All articles tagged with #obsidian entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment has been reorganized under Bethesda, with Jill Braff assuring staff that the studio will retain its creative identity. The move follows layoffs and a shift toward a franchise-led model, prioritizing Fallout and The Elder Scrolls over independent series like Avowed.
Microsoft’s president of Bethesda and Casual Games, Jill Braff, sent an email to Obsidian Entertainment staff confirming that the studio will retain its distinct creative identity despite being reorganized under the Bethesda umbrella. Braff stated that Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart and his leadership team will continue to lead the studio, which now reports directly to her. The move is part of a broader 'franchise-led' model at Xbox, where Obsidian will collaborate with Bethesda Game Studios on a new Fallout project while maintaining its own development pipeline. This announcement follows recent layoffs and restructuring efforts aimed at consolidating resources around major franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.
Jill Braff, president of Bethesda and Casual Games, sent an email to employees assuring them that Obsidian Entertainment will retain its distinct creative identity despite being reorganized under the Bethesda umbrella. Braff confirmed that Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart and his leadership team will continue to lead the studio, which will now report directly to her. The move is part of a broader 'franchise-led' model at Xbox, where Obsidian will collaborate with Bethesda Game Studios on a new Fallout project while maintaining its own development pipeline. This announcement follows recent layoffs and restructuring efforts aimed at consolidating resources around major franchises like Fallout and The Elder Scrolls.
As part of an Xbox Game Studios restructuring, Obsidian Entertainment is being moved to sit alongside Bethesda and will help develop a new Fallout game, while continuing its current projects; Fallout 5 remains in pre-production at Bethesda, with remasters of Fallout 3 and New Vegas planned.
Obsidian’s upcoming Fallout game will likely emphasize hard, imperfect choices over total player mastery, as director Josh Sawyer argues RPGs shine when players feel limited control. Citing Pillars of Eternity 2 and Pentiment, he stresses that tension and moral ambiguity come from not being able to solve every problem with brute force, suggesting Fallout 5 will lean into consequential decisions rather than let players “fight every problem.”
Bethesda Game Studios confirms Fallout 5 is in preproduction and The Elder Scrolls VI is the studio’s primary development focus, both built on Creation Engine 3 to enable multiple projects. The update also notes multiple Fallout titles in active development (including a new project with Obsidian), ongoing Fallout 76 updates and Fallout remasters, Raven Rock expansion, and closer cross‑studio collaboration across ZeniMax Online and TES/Starfield teams, all while Xbox layoffs are shaping the industry.
id Software posted a brief statement after recent Microsoft/Xbox layoffs, insisting the core crew remains intact and capable of building the studio’s signature games and tech, with the team size at roughly what it was during Doom 2016 and a pledge to support affected staff ahead of QuakeCon this August.
After Microsoft’s mass layoffs hit Obsidian, studio director Brandon Adler pushes back on critics, saying the studio’s DNA remains intact and that Avowed is still in development while leadership pivots toward a new Fallout project.
Brandon Adler defends Obsidian’s identity amid Xbox layoffs, a shift to a Fallout project, and the cancellation of Avowed’s sequel, arguing the core DNA and leadership remain intact despite external criticism and organizational changes.
Amid Xbox’s ~3,200 layoffs, Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly moved onto a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer, with a canceled Avowed sequel and a planned reveal around 2027, as Bethesda concentrates on the Elder Scrolls and other major franchises.
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly developing a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer as part of an Xbox-wide restructuring that has affected 60–70 Obsidian employees. A small team will continue work on an Avowed sequel, with other staff focusing on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2; Bethesda is expected to collaborate on the Fallout project. The broader layoffs hit Id Software and Bethesda Game Studios in Austin, among others, as Microsoft says it will support independent studios rather than owning every studio.
As part of Microsoft's Xbox reset, Obsidian Entertainment is pivoting to develop a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer after layoffs and studio changes; multiple projects including a sequel to Avowed have been canceled, though Grounded 2 and DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 remain in the works.
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds and Avowed, is reportedly cutting about 60–70 jobs—roughly a quarter of its staff—as part of Microsoft's broader Xbox layoffs that total around 3,200 roles. The first wave hit Obsidian, with more cuts expected later this year, affecting roles across disciplines and even senior staff like the art director and the studio’s recruiter. Grounded 2 will continue, and Obsidian is slated to deliver more The Outer Worlds 2 DLC, though future projects remain uncertain. Obsidian was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 and has since released several titles.
During Microsoft's Xbox Reset, two first‑party studios—Halo Studios and Obsidian Entertainment—are reportedly safe from closure talks, though Halo's studio will be heavily evaluated and may receive more resources toward Halo, while Obsidian's status is confirmed by Bloomberg’s Schreier; other Xbox Game Studios teams may still face layoffs or further restructuring as rumors persist.
Rumors from The Game Business suggested Obsidian could shut down, but Bloomberg's Jason Schreier rebutted the claim, saying Obsidian is not in talks to close; layoffs remain uncertain and details may become clearer on Monday, with sources indicating Xbox is keeping the studio. No evidence has emerged that Obsidian will be shuttered, though the situation underscores a broader distrust around Xbox exclusives.