Paradox Interactive (Paradox) and Harebrained Schemes (HBS)—developers of the Shadowrun trilogy, BATTLETECH and The Lamplighters League—have decided to part ways on 1 January 2024. The separation is the result of a mutual agreement, stemming from each party's strategic and creative priorities. Paradox will retain ownership of The Lamplighters League and other games developed by the studio. HBS will seek new publishing, partnership, and investment opportunities.

"Paradox has refocused its strategy towards its core niches within strategy and management games with endless qualities," said Charlotta Nilsson, COO of Paradox. "We and HBS' leadership have been discussing what would happen after the release of The Lamplighters League, but a new project or sequel in the same genre was not in line with our portfolio plans. Hence, we believe that a separation would be the best way forward. We're very happy that this talented, gifted studio has the chance to continue and can't wait to see what they will make next."

The Humble Bundle Store is giving away a copy of the excellent Shadowun Returns, in its ultimate, Deluxe form. The cyberpunk, turn-based tactical RPG made a splash on its release, bringing about a much needed lease of life to the series, with an interesting setting and storytelling chops. Developed by Harebrained Schemes, which have, in the meantime, been acquired by Paradox Interactive, the Deluxe edition features the base game, The Shadowrun Returns Anthology DLC, and a free Soundtrack download. This offer ceases in one day and four hours, so make sure to make your tactical move now. Don't waste your turn.

(Editor's Note: Harebrained Schemes have come out with some of the more interesting story-driven, tactical strategy RPGs in recent times. The world of Shadowrun is an amazing one, but Battletech seems to have become loved by the community as well - and a mech tactical RPG has been missing ever since SquareEnix butchered their Front Mission series by turning it into a FPS slog fest. Here's hoping Harebrained Schemes carries on with its games as it most wants to make them - they've proven time and again they can deliver. Paradox Interactive isn't new to this game, and also have some very strong IPs under their belt. A thriving relationship and development would benefit us gamers for sure.)

Paradox Interactive, a global publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, today announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Harebrained Holdings Inc, sole owner of Harebrained Schemes, LLC, from Harebrained Bag of Holding Inc. Paradox pays a fixed purchase price of US$7,500,000 at the time of acquisition plus an additional purchase price corresponding to 25% of the acquired business' earnings before publishing costs over the next 5 years to the extent such earnings exceed the fixed purchase price. The deal is expected to close by Thursday, June 7, 2018.

Shadowrun, a game developed exclusively for Windows Vista, seems like it does not need Vista to function after all.

The infamous warez and hacking group 'Razor1911' has successfully hacked Shadowrun to be played under Windows XP, without any need for DirectX 10.

Apparently the crack just demands that you overwrite a few files in the installation folder with the ones provided by Razor and the game will run happily under XP.