Obsidian CEO Finds Avowed and Outer Worlds 2 to Be Great RPGs and Is Already Thinking about Future Games
Microsoft's big layoffs also worried Avowed developers, but the head of Obsidian Entertainment assures that the team is focused on making great games.
Many players became concerned about the future of other Microsoft-owned studios due to the closure of the devs of Hi-Fi Rush, despite the warm reception of this unusual game. However, the CEO of the Obsidian Entertainment studio "isn't worried about tomorrow" and is already thinking about future projects after the Avowed premiere.
Feargus Urquhart, the founder of the company, was interviewed by PC Gamer shortly after the conclusion of this year's Xbox Games Showcase 2024 presentation, which included, among other things, a new trailer and extensive gameplay from Obsidian's upcoming RPG.
The dev didn't hide that Microsoft's mass layoffs are "terrible," and the closure of Tango Gameworks and one of the Arkane Studios branches alarmed his employees. This is hardly surprising, because even if the team responsible for a seemingly big hit like Hi-Fi Rush could suddenly disband, what guarantee do other studios have for the future?
Nevertheless, Urquhart claims that the Obsidian Entertainment team is focused on creating "great games" and the studio is even thinking about what it will work on after Avowed and Outer Worlds 2.
Everything that's happened over the last six months with layoffs and the pinnacle of this stuff with Tango and Arkane and the other studios, it really has made people worried, and shaken. I think we just try to say 'Hey, this is what we're working on today, and we believe in it.' I'm not saying that [Tango and Arkane] didn't believe in what they're doing, but we just keep our heads down and move forward and say we're working on great games. We're working on Avowed, we're working on Outer Worlds 2. It's probably not a surprise—we have other stuff we're thinking about and looking at doing.
He mentioned that, naturally, the layoffs upset him. These figures are already at a record high for the gaming industry, with 10,900 people losing their jobs in less than six months. By comparison: last year, a shameful record of 10,500 employees was set (via Matthew Ball on X).
Nevertheless, Urquhart isn't worried about what tomorrow will bring. However, he also desires Obsidian to endure for another 15 years, even though he may not be working at the studio by then due to his age (Urquhart is currently 54 years old).
Avowed is set to be released on PC and Xbox Series X/S consoles on November 12, according to a recent accidental leak. Officially, the only discussion is about a premiere this year.
