Pentiment
News, coverage and analysis tracking Pentiment across the outlets.
What will another Obsidian Fallout game even look like all these years on? Here's my attempt to read the radioactive tea leavesFollowing 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.
New Fallout game in development by makers of New Vegas but at a costXbox 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.
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.
Man behind Xbox backwards compatibility laid off as 25% of Obsidian devs cutMicrosoft 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 layoffsCWA 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.
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 staffXbox 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.
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.
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.
Obsidian veteran Josh Sawyer thinks RPG choices are best when they're not "purely" good or evil, and Greek plays "knocked it out of the park 1000s of years ago"Obsidian Entertainment design director Josh Sawyer believes that the most compelling choices in role-playing games are those that avoid a strict good versus evil binary, drawing inspiration from ancient Greek tragedies. He argues that such morally ambiguous decisions force players to confront their own values and are more thought-provoking than purely black-and-white options. Sawyer highlights games like Pentiment as examples of this design philosophy, noting a trend in modern RPGs like The Witcher 3 and Baldur's Gate 3 to move away from simplistic morality systems.
New Vegas director Josh Sawyer says games can and should pull on artistic inspirations from 'anywhere and everywhere': 'Greek plays, they knocked it out of the park thousands of years ago—why not look at them?'Obsidian design director Josh Sawyer believes games should draw artistic inspiration from all sources, including ancient Greek plays and classic films. He emphasizes that the core of game design is evoking thoughts and emotions in players, a goal that should be continually reevaluated throughout the development process. Sawyer cites examples from Fallout: New Vegas, Pentiment, and Pillars of Eternity to illustrate how diverse inspirations can inform mechanics and player experience.
With a dumpster-truck full of cash, New Vegas director Josh Sawyer would probably make a 'spiritual successor'…Obsidian studio design director Josh Sawyer stated that his dream project would be a spiritual successor to the 1990s historical fantasy RPG Darklands, provided he could work with people he enjoys. Sawyer, who has worked on games like Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Pentiment, emphasized the importance of a positive work environment over the specific game being developed.
A Disco Elysium writer once told Josh Sawyer that 'we can do better than this now,' and Sawyer agreesRPG veteran Josh Sawyer discusses how game developers inspire each other and evolve design concepts over time. He acknowledges that previous ideas can be improved upon, citing narrative choice in RPGs as an example. Sawyer believes this continuous cycle of inspiration and refinement is essential for the industry's progress.
RPG veteran Josh Sawyer says sometimes game designers "go overboard in removing friction"RPG veteran Josh Sawyer, director of Fallout: New Vegas and Pentiment, believes game designers sometimes remove too much friction from their games, potentially harming the player experience. He discussed this balance while reflecting on the Spirit Eater mechanic in Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer, noting that while friction can be challenging, it should also feel integral and not overwhelming.
After 26 years of RPGs, Obsidian legend Josh Sawyer admits he's still trying to make a good armor systemObsidian design director Josh Sawyer, an RPG veteran, admits he is still striving to create an ideal armor system, citing the 1992 RPG Darklands as a benchmark he has yet to surpass. Sawyer expressed dissatisfaction with Avowed's armor system, which he felt was designed as a progression gate that players disliked, and discussed his vision for a more simulative and historical approach inspired by Darklands.
RPG legend Josh Sawyer says Obsidian doesn't hate Baldur's Gate 3-style romance, "it's more that it is not typically the wheelhouse we have operated in"Obsidian Entertainment's Josh Sawyer explained that the studio doesn't typically include extensive romance options in its RPGs due to the significant time investment required and tonal considerations. While not opposed to romance in games, Sawyer clarified that Obsidian's focus has historically been elsewhere, differentiating their approach from titles like Baldur's Gate 3.
Proton 11 Beta 5 released with more regression fixesValve has released Proton 11 Beta 5, focusing on regression fixes and improving compatibility for various games on Linux. This update addresses controller input issues, performance problems, and ensures games like BattleBit Remastered and Assassin's Creed Shadows are playable. The release also includes updates to underlying components like vkd3d-proton and dxvk.
Talking Point: What Are You Playing This Weekend? (9th May)Several Nintendo editors and contributors share their weekend gaming plans, which include titles like Tomodachi Life, Pragmata, Pentiment, and various Metroidvanias. There's also excitement for upcoming releases such as a Star Fox reimagining and a new Mina the Hollower release date.
8 Finishable RPGs for Adults Who Bounced Off BG3 | TAGThis article recommends eight role-playing games that can be completed in under 30 hours for players who found Baldur's Gate 3 too time-consuming. The list includes titles like Undertale, Citizen Sleeper, Pentiment, Tunic, Disco Elysium, Chrono Trigger, Sea of Stars, and Chained Echoes, categorized by playtime and offering deep narrative satisfaction without a massive time commitment.