Director of the System Shock remake Stephen Kick has revealed to FRVR the extent of harassment the team faced during the game’s rocky development cycle. He described how some disgruntled backers escalated beyond online complaints and actually reported the studio to federal authorities.
The director said backers filed reports to both the IRS and FBI as the project struggled through delays and direction changes. The constant “vitriol” and harassment became so severe that he couldn’t sleep during this period. He characterized the entire situation as “awful.”
The System Shock remake launched on Kickstarter with significant backing from fans eager to see the classic 1994 immersive sim brought to modern systems. The original game is considered foundational to the genre and directly influenced titles like Deus Ex and BioShock.
But the development quickly became turbulent. The project went through at least two major restarts as the team struggled with scope and direction. Early versions leaned toward a more reimagined approach before pivoting back to a faithful remake. The studio also switched engines during development, moving from Unity to Unreal.
At various points, the team faced accusations of radio silence and mismanagement. Some backers demanded refunds while others made scam allegations. The developer’s account of IRS and FBI reports represents an extreme escalation of what’s unfortunately become a pattern in crowdfunded game development.
The dynamic of Kickstarter projects creates unique pressure. Backers feel they’ve purchased a product rather than supported development, leading to demands for constant transparency and rigid timelines. When reality doesn’t match expectations, some take it personally.
This isn’t an isolated case in gaming. Individual developers across the industry face doxxing attempts, threats, and coordinated harassment campaigns when projects hit rough patches. The weaponization of regulatory reports adds another disturbing layer to creator harassment.
The System Shock remake eventually launched in 2023 to positive reviews, particularly on PC. Critics praised its faithful approach to the original’s design while modernizing controls and visuals. The game successfully captured what made the original special while fixing dated mechanics.
