“Are we serious?… Yes”: After Launching Elder Scrolls Rival ‘Avowed’, Obsidian’s Gameplan to Outlast Bethesda Is Death by a Thousand Cuts

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22 years into the gaming industry, Obsidian Entertainment is far from a fresh face. With a storied past boasting hits like “Fallout: New Vegas” and “Pillars of Eternity,” this team continues to embody the same ardor and dedication that ignited its beginnings.

Now, the studio is moving forward with their most ambitious RPG titled “Avowed,” aiming to commemorate their centennial anniversary in an impressive manner. Instead of announcing a massive blockbuster or a high-risk, high-reward project for this significant milestone, they have opted for a more measured and strategic approach that might surprise many observers.

Obsidian wants to play the long game to reach that 100th-year

As a passionate gaming enthusiast, I was thrilled to learn about Obsidian Entertainment’s visionary roadmap for the next century, unveiled by Marcus Morgan and Justin Britch at the D.I.C.E. Summit (as reported by PC Gamer). Their plan, both ambitious and surprisingly grounded, lays out an exciting path for the studio’s enduring journey ahead.

In an industry where each production house aims for a grand success through a blockbuster movie, Obsidian instead embarks on a less conventional path, avoiding second thoughts about potential missed opportunities. Instead, the studio decides to maintain a lean structure and set achievable, practical sales targets.

Instead of pouring all resources into a single high-stakes venture with great potential but also significant risk, they prefer to steer clear of the corporate treadmill marked by exorbitant budgets and artificial hype. Rather than gambling their future on a game that might either set new records or plummet dramatically, both executives are committed to steady advancement.

Are we serious? … Yes.

This is a novel strategy that’s been quite innovative lately. The studio aims to develop high-quality games using their enthusiastic and committed team members. Rather than striving for unattainable milestones, they aim to deliver reliable, considerate gaming experiences to the players.

While some might view this method as uninspired, it’s all about maintaining a practical perspective regarding attainable goals. This mentality guarantees that every title we produce offers an optimal blend of quality and cost, which is crucial for our studio’s longevity and success. Obsidian’s leadership sees this strategy as vital to our long-term survival and growth.

A measured pace in a fast-paced industry

What sets Obsidian apart from other studios is its unique, distinct style. Unlike powerhouses like Bethesda, known for epic series such as The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, which typically aim high with large budgets, sprawling open worlds, and immense anticipation, Obsidian tends to offer a different, more unconventional approach.

As a passionate gamer, I understand the anticipation that comes with highly-hyped games like Fallout 76 and Starfield. Yet, as someone who’s been behind the scenes, I can tell you that studios put an immense amount of pressure on themselves to deliver nothing short of exceptional. This high-stakes approach carries a risk: it could lead to massive letdowns, as we saw with Fallout 76, or games like Starfield that didn’t quite live up to the sky-high expectations set for them.

Although Bethesda concentrates on developing a game as massive as their hit, Skyrim, Obsidian opts to steer clear of undue pressure by centering their efforts on creating games that are manageable in scope. By doing so, they guarantee that each project remains fresh and stays within its budgetary and creative limitations.

By adopting a compact yet targeted strategy, it ensures a steady flow of game releases without succumbing to the strain of meeting excessively high standards. Although its latest offering, Avowed, has been likened to Skyrim (as suggested by reviews and previews), it doesn’t strive intentionally towards that comparison.

Through maintaining a modest scale, keeping ambitions achievable, and striving for regular, incremental victories, Obsidian is paving its way to survive longer than its rivals in the future. This path might be gradual and steady, but it could potentially result in an enduring reputation within the gaming industry.

Ultimately, it’s crucial to keep in mind that major triumphs aren’t always born out of monumental strides, but rather from well-placed, strategic moves that, with passage of time, reveal their profound significance.

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2025-02-18 08:34