RPGs Can't Let Players Control Everything

Key Points:

• Josh Sawyer, director of Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, is reportedly leading the upcoming Obsidian-developed Fallout game, though details about the project remain scarce.
• Sawyer emphasizes that the best RPGs allow players significant control but also impose limits, forcing them to make difficult, imperfect choices rather than solving every problem through combat or deception.
• Drawing from his experience with Pillars of Eternity 2 and Pentiment, Sawyer highlights how some narrative outcomes are unavoidable, encouraging players to grapple with moral dilemmas and consequences beyond their control.
• Unlike many RPGs that let players complete every mission and defeat all enemies, Sawyer advocates for games that create tension and memorable moments by restricting player power, leading to lasting emotional impact and debate.
• If Obsidian’s new Fallout incorporates these design philosophies, it could offer a deeply engaging experience with meaningful choices that resonate with players long after completion.