Shadowrun Returns could get multiplayer after launch

Shadowrun creator Jordan Weisman wants to have multiplayer into Shadowrun Returns, he's told Shacknews, but developer Harebrained Schemes would be stretched too thin if it tried to squeeze it in for launch. However, the Kickstarted cyberpunk RPG adaptation's engine is being built to theoretically support adding it later.

The revelation came in an interview last week, when we asked Weisman if Shadowrun Returns would support multiplayer, perhaps through play-by-e-mail or 'hotseat' co-op.

"We do want to do all that," he responded. "We got very excited and I mentioned it in a video and then we sat down and realized in the time frame and realistic budget--even that we were starting to see the fans might extend us to--it would stretch us too thin to commit to that for launch."

"We think the kinds of things we'd love to add--a PvP mode for deathmatch arena play, or co-operative RPG play--we definitely are going to build the engine to allow us to expand in that direction, but we didn't want to commit to having that at launch."

Look out for our full interview with Wiesman tomorrow, same Shack-channel, covering oh so many lovely things. Already a roaring success, having hit more than triple its original goal, the Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter is still soliciting funds. Pledging at least $15 will net you a PC, Mac or Linux copy of the RPG when it launches.