Obsidian Director Blasts People Running Their Mouths About How the Studio Has Changed After Xbox Layoffs
Key Points:
- Obsidian Entertainment director Brandon Adler expressed frustration over outsiders spreading misinformation about the studio's identity and talent following recent Xbox layoffs, emphasizing that many lead roles remain filled by veterans of key titles like The Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity.
- The Xbox restructuring led to widespread layoffs across multiple studios, including Obsidian, with 1,600 employees immediately affected and another 1,600 expected to be cut during the financial year, marking Microsoft's most significant gaming division restructure to date.
- Adler highlighted that while Obsidian has evolved over 20 years, its core creative DNA remains intact, tracing a clear line from classic titles like KotOR2 and Fallout: New Vegas to current projects, and expressed pride in the studio's history and future direction.
- Bloomberg reported that Obsidian recently canceled a sequel to its RPG Avowed and has begun developing a new Fallout game led by Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer, signaling a strategic shift amid the company's restructuring.
- Adler urged the public to avoid uninformed commentary about Obsidian's current state, noting that many critics lack insight into the studio's development processes and contributions of its team members.