Obsidian Entertainment Archives

AppWizard

July 22, 2026

Meta Horizon+ Adds XBOX Game Pass

Meta and XBOX have launched a starter edition of XBOX Game Pass on the Meta Horizon+ platform, providing access to over 50 games. This edition includes 10 hours of cloud gaming each month, allowing players to stream select titles without downloads. Users can also download games for unlimited play across various devices. The library features notable titles such as Fallout 4, Overcooked 2, Grounded, DayZ, Deep Rock Galactic, and SnowRunner. Meta Quest Touch controllers will soon emulate an XBOX gamepad, enabling easy access to Game Pass titles. The subscription to Meta Horizon+ costs .99 USD per year or .99 USD per month, with a one-month free trial for new users, and includes over 100 VR games.

AppWizard

July 18, 2026

I’m not worried about Fallout: New Vegas 2, because Obsidian knows how to make the best out of a bad situation

Obsidian Entertainment, founded in 2004, is known for titles like Knights of the Old Republic 2, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity. The studio was acquired by Microsoft in late 2018, leading to a cautious approach in its development, as seen in The Outer Worlds and the reimagined Avowed. Despite recent challenges, including layoffs, Obsidian has produced successful titles outside its traditional RPG genre, such as Grounded and Pentiment. The studio is currently working on New Vegas 2, generating optimism among fans and industry observers.

AppWizard

July 17, 2026

Bethesda confirms Fallout 3 and New Vegas remasters, makes Obsidian collaboration official, and says Fallout 5 is in ‘pre-production’

Bethesda Softworks has announced a new Fallout game in collaboration with Obsidian Entertainment, with Fallout 5 identified as a long-term goal and multiple projects in active development. Remasters of Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas are also planned, although release dates are not yet available. Additionally, a new expansion for Fallout 76, titled Raven Rock, is set to launch in 2027 as a prequel to Fallout 3. Bethesda is committed to ongoing updates for Starfield and hinted at future developments for The Elder Scrolls Online.

AppWizard

July 12, 2026

Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: ‘The through line from KotOR2 to our current games is pretty clear’

Microsoft has restructured Xbox, resulting in significant layoffs affecting thousands of employees and the disbanding of four game studios, including Double Fine and Compulsion Games returning to indie status, while Ninja Theory and Undead Labs were sold. Obsidian Entertainment, initially thought to be unaffected, also faced layoffs but is reportedly developing a new Fallout game with Josh Sawyer as director. A member of Obsidian's leadership, Adler, expressed frustration over misconceptions about the studio's evolution, emphasizing that key figures from its past successes remain. He reassured fans that the core essence of Obsidian is unchanged, despite recent challenges. Adler acknowledged the emotional toll of the layoffs and expressed support for departing employees. Anticipation for Obsidian's new Fallout title is growing.

AppWizard

July 9, 2026

Obsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed sequel

Obsidian Entertainment has canceled several projects, including a sequel to Avowed, to focus on developing a new Fallout game. The layoffs at Xbox led to the departure of 52 employees, about 25% of Obsidian's workforce. The new Fallout game will be led by Josh Sawyer, the design director known for his work on Fallout: New Vegas. The cancellation of other projects, especially those in the Pillars universe, has disappointed some fans.

AppWizard

July 7, 2026

Even Obsidian couldn’t escape the Xbox cuts, with losses ranging from a 21-year veteran artist to an engineer who’d only been there 2 months

On July 6, Kotaku reported that layoffs at Obsidian Entertainment affected between 60 to 70 employees, nearly a quarter of its workforce of 285. Current and former employees shared experiences on social media, indicating an indeterminate number of developers were let go, including long-time artist Daniel Alpert and recent hire Wenzheng Huang. Employee Kate Dollarhyde described the layoffs as significant, and while Obsidian is bound by the WARN Act to provide notice for layoffs exceeding 50 employees, the California WARN Act Tracker does not show that Obsidian reported these layoffs. Despite producing successful titles like Pentiment and The Outer Worlds 2, the studio's future is uncertain amid Xbox's anticipated layoffs and financial struggles.

AppWizard

April 21, 2026

Fallout: New Vegas dev says don’t expect a remaster, argues Bethesda doesn’t have the source code or ‘the engineering knowhow’

Chris Avellone expressed skepticism about the possibility of a remaster for Fallout: New Vegas, stating that he doubts Bethesda has the engineering capability to undertake such a project. He noted that the last directive from Bethesda to Obsidian involved delivering source code for a fee, indicating complications in the remastering process. Avellone suggested that a remaster would require a similar financial and logistical approach, and mentioned that a potential Fallout 3 remake could help identify challenges for a New Vegas remaster. He also highlighted that despite Bethesda and Obsidian being under Microsoft, past internal disagreements could affect collaboration. Avellone has continued to work in the gaming industry since leaving Obsidian, contributing to other RPGs and collaborating on an unannounced project. Speculation about a Fallout 3 remaster has been ongoing, but Avellone's comments underscore the complexities of remastering classic titles.

AppWizard

April 7, 2026

11 years after launch, Pillars of Eternity’s new turn-based mode feels like the way it’s meant to be played

Pillars of Eternity celebrated its 11th anniversary with a significant update from Obsidian Entertainment, introducing a full turn-based mode alongside the original real-time with pause (RTWP) mechanics. The turn-based option had been in beta on Steam since November before its official release. The update includes extensive patch notes, and players have reported enjoying the new gameplay style, with some preferring it for future playthroughs. Discussions among industry professionals at last year's Game Developers Conference highlighted the evolving nature of combat systems, with optimism for the future of RTWP despite the rising popularity of turn-based mechanics.

AppWizard

February 21, 2026

Avowed was always great, but now that it costs what it should have at launch and nobody’s being weird about it online, it’s kinda perfect

The gaming community's perception of Avowed has improved significantly one year after its release, with players now recognizing its merits more favorably. The game received a collection of minor enhancements in its recent anniversary update, similar to improvements seen in Cyberpunk 2077. Initial reactions were mixed, with some players struggling with mechanics and expectations, but criticisms have lessened over time. Bloomberg's early interview indicated that Avowed was meeting sales targets, though recent reports suggested it was slightly underperforming. The game received respectable reviews, with a rating of 82% from PCG Australia and an 80% score on Metacritic. The narrative around Avowed has evolved, with some players expressing acceptance after initially disliking the game. Its price has been reduced, making it more appealing for new players.

AppWizard

February 20, 2026

Obsidian was ‘surprised’ that Avowed players bounced off one of the RPG’s most important systems: ‘That frustration came through loud and clear’

Avowed's crafting system initially faced criticism for making upgrades mandatory, requiring players to gather materials for weapons and armor, which hindered exploration. In response to player feedback, Obsidian Entertainment implemented changes in an anniversary update, refining the progression system to allow for a more gradual experience. Custom difficulty modifiers were introduced, enabling players to adjust game elements like merchant prices and upgrade material costs. Additionally, workbenches were added throughout the game world, allowing players to enhance equipment without returning to camp, making gear acquisition and upgrades more accessible.