Overworld Zero - Legacy

Legacy

System Shock 2 has amassed a cult following with fans, many of whom have demanded a sequel. Some fans are active in the modding community where collaborations to update the game's graphics take place. One graphical enhancement mod, entitled Rebirth, replaces many low-polygonal models with higher quality ones. Another mod, the Shock Texture Upgrade Project (SHTUP), significantly increases the resolution of in-game textures. The community at Sshock2, a fan site, have also released a free level editor entitled ShockEd, which is a repackaged version of Looking Glass Studios' own editor.

In 2007, 2K Boston/2K Australia—previously (and again, as of January 2009) known as Irrational Games—released a spiritual successor to the System Shock series, entitled BioShock. The game takes place in an abandoned underwater utopian community destroyed by the genetic modification of its populace and shares many gameplay elements with System Shock 2: reconstitution stations can be activated, allowing the player to be resurrected when they die; hacking, ammo conservation, and exploration are integral parts of gameplay; and unique powers may be acquired via plasmids, special abilities that function similarly to psionics in System Shock 2. The two titles also share plot similarities and employ audio logs and encounters with ghostly apparitions to reveal backstory. In BioShock Infinite, Irrational Games will include a gameplay feature called the "1999 Mode", specifically in reference to System Shock 2's release date, designed to provide an old-school hardcore experience, with a difficulty that would remind players of System Shock's unforgiving nature.

On January 9, 2006, GameSpot reported that Electronic Arts had renewed its trademark protection on the System Shock name, leading to speculation that System Shock 3 might be under development. Three days later, Computer and Video Games reported a reliable source had come forward and confirmed the title's production. Electronic Arts UK made no comment when confronted with the information. PC Gamer UK stated the team behind The Godfather (EA Redwood Shores) was charged with its creation. Ken Levine, when asked whether he would helm a third installment, replied "that question is completely out of my hands." He expressed optimism at the prospect of System Shock 3, but he also criticized Electronic Arts' attitude towards development of the game.

At GOG.com, a digital distribution website that sells popular older titles, System Shock 2 was the game most requested to be added to the catalog, but they were unable to do so until February 2013 as the rights to the title were caught in complications between Electronic Arts and Meadowbrook Insurance Group (a subsidiary of Star Insurance Company), the entity that acquired the assets of Looking Glass Studios on their closure, though according to a lawyer for Star Insurance, they themselves have since acquired the lingering intellectual property rights from EA. Stephen Kick of Night Dive Studios, seeking to bring the game to modern systems, started negotiations with the rights holders in October 2012, and was able to secure the rights to update and release the game for modern systems. Kick worked with GOG.com for a timed-exclusive release on the site; the title was later available on Steam in May 2013. This version, considered by GOG.com to be a "collector's edition", includes updates to the original game to make it work on modern systems while still allowing user-made modifications to be applied, and contains additional material such as the game's soundtrack, maps of the Von Braun, and the original pitch document for the game. System Shock 2 was released on Steam on May 10, 2013.