According to an announcement posted to the System Shock 2 (1999) Steam Store page, the classic immersive will no longer be available for purchase on PC starting October 10. From that date, it will only be available as a pack-in bundle with purchase of System Shock: 25th Anniversary Remaster. Players who purchased the Remaster prior to the change will automatically have a copy of the original game added to their libraries.
The decision has sparked some backlash among fans of the franchise. The news post promises that the addition of the classic version of the game will not affect current pricing of the Remaster. That said, this makes it so that the only way you can obtain a copy of the classic version is by purchasing the 25th Anniversary Remaster, which is roughly three times the price of the classic version on Steam right now.
To throw in my own two cents on the matter, while I do think removing the standalone version of the 1999 original is bad for consumers—anything that removes choice from the market is—the 25th Anniversary Remaster is very clearly the definitive version of the game. Even heavily modded, the original is a less enjoyable experience. If you’re planning to play the game for the first time, or you want to replay an old favourite after years away, most fans of the franchise would recommend you play the remastered version of the game.
