3D Realms follow-up to Duke Nukem 3D is now free-to-play through Steam. The game was supposed to be a limited free engagement but following the campaigns success 3D Realms decided to continue the run indefinitely.
"Looks like people are loving Shadow Warrior Classic (1997) so we'll just keep it F2P forever," reads a tweet from Shadow Warrior's official Twitter page.
Shadow Warrior was released in 1997. The title was built using the same game engine as Duke Nukem 3D. Shadow Warrior was well-known as a shooter in the same vein as Duke Nukem. Full of vulgar humor and copious amounts of violence, the game has gained a cult following since its release.
The game's story followed the journey of bodyguard Lo Wang. Wang works for a Japanese business conglomerate Zilla Enterprises who plans to take over Japan using evil creatures summed from the shadow realm.
Shadow Warrior was written as a spoof of Asian cinema. However, the game's humor caused an uproar with critics. Commentators felt the crude humor demeaned Asian culture. 3D Realms responded to the criticism by saying the crassness of the game's story was on purpose and not meant to offended audiences.
The game is now completely free on Steam. Unlike other free-to-play titles, Shadow Warrior won't charge for additional content. The game is available in its entire form for the bargain basement price of $0. Shadow Warrior's new pricing comes as work on a reboot of the game is underway.
Earlier this month, Flying Wild Hog announced that it was planning to reboot the title for next generation systems. The game is expected to offer the same crass humor of the original. Flying Wild Hog says the game will also feature new weapons and special attacks. Things like revolvers and explosive-tipped crossbows are expected to make an appearance in the latest reboot.
An iOS version of the original game was also released last winter. The app features all touch-based controls and is optimized for the mobile platform. Shadow Warrior for iOS is currently available for free on Apple's App Store.
