Obsidian Entertainment, now celebrated for its remarkable achievement with Pillars of Eternity, once navigated a landscape fraught with uncertainty. The studio’s journey to success was not a foregone conclusion, especially during the period when they decided to launch a nostalgic Kickstarter campaign. This was an era when the idea of crowdfunding was still viewed with skepticism, even by industry veterans.
The Road to Eternity
In a candid reflection shared in Issue 404 of Edge Magazine, Josh Sawyer, the director of Pillars of Eternity, expressed his initial doubts about the viability of a throwback CRPG. Despite his enthusiasm for the project, he acknowledged that success was far from guaranteed. Feargus Urquhart, the owner of Obsidian and its current CEO, harbored reservations about the crowdfunding model. Yet, Sawyer was so passionate about the project that he contemplated leaving the studio to pursue it independently.
As Sawyer recounted in a documentary, the pivotal moment came when he urged the studio’s owners to embrace the idea: “If I can’t be involved in it that’s fine but we—we—should do it.” This conviction marked a turning point in the studio’s trajectory.
On the day the Kickstarter campaign launched, Sawyer experienced a mix of hope and skepticism. He recalled, “I was hopeful but kind of skeptical, and when it launched and it started getting money I was like ‘oh okay cool people are looking at it and they’re giving money’ but I didn’t really perceive the rate that it was going up.” His cautious optimism reflected the uncertainty that surrounded the project, as he hesitated to fully invest emotionally in something that might not materialize.
However, as the funding continued to surge, a sense of reality began to set in. “Once we passed 2 million dollars I said, okay, we’re really making this game, and it’s really gonna be pretty big,” Sawyer noted, marking a significant milestone in the campaign’s success.
This narrative serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of the video game industry, where even seasoned professionals can find it challenging to forecast commercial success. The journey of Pillars of Eternity stands as a testament to the risks taken and the passion that fuels innovation in this ever-evolving medium.
