Meta Halts System Shock 2 VR and Numerous Other Projects

Meta recently decided to pull the plug on a planned VR adaptation of System Shock 2, along with numerous other projects, according to the head of the remastering studio. However, there’s a glimmer of hope as development might resume down the line.

As we look forward to a 25th anniversary edition of this beloved 1999 PC action RPG, fans can expect it to hit platforms like Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch this June. Yet, a Bluesky post from Stephen Kick, the studio lead, revealed that the VR version, initially intended for Oculus, has been scrapped.

He explained, “Originally, we were working on a version for Oculus, but Meta canceled a slew of projects, including SS2VR. We’ve thought about possibly resuming development, and if that happens, it would come as a future update or even a standalone release. Let’s see how the 25th Anniversary remaster performs first!”

The prospect of a VR version first emerged in 2021, with plans for full co-op multiplayer support and PC cross-play. By 2022, though, it had slipped down the priority list for the developers, and sometime after that, it was shelved.

What remains unclear from Kick’s message is whether this canceled VR project was for PC VR setups like Oculus Rift or Quest Link, or if it was a standalone Quest version. We are reaching out for further details on this and have also contacted Meta to see if they can provide any additional insights.

In his post, Kick notes that they’ve considered picking up development again, hinting that the project’s future largely depends on how well the 25th Anniversary remaster is received by players and critics alike.