Editing System Shock 2 (section)

{{short description|1999 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| image = Systemshock2box.jpg
| alt = A gray feminine face with green cat-like eyes, covered in circuit-board patterns, looms over a spaceship floating in space. Between them is the game title: "System Shock 2".
| caption = Box art depicting the ''Von Braun'' and main antagonist [[SHODAN]]
| developer = {{Unbulleted list|[[Irrational Games]]|[[Looking Glass Studios]]|[[Nightdive Studios]] (Enhanced Edition)}}
| publisher = [[Electronic Arts]]<br>Nightdive Studios (Enhanced Edition)
| producer = [[Robotkid|Josh Randall]]
| designer = [[Ken Levine (game developer)|Ken Levine]]
| programmer = Rob Fermier
| artist = Gareth Hinds
| writer = Ken Levine
| composer = {{Unbulleted list|Josh Randall|[[Ramin Djawadi]]|[[Eric Brosius]]}}
| engine = [[Dark Engine]]<br>Kex Engine (Enhanced Edition)
| series = ''[[System Shock (series)|System Shock]]''
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Windows]]|[[OS X]]|[[Linux]]|[[Nintendo Switch]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/system-shock-2-enhanced-edition-renamed-system-shock-2-25th-anniversary-remaster-also-coming-to-nintendo-switch|title=Enhanced Edition Renamed System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, Also Coming to Nintendo Switch|date=February 14, 2025|website=IGN}}</ref>|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Xbox One]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}}
| released = '''Windows'''{{Video game release|NA|August 11, 1999<ref name="NARelease">{{cite web|url=http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=8111999-83142|title=System Shock 2 Ships|first=David|last=Laprad|date=August 11, 1999|website=The Adrenaline Vault|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000206044715/http://www.avault.com/news/displaynews.asp?story=8111999-83142|archive-date=February 6, 2000|url-status=dead|access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref>|UK|September 18, 1999}}'''OS X'''{{Video game release|WW|June 18, 2013}}'''Linux'''{{Video game release|WW|April 1, 2014}}'''Nintendo Switch''', '''PlayStation 4''', '''PlayStation 5''', '''Xbox One''', '''Xbox Series X/S'''{{Video game release|WW|June 26, 2025}}
| genre = [[Action role-playing]], [[first-person shooter]], [[survival horror]], [[immersive sim]]
| modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
}}

'''''System Shock 2''''' is a 1999 [[action role-playing]] [[survival horror]] video game designed by [[Ken Levine (game developer)|Ken Levine]] and co-developed by [[Irrational Games]] and [[Looking Glass Studios]]. Originally intended to be a standalone title, its story was changed during production into a sequel to the 1994 game ''[[System Shock]]''. The alterations were made when [[Electronic Arts]]—who owned the ''System Shock'' franchise rights—signed on as publisher.

The game takes place on board a [[starship]] in a [[cyberpunk]] depiction of [[2114]]. The player assumes the role of a soldier trying to stem the outbreak of a genetic infection that has devastated the ship. Like ''System Shock'', gameplay consists of first-person combat and exploration. It incorporates [[role-playing video game|role-playing]] elements, in which the player can develop skills and traits, such as [[Hacker (computer security)|hacking]] and [[psionic]] abilities.

''System Shock 2'' was originally released in August 1999 for [[Microsoft Windows]]. The game received critical acclaim but failed to meet commercial sales expectations. Many critics later determined that the game was highly influential in subsequent game design, particularly on first-person shooters, and considered it far ahead of its time. It has been included in several [[Greatest video games of all time|greatest games of all time]] lists. In 2007, Irrational Games released a [[spiritual successor]] to the ''System Shock'' series, titled ''[[BioShock]]'', to critical acclaim and strong sales.

''System Shock 2'' had been in [[intellectual property]] limbo following the closure of Looking Glass Studios. [[Nightdive Studios]] were able to secure the rights to the game and the ''System Shock'' franchise in 2013 to release an updated version of ''System Shock 2'' for modern operating systems, including for [[OS X]] and [[Linux]], and announced plans to release an Enhanced Edition of the game. [[OtherSide Entertainment]] announced in 2015 that they had acquired the rights from Nightdive Studios to produce a sequel, ''System Shock 3'', but as of 2020 the rights have since been transferred to [[Tencent]].