System Shock 3 Can be Self-Published, but They Really Don't Want To

Starbreeze is having a right and proper garage sale of just about everything it has the rights to, and that includes the publishing rights to System Shock 3, currently being developed by OtherSide Entertainment, who were also the peeps who bought their publishing rights back. That said, in a new interview with VGC, creative director Warren Spector said that despite having their own publishing rights, they really don’t want them: and they’ll only self-publish System Shock 3 if they literally have no other choice.

“We’re talking to a lot of partners and we have a lot of interest. We don’t have a deal right now, but luckily OtherSide is flush enough that we’re funding ourselves and can continue to do that for quite a while... we need somebody to say, ‘yeah, let’s talk deal terms’ and we’re in that kind of discussion with some folks. But we’re not quite finished yet

…The reality is, OtherSide is a company of developers who want to develop games...we don’t particularly want to be a publisher. [Founder] Paul Neurath and I have worked with publishers before, Origin self-published when I was there, and we don’t want to get into the market of distributing stuff.”

The idea that System Shock 3 wouldn’t be able to find a developer is kind of ridiculous: while the brand might not be as valuable as it once was years and years ago, there’s still a lot of tried-and-true talent behind the game and, frankly, it’s still very much a recognized IP, which is basically gold in this day of age. So I, for one, wouldn’t be too worried at the idea of System Shock 3 being self-published… I’d be more worried that they’ll partner up with a publisher who’s going to make demands.

But then, if Activision could show restraint with Seriko I guess anything could happen.