In 1997, Warren Spector told us the upcoming PC classic Deus Ex was inspired by Final Fantasy, Miyamoto, and ’the console guys'
In a 1997 interview with PC Gamer, legendary designer Warren Spector discussed the creative influences behind Deus Ex, his upcoming project at Ion Storm following his departure from Looking Glass Studios. Spector revealed that the game drew inspiration from an eclectic mix of sources, including the Final Fantasy series, Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto’s work, and broader influences from the console gaming space. The interview provides a fascinating historical snapshot of how the PC gaming icon was conceptualized during the mid-1990s, a period when the genre was increasingly drawing ideas across platforms. Spector’s willingness to cite console gaming as a major influence reflected a broader industry trend of cross-pollination between PC and console development during this era. Deus Ex would ultimately become a landmark title in PC gaming, known for its immersive sim gameplay and player agency, but these 1997 comments reveal the surprisingly diverse pool of inspirations that informed its design. The piece appears in PC Gamer’s 1997 Holiday Extravaganza issue, an era when the publication was under the editorship of later Rogue One screenwriter Gary Whitta.