Nightdive Studios' remake of the original System Shock has been a long time coming, but fans can finally get a taste of the modernized cyberpunk FPS with an alpha demo build of the game, available now on GOG. The game's full release is scheduled for later in 2020.
The studio also debuted a new trailer for System Shock at the PC Gaming Show over the weekend, highlighting the game's slick new look and feel as the Hacker fights his way through Citadel Station all over again.
Nightdive's update of the game hasn't had the smoothest ride to digital store shelves. Development on System Shock went on hiatus in 2018 as the team refocused the scope of the project from a full reboot to a remake of the original title. The time since appears to have been put to good use, with the new game featuring a cyberpunk aesthetic that retains the rough edges and moody spirit of the 1994 game with a 2020 twist.
In System Shock, players step into the role of a capable hacker who mysteriously wakes up on a space station overrun with malevolent robots and mutants. To make their daring escape, players have to match wits against the malevolent AI SHODAN, who will stop at nothing to keep you from interfering with her plans to render humanity extinct.
System Shock was released in 1994 on PC by legendary developer Looking Glass, and its exploration-based gameplay and tense atmosphere would set the stage for both its 1999 sequel and a variety of other FPS titles like the BioShock trilogy, DeusEx, and Portal. Despite critical acclaim and an enthusiastic fanbase, the series went quiet for a decade after Looking Glass folded in 2000.
Since purchasing the rights to the series from EA in 2013, Nightdive Studios has been making steps toward reviving the System Shock franchise with a remake of the original, an enhanced version of System Shock 2, and a brand new third game. For now, System Shock 3 appears to still be in production at OtherSide Entertainment, which was bought last month by Tencent.
System Shock is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
Source: System Shock on GOG.com