2 is.
Your hopes are granted! From the IGN article: No idea whether they’ll smooth out the animations for the remake or keep the jank because it has character.
If you prefer an article instead of a video, here’s IGN:
I recently replayed through the original System Shock 2 recently and shared my thoughts here, here, and here.
Fair warning: I’m biased because I first played it back when it came out and loved it, so I can’t give a fully standalone opinion on it now. The short version of my thoughts is that I think it’s still quite good (in particular the sound design), but the front half is better than the back half. If anyone’s ever been disappointed by Xen in Half-Life then you know the feeling (maybe they just didn’t know how to end FPS games in the 90s?).
I’m excited for a proper remaster because I still think this game can resonate with modern audiences, especially because retro horror seems to be “in” at the moment. I do kind of wish they had given it the full remake treatment like they did with the OG System Shock though, but it also doesn’t really feel necessary like it did with the original. Modern gamers will find even the original version of this a lot more accessible out of the box than its predecessor.
Also this is completely unrelated but
Offtopic
I straight up gay gasped when I saw the video ID.
Yes, I'm sort of glad they're not doing a ground-up remake. Not just because it would take much longer--the SS remake took, what, around 5 years between the announcement trailer and release? But also because you're right--the environmental graphics mostly still hold up decently well [NB: and mods with higher quality texture packs have already been around for decades] and it's really just the character models that would be off-putting to a modern gamer. But even so, I always felt like the uncanniness is part of the horror; I recall a good write-up in the 2000s arguing why SS2 was the greatest PC game of all time and the phrase "the tragic grotesquery of the inhabitants" being a feature-not-a-bug is still stuck in my head 20 years later. Like, to the point that I probably won't even ever play the remaster, and just continue playing the original like I do ever other year or so.
my WORD
Eight! It also felt longer because they kept teasing a release and then pushing it back. I went to check the Wikipedia page for the specific details and found this summary that feels like it might be just a touch passive aggressive: 😆
I am genuinely glad that it finally made it out and that it’s actually good. I had all but written it off, to be honest.
And I agree with you that the uncanny vibes in SS2 still hit. It wasn’t as scary as when I was younger, of course, but I was still plenty uneasy for my playthrough.
I cackled. 😂
So is this a sequel to the System Shock 1 remake that came out a few years ago? Or is this more of its own project?
SS1 was a full remake. This is simply a remaster of SS2.
So, technically a sequel, but not spiritually a sequel. They're not rebuilding the entire game from scratch, and it's going to look more dated because they kept the original graphical style.
I played it back in the mid 2000s when it was kind of old but not ancient. Loved it but never finished it.
Still replaced half my windows system sounds with Shodan voice clips
Ahhhh, good. And in the same month as 28 Years Later. My cup runneth over.
I'm excited for this.
Despite being an ImSim fan since playing Thief: The Dark Project back in 98, I hadn't played System Shock 2 until about 2 or 3 years ago and I really enjoyed it. I had tried it several times previous, but it didn't really stick until those few years ago. As @kfwyre stated, the latter half doesn't hold up great, but it's great fun and the front half being so good really drove me forward in finishing the latter half.
All that said, I played System Shock Enhanced Edition (not Remake) in 2020 and I actually loved it much more than two. Not that it's necessarily a better game, but I was just kind of surprised given how lauded 2 is.
I hope that the coop is still intact in this version because system shock 2 was a lot of fun woth a friend even if the animations wete janky as hell.
Your hopes are granted! From the IGN article:
No idea whether they’ll smooth out the animations for the remake or keep the jank because it has character.
That's nice to read. It seems to be the norm to not include the multiplayer in remasters/remakes so reading that made me quite hyped for this.