As rumors swirl around Xbox's future, the latest news (or leak) is that Microsoft has hired developer Obsidian Entertainment to continue Fall-out series. Although this is exciting for many reasons, not the least of which is Obsidian's potential return to his Fallout: New Vegas setting is devastating news for fans of Obsidian's other IPs; especially, Avowed and Pillar of Eternity. Anyone out there looking forward Avowed 2 or other PoE spin-off may have to put those dreams on hold for now.
Avowed naturally takes place in Obsidian's internal universe, in the same setting as Pillar of Eternity despite not acting as a direct sequel to Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. As reported by Jason Schreier, Obsidian was already well on its way to development Avowed 2, despite the first game not being released until 2025. But the news that Obsidian would take over the next one Fall-out game came with the less exciting news: to make room for that game's development, Avowed 2 was interrupted.
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This move away from the Xbox raises the question of whether we even need a new one Fall-out game from Obsidian. After all, Bethesda confirmed that it was also working on it Fallout 5so one wonders if both projects are really necessary, especially if they will be released close to each other. That's no guarantee, as Bethesda is likely feeling more heat after finishing The Elder Scrolls 6but it is a possibility. If that were the case, Xbox would be putting up one of its most valuable IPs to compete with itself and risk tiring fans in the process.
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Again, this shift to Obsidian could mean that Bethesda is now solely focusing on The Elder Scrolls 6and Obsidian takes care of the next one Fall-out game. That would represent a significant shift in Xbox's power structure, but given Obsidian's recent work compared to Bethesda's, it's not entirely unprecedented. It has been over 10 years Fallout 4, and eight years thenFallout 76. At the same time, there is a hugely popular Fall-out series on Amazon Prime that Bethesda has failed to capitalize on; yes, other than a 10th anniversary edition of Fallout 4. Maybe some fresh eyes are just what the franchise needs.
With a remaster of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas is confirmed alongside Fallout 5, New Vegas 2 may be a redundant direction for the series.
As for Obsidian, this news is likely as fresh to their team as it is to us. After all, these reports did not give the impression that development was on the right track; this new Fall-out the game has just begun. One wonders if this new project is really the best direction to take a studio like Obsidian. With a remaster of both Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas is confirmed alongside Fallout 5, New Vegas 2 may be a redundant direction for the series. Of course, we don't know New Vegas 2 is what Obsidian has been tasked with, but it seems like an obvious direction to take given the seriousness of Xbox's situation. Fallout: New Vegas is, after all, one of the most beloved games in the franchise.
Obsidian is an efficient and capable developer with an amazing track record
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Image via Xbox Game Studios -
Image via Obsidian Entertainment -
Quietly, almost imperceptibly, Obsidian Entertainment has become one of the most consistent developers in the gaming industry. Despite a frequent lack of funding and a heavy reliance on word-of-mouth sales during launch day milestones, this is a studio that bleeds quality at every turn. Starting with Pillar of Eternity In 2015, as the team moved away from primarily licensed IPs, Obsidian has been on a decade-long streak of exceptional releases. Frankly, that series can stretch back to its debut with Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords, Even if Dungeon Siege 3 is a notable stumble within that span. It's no wonder why Xbox is looking to Obsidian for the next one Fall-out game; these are developers who know what they are doing.
There is little doubt that a new Fall-out The game will be a hit, but there is a very real chance that it will Avowed 2 could be just as good.
It's also worth noting that in 2025, Obsidian released three major titles that it developed in-house: Avowed in February, Grounded 2 (Early Access) in July and The Outer Worlds 2 in October. This lends credence to rumors that a small team at Obsidian, despite being suspended, will continue work on Avowed 2 while most of the staff move over to Fall-out. After all, if the game is almost finished when Obsidian's new Fall-out launched, there's a good chance Xbox will accept and release Avowed 2 as well as for a cheap and painless profit.
Despite the chaos surrounding it, this announcement could be a watershed moment for Obsidian. There is no doubt that a new Fall-out The game will be a hit, but there is a very real chance that it will Avowed 2 could be just as good. The first one Avowed was very good. Flawed, yes, but with exceptional gameplay, especially for a studio known more for its writing and storytelling. The problems were mostly system-based: a progression system that felt stymied, a reliance on gear upgrades over character leveling, and an overall story that felt a little too safe, even if the various parts were very well done. These are all problems that a sequel could easily solve, all while expanding on it Avowed outstanding combat and platforming.
Look no further yet The Outer Worlds 2 for what this studio can do with a sequel. The first game was fun, but also flawed. It was an interesting mix of Fall-out and Mass Effect, but it felt restrictive in its world design, the combat became a bit similar in the final act, and (again) the overall story felt uninspired, even if the characters within it were brilliant. The Outer Worlds 2 solved almost all of this. The combat was greatly improved (with some of the weirdest weapons you'll ever find in an FPS), the game world felt expansive and alive, and the story was easy to get invested in. Cut and paste the same changes in Avowed 2, and Obsidian could easily get a sleeper hit quietly in the background.
- Released
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February 18, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Publisher
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Xbox Game Studios
