Pentiment
News, coverage and analysis tracking Pentiment across the outlets.
Latest coverage
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.
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.
Summer Vacation Handheld Loadout 2026 | TAG
This guide provides recommendations for pre-installing 4-6 games on handheld devices for vacation gaming, emphasizing variety and offline playability. It covers device-specific considerations for Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPad, along with strategies for battery management, cloud saves, and storage. The article also suggests backup activities and packing checklists for a seamless gaming experience during travel.
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 agrees
RPG 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 system
Obsidian 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 fixes
Valve 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.
