With a number of reports signifying significant issues with the game, it seemed clear to many that System Shock 3 was on the brink of collapse for a while now, with rumors hinting that developer OtherSide Entertainment was struggling with both financial and technical issues. It seems this came after the dev team split from former publisher Starburst Games, leading to a number of severe setbacks including the team behind the title supposedly being laid off.
However, it seems salvation may have come to the game in the form of an investment from Tencent, who, as many might not know, is quickly becoming one of the most powerful names in the gaming industry. Not only does the company have ownership of Riot Games, but it also owns 40% of Fortnite’s Epic Games, 5% of Ubisoft, and 5% of Activision.
Announced through tweets on OtherSide Entertainment’s Twitter page, the developer stated, “We are happy to announce that Tencent will be taking the #SystemShock franchise forward.” They followed up with a second tweet, claiming “As a smaller Indie studio, it had been challenging for us to carry the project on our own. We believe Tencent’s deep capabilities and expertise as a leading game company will bring the franchise to new heights.” As of yet, it remains strangely unclear what OtherSide Entertainment’s statement actually means for System Shock 3.
Some have hypothesized that Tencent has merely bought the IP and will be helping OtherSide Entertainment finish the project by alleviating some of its financial issues. Others have speculated that it could mean Tencent has completely taken over the game and OtherSide are no longer involved, meaning a new team would be finishing up the game and getting it to fans. Regardless, it seems like massive changes are being implemented to assure System Shock 3 comes to fruition, with Tencent stepping in to carry the load.
This has led to a lot of backlash online, however, with fans seemingly thinking the step might be for the worse. Many have pointed out that Tencent has a somewhat dubious reputation, with some claiming the company is incredibly anti-consumer and has been accused of stealing player data in the past. For those worrying, it seems the remake of the first System Shock over at NightDive Studios won’t be affected by Tencent and OtherSide Entertainment’s deal, with the developer telling PC Gamer that Tencent only holds “certain rights” to the franchise.
System Shock 3 is currently in development.
Source: PC Gamer
