Margaret Weis Productions has announced plans to release an updated and revised version of the Cortex Role Playing Game System early next year.

The earlier version of the Cortex System was used in the licensed games produced by Margaret Weis Productions, including Serenity, Battlestar Galactica, and Supernatural.  The two newest game titles published by the company, Smallville and Leverage, both feature the new revised version of the rules, called Cortex Plus.

ICv2 spoke with designer Cam Banks at the recent Gen Con game fair about the new system.  “We changed a lot of the rules around with the rules to Smallville and with Leverage to suit the licenses better, as opposed to being the same rules with each book.”  He explained that the changes to the system were based on feedback and comments from the game’s fan base.

Some of that feedback has led the company to go with a single book format for the new version of the game.  This changes are intended to help fit the rules to new licenses in the future.

There are currently no plans to revise the old games with the new rules.  But, the new book will include systems for upgrading the old games to the new rules, Banks said.