Editing System Shock 2 (section)

=== Intellectual property debacle and re-release ===
The [[intellectual property]] (IP) rights of ''System Shock 2'' were caught for years in complications between Electronic Arts and Meadowbrook Insurance Group (the parent company of Star Insurance Company), the entity that acquired the assets of Looking Glass Studios on their closure;<ref name="Tlhoss">{{cite web | url = http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/713030/the-lost-history-of-system-shock/ | title = The Lost History of System Shock | publisher = [[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4TV]] | date = 2011-06-30 | access-date = 2013-02-17 | first = Jared | last = Newman | archive-date = 2016-07-13 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160713204906/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/713030/the-lost-history-of-system-shock | url-status = dead }}</ref> however, according to a lawyer for Star Insurance, they have since acquired the lingering intellectual property rights from EA.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = https://techland.time.com/2013/02/13/13-years-later-system-shock-2-lives-again/ | title = Thirteen Years Later, System Shock 2 Lives Again | date = 2013-02-13 | access-date = 2013-02-17 | first = Jared | last = Newman | magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]] }}</ref>

In the player community, attempts had been made to update and patch ''System Shock 2'' for known issues on newer operating systems and limitations that had been hard-coded into the game. In 2009, a complete copy of ''System Shock 2''{{'}}s [[Dark Engine]] [[source code]] was discovered in the possession of an ex-Looking Glass Studios employee who was at the time continuing his work for [[Eidos Interactive]].<ref name="Rock paper Shotgun">{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/14/shipping-receiving-dark-engine-source/ |title=Dark Engine Source Code Found In A Bag |first=Quintin |last=Smith |date=2010-12-14 |access-date=2011-04-15 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |archive-date=2012-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710064954/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010/12/14/shipping-receiving-dark-engine-source/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In late April 2010, a user on the Dreamcast Talk forum disassembled the contents of a [[Dreamcast]] [[Game development kit|development kit]] he had purchased, and among the content he received was some of the source code for Looking Glass games, including ''System Shock''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.geek.com/games/game-engine-used-for-thiefsystem-shock-2-found-with-dreamcast-dev-kit-1300148/ |title=Game engine used for Thief/System Shock 2 found with Dreamcast dev kit |first=Matthew |last=Humphries |date=2010-12-14 |publisher=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]] |access-date=2015-07-04 |archive-date=2017-09-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232626/https://www.geek.com/games/game-engine-used-for-thiefsystem-shock-2-found-with-dreamcast-dev-kit-1300148/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="rps aug2019">{{cite web | url = https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/12/no-one-knows-who-is-patching-system-shock-2/ | title = No one knows who is patching System Shock 2 | first = Craig | last = Pearson | date = August 12, 2019 | access-date = August 12, 2019 | work = [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] | archive-date = August 28, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190828005548/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2019/08/12/no-one-knows-who-is-patching-system-shock-2/ | url-status = live }}</ref> An unknown user, going only as "Le Corbeau" (The Raven), issued a patch for ''System Shock 2'' and ''Thief 2'' in 2012 that resolved several of the known issue with the Dark engine and other features. It is believed that the patches were enabled by the Dreamcast kit, using a combination of the available source code and by disassembling libraries off the development kit. The patch became known informally as the "NewDark" patch to distinguish it from other efforts to improve the game.<ref name="rps aug2019"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Plunkett|first=Luke|url=http://kotaku.com/5946462/whoah-system-shock-2-and-thief-2-just-got-surprise-patches|title=Whoah, ''System Shock 2'' and ''Thief 2'' Just got Surprise Patches|work=[[Kotaku]]|date=2012-09-25|access-date=2016-08-09|archive-date=2016-08-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814040009/http://kotaku.com/5946462/whoah-system-shock-2-and-thief-2-just-got-surprise-patches|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/07/thief-2-is-now-on-good-old-games/ |title=Thief 2 Is Now On Good Old Games |publisher=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |first=Craig |last=Pearson |date=2012-02-07 |access-date=2012-11-10 |archive-date=2012-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111190221/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/02/07/thief-2-is-now-on-good-old-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

At about the same time, Stephen Kick of [[Nightdive Studios]] had been seeking to rerelease ''System Shock 2'' on Windows, and Star Insurance provided him with the rights to do so.<ref name="rps aug2019"/><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE97vZLC_fA |title=The Struggles Behind Bringing Back System Shock {{!}} Noclip |date=2020-07-21 |last=Noclip |access-date=2025-03-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Shortly after getting this approval, the NewDark patch had been released, and Kick attempted to contact "Le Corbeau" to discuss the use of their patch, but the user was impossible to contact.<ref name="rps aug2019"/> Kick decided to approach [[GOG.com]] for a timed-exclusive release on their [[digital distribution]] website in February 2013, where the game was the most requested to be added to the catalog. This version, considered by GOG.com to be a "[[collector's edition]]", included the "Le Corbeau" NewDark patch.<ref name="fc nightdive"/><ref name="rps aug2019"/> In addition, the updates allow user-made modifications to be applied more seamlessly.  The release also contains additional material such as the game's soundtrack, maps of the Von Braun, and the original pitch document for the game.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/13/many-questions-system-shock-2-comes-to-gog/ | title = Many Questions: System Shock 2 Comes To GOG | first = Adam | last = Smith | date = 2013-02-13 | access-date = 2013-02-13 | publisher = [[Rock Paper Shotgun]] | archive-date = 2013-02-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130215050818/http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/02/13/many-questions-system-shock-2-comes-to-gog/ | url-status = live }}</ref> The update rights also allowed a Mac OS X version of ''System Shock 2'' to be subsequently released on June 18, 2013, through GOG.com.<ref>{{cite web|last=Nunneley|first=Stephany|url=https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/18/gog-kicks-off-2013-nodrm-summer-sale-with-torchlight-for-free/|title=GoG kicks off 2013 noDRM Summer Sale with Torchlight for free|publisher=[[VG247]]|date=2013-06-18|access-date=2016-08-09|archive-date=2016-09-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921220137/https://www.vg247.com/2013/06/18/gog-kicks-off-2013-nodrm-summer-sale-with-torchlight-for-free/|url-status=live}}</ref> The title became available on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on May 10, 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.pcgamer.com/system-shock-2-arrives-on-steam/ | title = System Shock 2 arrives on Steam | first = Patrick | last = Carlson | date = 2013-05-10 | access-date = 2013-05-17 | work = [[PC Gamer]] | archive-date = 2014-12-17 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217225116/http://www.pcgamer.com/system-shock-2-arrives-on-steam/ | url-status = live }}</ref> In April 2014, a [[Linux]] version was also released.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pearson|first=Craig|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/10/system-shock-2-linux/|title=Sudo Shock: System Shock 2 Now On Linux|work=[[Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]|date=2014-04-10|access-date=2016-08-09|archive-date=2016-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001184112/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2014/04/10/system-shock-2-linux/|url-status=live}}</ref> Both the OS X and Linux versions run through [[Wine (software)|Wine]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=System Shock® 2 (Classic) on Steam |url=https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/238210/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> "Le Corbeau" has continued to update the game since 2012, with their patches being incorporated into the versions that Nightdive distributes through GOG.com and Steam.<ref name="kotaku aug2019">{{cite web | url = https://kotaku.com/system-shock-2-has-been-getting-new-patches-for-years-1837180538 | title = System Shock 2 Has Been Getting New Patches For Years, Based On The Work Of A Fan Nobody Can Find | first = Nathan | last = Grayson | date = August 12, 2019 | access-date = August 12, 2019 | work = [[Kotaku]] | archive-date = August 12, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190812213745/https://kotaku.com/system-shock-2-has-been-getting-new-patches-for-years-1837180538 | url-status = live }}</ref>

Since then, Nightdive has acquired the rights to ''System Shock'', releasing an enhanced version in September 2015. Kick has reported they have acquired full rights to the series since then.<ref name="fc nightdive">{{cite web | url = https://www.fastcompany.com/3053050/app-economy/how-one-company-is-bringing-old-video-games-back-from-the-dead | title = How One Company is Bringing Old Video Games Back from the Dead | first = Jared | last = Newman | work = [[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] | date = 2015-11-12 | access-date = 2015-11-12 | archive-date = 2016-07-04 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160704020716/http://www.fastcompany.com/3053050/app-economy/how-one-company-is-bringing-old-video-games-back-from-the-dead | url-status = live }}</ref>