The annual Steam Awards nomination period has officially begun, and developers across the industry are making their case for your votes. Nightdive Studios has thrown its hat in the ring, specifically requesting the community to nominate System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster for the "Better With Friends" category.
Why Co-op Matters for System Shock 2
It might seem unusual to nominate a sci-fi horror classic for a multiplayer award, but Nightdive's logic holds up when you look at the technical leap this remaster achieved. While the original 1999 release did technically feature co-op, getting it to run on modern hardware without crashing every few minutes was a nightmare in itself—often scarier than SHODAN.
The 25th Anniversary Remaster, built on the KEX Engine, completely rebuilt the networking architecture. This update didn't just stabilize the connection; it introduced full cross-play support across PC and console platforms. For a genre usually defined by solitary isolation, the ability to seamlessly raid the Von Braun with a squad changes the dynamic entirely. It shifts the tone from pure survival horror to tactical (and often chaotic) team management.
Is It Worth Your Nomination?
The "Better With Friends" category is usually dominated by party games or dedicated shooters, so seeing an immersive sim in the mix is refreshing. If you've utilized the new cross-play features to introduce a console friend to the horrors of the Many, or if you just appreciate that the netcode finally works after two decades, this is your chance to acknowledge that technical effort.
Nominations are open now on Steam. If you think stabilizing one of the most complex co-op experiences in RPG history deserves recognition, head over to the store page and cast your vote.