Avowed
News, coverage and analysis tracking Avowed across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Xbox Kills Obsidian’s Avowed Sequel In The Wake Of Layoffs – Report
Xbox has reportedly cancelled the sequel to Obsidian Entertainment's action-RPG Avowed and laid off approximately a quarter of the studio's staff. The cancellation is part of a larger strategic reset by Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, with Obsidian now focusing on the Fallout franchise. While the Avowed sequel was progressing well, it did not align with Xbox's current strategy, though a small chance of its revival remains.
Obsidian Reportedly Cancels Avowed 2 to Focus on a New Fallout Game
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly canceled Avowed 2 to shift focus towards developing a new Fallout game. This decision indicates a strategic pivot for the studio, prioritizing the established Fallout franchise.
Fallout: New Vegas studio Obsidian reportedly working on a new Fallout RPG after forced pivot from Xbox kills Avowed 2…
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly pivoting to develop a new Fallout RPG following significant layoffs at Microsoft's Xbox division, which also led to the cancellation of Avowed 2. Josh Sawyer is said to be leading the new Fallout project, which may be related to a previously unannounced RPG he was working on.
Obsidian Hit Hard By Xbox Layoffs, With 25% Of Devs Cut From Studio
Obsidian Entertainment has been significantly impacted by recent Xbox layoffs, with approximately 25% of its workforce, around 60-70 employees, being let go. The cuts affected various roles, including senior talent, art directors, and recruiters. Despite the reductions, work is expected to continue on Grounded 2 and planned DLC for The Outer Worlds 2.
Xbox has lost five studios – so who is left to make new video games?
Xbox has undergone significant layoffs, impacting approximately 3,200 staff members and leading to five studios divesting from the company. Xbox leadership aims to refocus on core franchises and expand its daily audience to over a billion people through its services. The article details the remaining studios, their current projects, and their future prospects under this new strategy.
The Outer Worlds and Fallout New Vegas studio Obsidian is reportedly losing a quarter of its staff in Xbox layoffs
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds and Fallout New Vegas, is reportedly laying off approximately a quarter of its staff, around 60-70 employees. These cuts are part of broader layoffs at Xbox, which impacted 3200 jobs across various Microsoft-owned studios. The layoffs affect multiple disciplines, including senior talent, and come as Obsidian continues work on Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC.
Xbox's layoffs come with a push to focus on series like Fallout, so naturally New Vegas devs Obsidian have reportedly lost around a quarter of their staff
Xbox has reportedly laid off approximately 1600 employees and is shifting focus to lucrative series like Fallout. As part of these cuts, Obsidian Entertainment, known for Fallout: New Vegas, has lost around a quarter of its staff, with 60-70 employees let go. This news comes amid broader industry trends of significant layoffs and uncertainty for remaining developers.
Report – Xbox cuts around 25% of Obsidian staff
Xbox has initiated significant layoffs across its studios, with Obsidian Entertainment reportedly losing around 25% of its staff, impacting producers, artists, designers, and more. This is part of Microsoft's larger plan to lay off 3,200 employees by June 2027, though Blizzard Entertainment teams have been spared for now. The restructuring aims to shift focus away from smaller acquired studios, but the arbitrary nature of the cuts is causing concern over lost expertise.
Report: Obsidian losing around one quarter of its staff to 'Xbox reset'
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly laid off approximately one quarter of its staff, impacting 60-70 employees as part of a larger 'Xbox reset'. The cuts affect various departments, including senior talent and the art director for The Outer Worlds. This follows a broader announcement of 3200 layoffs at Xbox, with leadership citing a need to course-correct after ambitious bets on Game Pass and multi-platform strategies did not yield expected results.
The Outer Worlds 2, Avowed Studio Hit by Layoffs, Affecting 25 Percent of Employees – Rumor
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly laid off 60 to 70 employees, approximately 25 percent of its staff, including The Outer Worlds 2 art director Daniel Alpert. Despite these layoffs, the studio continues development on Grounded and story DLC for The Outer Worlds 2, while also working on Avowed. Studio head Feargus Urquhart clarified that neither Avowed nor The Outer Worlds 2 were considered 'disasters' despite not meeting sales expectations.
Obsidian was also hit by "the Microsoft sacrificial rituals," says laid-off RPG veteran who previously worked…
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly been affected by recent Xbox layoffs, with narrative designer Jay Turner and other developers confirming their departure. These cuts are part of a larger "reset" by Microsoft, which aims to reduce its workforce by 3,200 by fiscal year 2027. Reports suggest around 25% of Obsidian's staff, approximately 60-70 individuals, were impacted.
Even Obsidian couldn't escape the Xbox cuts, with losses ranging from a 21-year veteran artist to an engineer…
Obsidian Entertainment has experienced layoffs, affecting employees including a 21-year veteran artist and a recent engineer. This marks the first time the studio has been impacted by the recent waves of job cuts at Microsoft's Xbox division. The exact number of affected employees is between nine and 49, falling below the threshold that would trigger a WARN Act notice.
Weekend PC Download Deals for July 3: Steam Summer Sale continues
The Steam Summer Sale and other PC gaming storefronts are offering numerous deals on a wide variety of titles. This includes discounts on major releases, indie games, and bundles across platforms like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble Bundle. Several retailers are participating, with prices and availability varying.
Business and Finance
Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Avowed and The Outer Worlds, is reportedly in negotiations with Xbox Game Studios to avoid potential closure. This news comes amid broader discussions about the future of several Xbox-owned studios.
Rumors claim Xbox wants to close Obsidian, but Jason Schreier says otherwise
Recent reports suggest Xbox is considering closing or selling several studios, including Obsidian Entertainment, due to financial pressures. However, journalist Jason Schreier has refuted claims that Obsidian is in negotiations to avoid closure, stating Xbox intends to keep the developer. The article also touches on frustrations within Xbox regarding leadership's focus on profitability and the impact of underperforming titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 7.
Is yet another Microsoft studio, Obsidian, negotiating with Xbox to avoid closure? Conflicting reports emerge
Conflicting reports suggest that Obsidian Entertainment is negotiating with Microsoft to avoid closure, amidst a wave of layoffs affecting other Xbox studios like Arkane, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs. While one report indicates internal sentiment blames poor Call of Duty performance for these decisions, another source denies Obsidian is in negotiations to shut down, stating the studio will be kept by Xbox.
Obsidian reportedly safe from Xbox studio closures despite fears the RPG powerhouse was in negotiations to avoid…
Despite earlier reports suggesting Obsidian Entertainment was negotiating to avoid closure, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier has confirmed the RPG developer is safe. The news comes amid widespread fears of mass layoffs and studio shutdowns within Xbox's gaming division.
Xbox May Shut Down Obsidian Entertainment, Too
New reports indicate that Xbox is considering shutting down or selling Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind games like Avowed and Fallout: New Vegas. This potential closure is part of a larger plan by Xbox to reallocate funds towards its major franchises, potentially affecting other subsidiaries like Compulsion Games, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, and Undead Labs.
Avowed, The Outer Worlds, and Fallout: New Vegas Developer Obsidian Entertainment Reportedly Also at Risk of Closure Amid Xbox 'Reset'
Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Avowed, The Outer Worlds, and Fallout: New Vegas, is reportedly at risk of closure as part of a broader 'reset' within Microsoft's Xbox business. This news follows reports of potential studio closures and project cancellations within Xbox.
The Outer Worlds, Avowed Developer “Deep in Negotiation” With Xbox to Avoid Closure – Rumor
Reports suggest that Xbox is in negotiations with Obsidian Entertainment to prevent its closure, alongside other studios like Arkane and Ninja Theory. This comes after The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed reportedly failed to meet Xbox's sales expectations. The fate of these studios, including Obsidian, is expected to be revealed around July 6th.
