Pentiment
News, coverage and analysis tracking Pentiment across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Xbox to double down on its 'strongest franchises' as boss sets crazy new goals
Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has outlined ambitious goals to reverse the brand's fortunes by fiscal year 2027, focusing on strengthening major franchises like Minecraft, Call of Duty, and Halo, and prioritizing 'biggest new ideas'. The plan includes improving profits and player growth, with a long-term ambition to entertain half a billion people daily by 2030. This strategy shift emphasizes console revenue and established IPs, potentially at the expense of newer or less established titles.
Pentiment director emphasizes the importance of RPG players not controlling everything
Pentiment director Josh Sawyer believes role-playing games are at their best when players have significant agency but cannot control every aspect of the world. He argues that limitations on player control can lead to more meaningful choices and a deeper connection to the game's narrative, citing examples from Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire and Pentiment itself.
Fallout: New Vegas director says RPGs should be messy and force players to make hard decisions: "No person can fix…
Fallout: New Vegas and Pentiment director Josh Sawyer believes RPGs should present players with difficult, imperfect choices rather than allowing them to fix every problem. He argues that restricting players and forcing them to confront the consequences of their decisions is more engaging and encourages introspection about values. Sawyer cites examples from Pentiment and Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire to illustrate his design philosophy.
I'm not worried about Fallout: New Vegas 2, because Obsidian knows how to make the best out of a bad situation
Despite recent layoffs and a history of challenging publisher relationships, Obsidian Entertainment is well-positioned to create a successful Fallout: New Vegas sequel. The studio has a proven track record of delivering excellent RPGs, even under difficult circumstances, and has demonstrated its ability to capture the essence of Fallout with games like The Outer Worlds. The author expresses confidence that Obsidian's talent and experience will allow them to overcome current instability and deliver another acclaimed title.
Obsidian game director is sick of hearing bad takes about the state of the studio: 'The through line from KotOR2 to…
Obsidian Entertainment game director Brandon Adler has refuted claims that the studio has lost its original talent and identity. He stated that many key personnel remain from the development of games like Knights of the Old Republic 2 and Fallout: New Vegas, asserting that the studio's core DNA is unchanged despite recent layoffs and restructuring within Xbox.
What will another Obsidian Fallout game even look like all these years on? Here's my attempt to read the radioactive tea leaves
Following reports of Obsidian Entertainment being redirected to work on a new Fallout game, this article speculates on what such a title might look like. It considers how the studio could innovate within the series, potentially by exploring new settings and gameplay mechanics, while acknowledging the influence of the recent Fallout TV show and other modern RPGs.
Xbox Game Pass Hidden Gems: 20 Games Worth Playing Right Now (2026) | TAG
This guide highlights 20 under-the-radar games available on Xbox Game Pass, categorized by their time commitment. It focuses on titles that are either new, forgotten, or obscure, offering recommendations for various playstyles and schedules. The article emphasizes that these games are worth owning even if they leave the service.
Obsidian Has Cancelled Multiple Projects To Make New Fallout, Per Report
According to a report, Microsoft has canceled multiple projects at Obsidian Entertainment to have the studio develop a new Fallout game, with Josh Sawyer leading the design. This decision comes amidst significant layoffs at Microsoft and Obsidian, and the cancellation of a planned sequel to Avowed. The new Fallout title will be the first mainline entry in the series since Fallout 4 in 2015.
New Fallout game in development by makers of New Vegas but at a cost
Xbox has commissioned Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas, to develop a new Fallout game, led by project director Josh Sawyer. This decision comes after Obsidian experienced significant layoffs, with reports suggesting that previous projects were cancelled to prioritize this new Fallout title. The move aims to capitalize on the franchise's popularity, potentially releasing before Bethesda's Fallout 5.
Obsidian Entertainment returns to Fallout franchise, while cancelling Avowed 2
Obsidian Entertainment is returning to the Fallout franchise with a new game led by Josh Sawyer, director of Fallout: New Vegas. This shift comes after Xbox announced mass layoffs, leading to the cancellation of Avowed 2 and other unannounced projects. The studio aims to leverage Xbox's established IPs for growth following recent sales disappointments.
Obsidian Ditches Avowed Sequel for New Fallout Game — Too Much Gaming | Video Games Reviews, News, & Guides
Obsidian Entertainment has cancelled an Avowed sequel and laid off 52 employees as it shifts focus to a new Fallout title, led by Josh Sawyer. The studio is also continuing work on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and the multiplayer game Grounded 2. This comes as Xbox Game Studios undergoes significant restructuring, impacting multiple studios including Id Software.
Fallout and Elder Scrolls union says Bethesda layoffs didn't hurt Microsoft's "14 layers of management" – "We lost dozens of programmers, artists, designers and testers"
Microsoft's recent layoffs significantly impacted Bethesda Game Studios, ZeniMax Online, Obsidian Entertainment, and id Software, affecting dozens of programmers, artists, designers, and testers, not just management. The Bethesda Game Studios Union expressed outrage, calling the cuts a "stressful annual routine" and urging fans to voice concerns through Microsoft's feedback portal to prevent future layoffs and studio closures.
Obsidian is reportedly making a new Fallout game headed by Josh Sawyer after Microsoft pulled the plug on an Avowed…
Obsidian Entertainment has reportedly cancelled projects including a sequel to Avowed and is shifting focus to a new Fallout game, led by design director Josh Sawyer. This news follows significant layoffs at the studio, with around a quarter of its workforce reportedly let go. Sawyer previously directed Fallout: New Vegas and has expressed interest in leading a new Fallout title under specific conditions.
Man behind Xbox backwards compatibility laid off as 25% of Obsidian devs cut
Microsoft has laid off Kevin LaChapelle, the key figure behind Xbox's backwards compatibility and cloud gaming features, as part of broader cuts affecting 3,200 employees. Several development studios, including Compulsion Games and Double Fine, have become independent or are being sold off. Approximately 25% of Obsidian Entertainment's staff has also been impacted by these layoffs.
'Used, abused, and discarded:' CWA Canada slams Microsoft over handling of Bethesda layoffs
CWA Canada has criticized Microsoft and Bethesda Game Studios over recent layoffs affecting unionized employees at Bethesda Game Studios Montreal. Union president Carmel Smyth stated that around a dozen employees, some with up to a decade of service, were informed of their termination via a brief video call. The union plans to pursue bargaining for severance, internal placement, and recall rights for affected workers.
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: 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.
