In the wake of Xbox’s great reset (which we covered here), Obsidian Entertainment has announced they will be working on a new Fallout game led by Josh Sawyer. The long-tenured designer has directed many of Obsidian’s works, most recently heading the design for The Outer Worlds 2.
The news is a double-edged sword. Fallout’s IP has never been more popular due to the success of Amazon’s live-action Fallout show, and Obsidian has a proven track record of creating engaging open-world RPGs like Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, and the fan-favorite Fallout: New Vegas. However, Obsidian had to cancel a few upcoming projects to focus on this new game. One of these was a sequel to their original fantasy RPG, Avowed. The game was decently received (it currently has an 80 on Metacritic), and the Anniversary Update launched earlier this year shows the studio wants to invest in it. Reportedly, a skeleton crew will still work on the sequel, but for now the project is on ice.
We’re approaching this news with cautious optimism. It has been more than a decade since the last single-player Fallout game released, and Obsidian is historically one of the best studios to handle the series. However, the studio is still dealing with the turmoil of the Xbox Reset. 52 of their employees were a part of the 1,600 layoffs, which is roughly a quarter of their workforce.
How much will Xbox’s new direction affect the production of this game? Only time will tell. Until then, we here at DSR will start stockpiling RadAways, scrounging for bottlecaps, and getting fitted for our Vault suits.
Jhuvin P is a new writer for CBC/DSR. He has previous experience as a ghostwriter, has published several short stories, and is perpetually working on a novel. In addition to writing, he is also a comedian based out of Colorado Springs. He posts clips of his stand-up along with his other goofy antics on TikTok and Instagram.