Shadowrun dated

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 May, 2007

Cross-platform debut in June.

Microsoft today announced that Shadowrun - the first Xbox 360 and PC shooter to feature cross-platform multiplay - will be released on 1st June in Europe. The PC version has a suggested retail price of GBP 29.99, while the 360 version comes in at GBP 39.99.

Developed by FASA Studios, Shadowrun is a multiplayer first-person shooter loosely based on the old-days SNES RPG of the same name. Players join either the megacorporation RNA Global or the resistance group The Lineage, picking from Human, Elf, Troll and Dwarf races, each of which has certain advantages in battle.

But the game's biggest feature is the ability for Xbox Live Gold users to play against subscribers to Microsoft's new Windows Vista-only "Games for Windows - LIVE" service in 16-player battles. Few games with cross-platform support have been announced so far, unless you count UNO, which won't launch on PC for a while anyway.

As for what the game's like, it just so happens that we've seen it, played it, talked about it and even videoed it - all of which you'd know if you had stopped by the Xbox 360 or PC gamepages. You can also get an exclusive look at the game and cross-platform play in action on the latest Eurogamer TV Show.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (28) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • sanctusmortis #1 5 years ago

    "Developed by FASA Studios, Shadowrun is a multiplayer first-person shooter loosely based on the old-days SNES RPG of the same name."

    Surely you mean the FASA pencil table top role-playing game? I hope you were joking...

  • skillian #2 5 years ago

    But the game's biggest feature is the ability for Xbox Live Gold users to play against subscribers to Microsoft's new Windows Vista-only "Games for Windows - LIVE" service in 16-player battles.

    Is that really the biggest feature? Doesn't bode well for the game...

  • JackB #3 5 years ago

    The beta was fun. Release game should be even better with the Halo party system.

  • the_dudefather #4 5 years ago

    Im kinda sorta looking forward to this, sorta, if its good.

    Im on the fence till reviews

  • Poorandugly #5 5 years ago

    Is FASA the same company that's making a brawler of Sense and Sensibility?

  • kissthestick #6 5 years ago

    £39.99 for the 360 version of a multiplayer shooter with only 9 maps and no splitscreen?

    muahahahahahahahahahahahhhaaha!

  • Xerx3s #7 5 years ago

    Is that really the biggest feature? Doesn't bode well for the game...

    I don't care for that feature. However, I have read several handon's from pc and general gaming magazines and they seem pretty much positive about the subtle gameplay (it seems to quite a bit different from normal online fps games).

    This might be a sleeper hit but then again, it could just as well be a 7/10.

  • Feanor #8 5 years ago

    Or both. :)

  • Dizzy #9 5 years ago

    Good stufff... I am ready for a new online FPS. Problem is the Halo 3 beta will also be here... hmmmm....

  • skx #10 5 years ago

    why the hell 10 Punds more than the PC Version? Because to play with the Controller is way better than with keyboard+mouse? SUXXXS!

  • Xerx3s #11 5 years ago

    why the hell 10 Punds more than the PC Version? Because to play with the Controller is way better than with keyboard+mouse? SUXXXS!

    PCGP (big pc games magazine in the benelux) wasn't able to tell the difference from who he was playing during the handson. But yes, the reason that console games are so much more expensive is stupid (yeah I know about the whole manufacturer cut).

  • bonker #12 5 years ago

    Is this the game where I recently read that they had to cripple the 360-joypad players a little cos they were pwning the PC-mouse players? :)

  • Machetazo #13 5 years ago

    Will a 360 version demo be available from Xbl Marketplace, at or shortly before launch? I get the inkling that what will matter most here, in how people will value the game, will be how intuitive the control is, and other stuff you can only know, from a playtest.

    Anyone who got in on the beta care to post a concise account on how it plays, just in case?

  • crozon #14 5 years ago

    what do you think.........if on a joypad you had auto aim and on a mouse and keyboard you did't have auto aim, it doesn't take a genius to work out the person playing with a joypad would kick the other players arse.....

    The reason why console games are always more expensive than pc games is because of the royalties they need to pay the manufacturer.
    Also i heard that the console dev kits can cost a bomb

  • chupachups #15 5 years ago

    "Surely you mean the FASA pencil table top role-playing game? I hope you were joking..."

    You're right, but FASA perhaps wants to reinvent itself as a video games creator, it's probably better for attracting investors. Pencil and paper RPGs haven't been big business for a while now, even TSR went bust.

  • Lov3 #16 5 years ago

    "But the game's biggest feature is the ability for Xbox Live Gold users to play against subscribers to Microsoft's new Windows Vista-only "Games for Windows - LIVE" service in 16-player battles."

    Wow, and you only have to pay £40 pa useless live subs on your PC for the privilege? Sign me up!

    Sorry, but this isn't even a new feature. Quake 3 and UT on the dreamcast let you play against PC players... and Sega was even nice enough to let you use a keyboard and mouse, if you wanted to. Sometimes, it shocks me how far online consoles have stepped back since 1999.
    Edited by 1 at 09/05/07 @ 23:52

  • gallow #17 5 years ago

    This is not the Shadowrun game you are looking for.

  • Xerx3s #18 5 years ago

    Crozon: From what I can tell, most pc shooters also use a certain extent of autoaim. Be it more subtle.

    It has been there since the day's of doom.

  • Xerx3s #19 5 years ago

    I find it funny that a lot of people already dismiss this game even before they had a handson while most people who did the beta say it's pretty much oke. Oh well, their loss I would say.

  • MrBiggles #20 5 years ago

    Can't wait to kill me some PC gamers, put a end to this Keyboard/mouse > controller crap.

    Bring it on

  • skillian #21 5 years ago

    Most people say it's pretty much OK? There's a recommendation if ever I've heard one. ;)

    And there are only very few PC games that use auto-aim, and those that do tend to have a console-type feel to them.

  • speedjack #22 5 years ago

    This is multiplayer only isn't it ?

    If so, isn't it going to be virtually unplayable when all its players migrate to Halo 3 in October ?

  • skillian #23 5 years ago

    isn't it going to be virtually unplayable when all its players migrate to Halo 3 in October ?

    That's one advantage of throwing PC players into the mix I suppose. Though how many of those players will be paying the subscription to play cross-platform, I'm not sure.

  • Machetazo #24 5 years ago

    @ Speedjack: No, since bots of varying levels of skill will be available. Here's a url for a beta video, with bots http://ww w.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.ph...

    Anybody that didn't get in to the beta, might also want to see a Beta Montage, to see what it was like?
    http://ww w.gametrailers.com/umwatcher.ph...

    http://ww w.firingsquad.com/news/newsarti... also offered their hands-on impressions.

    edit: crazy coding calamities, batman!
    Edited by 1 at 10/05/07 @ 10:27

  • speedjack #25 5 years ago

    Bots ? Really ?! - now I am interested.

    To be honest I'd probably prefer bots to most Xbox live players !

  • richardiox #26 5 years ago

    Considering I imagine that more units of the 360 version will be sold, how they justify the £10 price different between the two.

    Also, can PC gamers play 360 gamers without having to pay for XBL?

  • Machetazo #27 5 years ago

    richardiox writes: "Also, can PC gamers play 360 gamers without having to pay for XBL?"

    As I understand it, (if it's any help) your Xbox Live account from Xbox 360 will carry over to the PC. So, if you have a LIVE-Gold 360, you'd be LIVE Gold on PC, automatically.

    If you've only a PC, then you must pay the forty a year for LIVE Gold to enable cross-platform play. Although, according to the article, Shadowrun's Vista only, so that's another factor to consider.
    Edited by 2 at 10/05/07 @ 12:03

  • chupachups #28 5 years ago

    "Considering I imagine that more units of the 360 version will be sold, how they justify the £10 price different between the two. "

    In theory they could claim that they lose money on the 360 hardware so they have to charge more for the games in order to make the money back.

    In truth, I think MS has already announced they're breaking even on the 360 hardware, and the price difference is largely to do with the lack of competition on closed software platforms. You can't buy just any old game on 360, it has to be MS approved, so MS (like all other console makers) slaps an extra charge on top of the game's actual price.