The Epic Games Store is giving away System Shock 2: 25th Anniversary Remaster, Nightdive Studios' updated version of the 1999 shooter-RPG, as part of its latest batch of free games. Video Games Chronicle and IGN both report that the remaster is free to claim until Thursday, October 8, 2026.
Claiming the game during the giveaway window adds it to the player's library permanently, as with Epic's other weekly free-game promotions. IGN notes that a free Epic Games account is required and that the game is played through the Epic Games Launcher.
System Shock 2 is free alongside Buried Stars, a mystery adventure from Line Games set around a survival audition show in which trapped contestants communicate with each other, and with the outside world through social media, as they wait for rescue. Both titles are available until October 8, after which Video Games Chronicle reports that Out of Sight and TerraScape take their place as free claims until October 15.
Out of Sight is a horror puzzle adventure following Sophie, a blind girl attempting to escape a haunted mansion. TerraScape is a medieval city-building puzzle game in which players construct kingdoms across floating islands by placing buildings.
What the remaster changes
Nightdive released the 25th Anniversary Remaster in June 2025, according to IGN. The studio, which has handled revivals of classics including Quake and Star Wars: Dark Forces, kept the original design while modernising how the game looks and plays.
- Remastered visuals, including cutscenes, character models and weapon models
- Support for up to 4K at 144fps on PC
- Adjustable field of view and ultrawide support
- Full mod support
- Cross-play co-op for up to four players
- A choice of O.S.A., Marine or Navy background to shape playstyle
The 1999 original
The original System Shock 2 was developed by Looking Glass Studios and Irrational Games, blending a first-person shooter with the character building of a role-playing game. The player wakes from cryosleep aboard the faster-than-light ship Von Braun in the year 2114 with no memory of their identity, on a vessel overrun by hybrid mutants and hostile robots.
Many of the developers behind it went on to make the BioShock games, which IGN describes as a spiritual successor to System Shock 2. The remaster is also discounted outside the Epic giveaway: IGN reports it is $11.99 on Steam at 70% off during the Autumn Sale.
