Warren Spector Joins OtherSide, Will Work On System Shock 3

Update: In a tweet, Spector clarified that he’ll be working part-time at OtherSide until June when he’ll assume a full-time position at the studio. He also confirmed that System Shock 3 will be his first project.

I've re-entered the world of game development. Part-time until June then full time with OtherSide Entertainment. First up, System Shock 3!

— Warren Spector (@Warren_Spector) February 17, 2016

Original Story: Renowned designer Warren Spector has announced that he is leaving academia and will once again return to full-time game development at OtherSide Entertainment, where he’ll work on Underworld Ascendant and System Shock 3.

Spector, known for his work on titles such as Epic Mickey and Deus Ex, will leave his academic appointment at the Univerisity of Texas in Austin to join OtherSide as a studio director on a full-time basis.

“I’ve loved working with students as Director of the Denius-Sams Gaming Academy in the University of Texas’ Moody College of Communication,” Spector said in a press release issued today by OtherSide. “But when the opportunity to have a bigger role in bringing Underworld Ascendant to life, as well as playing in the System Shock universe once again, helping to bring these games to a 21st century audience, I just couldn’t say no. Working on System Shock was one of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in my career and it’s hard to describe how much I’m looking forward to sharing with players what SHODAN has been up to since the last game was released.”

While Spector has been working with OtherSide as a creative advisor since the studio’s foundation, his ties to the developers there stretch back further still. Spector and OtherSide founder Paul Neurath worked together on the Ultima Underworld games, Thief: The Dark Project, and the original System Shock.

“I’m delighted to have Warren stepping up into a director role at OtherSide and helping lead the charge with our innovative approach to gaming,” Neurath said. “I can think of no one better suited to take on this creative challenge. Warren has changed the industry before and will do so again.”