The classic 1999 version of System Shock 2 is set to be pulled from sale on Steam later this week. It’ll still be kicking around, but as a freebie offered to owners of the game’s 25th anniversary remaster, rather than something you can buy separately on Valve’s store.
System Shock 2 (1999) will be delisted from PC platforms on October 10, 2025,” reads a notice Atari have pinned to the FPS/RPG about Von Braun corridor wandering’s Steam page. “Existing owners of System Shock 2 (1999) will still be able to re-download and play it from their library, but new users will no longer be able to purchase System Shock 2 (1999) as a standalone product.”
Going forwards, anyone who has already bought or buys the System Shock 2 25th anniversary remaster will be able to grab the original game for free. So, it’s not going away completely. However, by joining the two at the hip, Atari have gotten rid of the option to pay just £6.99/$9.99/€9.99 to play the original, with the £23.99/$29.99/€28.99 remaster now being the sole port of call as far as Steam goes.
It’s worth noting that at least for now, the original version of System Shock 2 is still for sale on GOG. There’s no indication on the page that it’s also set to be taken down imminently and it’s part of GOG’s preservation program.
Meanwhile, the 25th anniversary it’s been lumped in with on Steam got plenty of positive reviews when it debuted earlier this year, with one of them being long-time RPS contributor Rick Lane’s verdict for Eurogamer:
In short, System Shock 2 remains great, but its star has dimmed slightly over the last quarter-century, revealing brighter celestial bodies in the process. Nonetheless, if you like your shooters brainy, your levels knotty, and your nightmares weird as hell, System Shock 2 still delivers in a way that’s more accessible than ever thanks to Nightdive’s sterling work.
If you’re still on the fence about Nightdive’s fresh coat of paint, it’s probably wise to grab the 1999 version in the next couple of days if you’re certain it’s the only one you want.
