


While Banegas had left the company earlier to establish a plushie business, Kick remained in his position until 2012. Kick was with Sony for three years, working on Free Realms and PlanetSide 2. Nightdive Studios was founded by Stephen Kick and his wife, Alix Kick ( née Banegas), both former character artists at Sony Online Entertainment (SOE). History Founding and System Shock 2 (2012–2013) The company was acquired by Atari SA in May 2023. He successfully negotiated with the rightsholder Star Insurance Company, which had acquired System Shock and other assets from the defunct developer Looking Glass Studios, and Nightdive Studios released the game via GOG.com in February 2013. Nightdive Studios was founded in November 2012 by Stephen and Alix Kick, former video game artists for Sony Online Entertainment, after Stephen Kick found himself unable to purchase the 1999 game System Shock 2. The company is known for obtaining rights to abandonware video games, updating them for compatibility with modern platforms, and re-releasing them via digital distribution services, supporting preservation of older games. ( trade name: Nightdive Studios) is an American video game developer based in Vancouver, Washington.
