Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown
2015 video game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown (originally marketed as Shadowrun Online) was a turn-based tactical video game developed by Cliffhanger Productions and published by Nordic Games as part of Jordan Weisman's cyberpunk Shadowrun fictional universe.[3] With the servers shut down, the game stopped working on November 30, 2018.[4]
| Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown | |
|---|---|
Game logo | |
| Developer | Cliffhanger Productions |
| Publisher | Nordic Games[1] |
| Producer | Jan Wagner |
| Series | Shadowrun |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, OS X |
| Release |
|
| Genres | Turn-based tactics, isometric shooter |
| Mode | Multiplayer |
Gameplay
Development and release
Following the success of the Shadowrun Returns Kickstarter campaign, Cliffhanger Productions initiated a similar campaign to crowdsource $500,000 in July 2012, and pledged to deliver a closed beta version of Shadowrun Online for contributors around May 2013.[5]
Director's Cut
Shadowrun Chronicles: INFECTED! Director's Cut combines the two games Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown and the INFECTED! campaigns into one game[6]. It was released on Steam on December 10, 2015[7]. A Missions DLC was released for INFECTED! Director's Cut on February 25, 2016.[8]
Game server shut-down
On November 30, 2018, the servers were shut down,[4] citing the license running out[9] and the game making barely enough to keep the servers running. Due to the license only allowing online games, the game needs the servers to work,[10] even in a "play alone" mode using NPCs instead of other players in missions.
Despite different expectations, Microsoft had no interest in renewing the license[11] and "persistent ransomware attacks" had been increasing the cost of running the server.[12][4][13]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 61/100[14] |
IGN awarded the game a score of 6.5 out of 10, saying "smart co-op partners make Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown's tactical combat work, but anything less falls short."[20] It has a 61/100 rating on Metacritic.[14] GameSpot awarded it a score of 3 out of 10, saying "Shadowrun Chronicles isn't just a bad Shadowrun game. It's a bad game. That it comes from a series with such an exceptional pedigree and plenty of exceptional recent successes just makes the disappointment that much more bitter."[21] Shacknews, by contrast, gave it a 7 out of 10, praising the story, setting, strategy, and multiplayer, while criticizing the server issues, incomplete game systems, pointless death timer, and rewards that weren't proportionate to mission difficulty.[22]