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[Sebastian1295]

Veteran role-playing game maker Obsidian Entertainment has no plans to continue The Outer Worlds with a third game, the studio has confirmed.


As part of a Bloomberg interview, Obsidian revealed that last year's The Outer Worlds 2 had underperformed, and a sequel is not in development. Avowed, the company's other blockbuster RPG released last year, also missed its targets — but Obsidian reportedly still has plans for more from its world of Eora, the same setting as Pillars of Eternity.



As for The Outer Worlds 2's prolonged development, Bloomberg's report simply states that the project was made more difficult by the pandemic and technical challenges. Now, Obsidian's focus is reportedly fixed on ensuring games can be made on shorter development timelines, with releases more spaced out, and with as generous a profit margin from Microsoft as they can get away withmuster.

"I don't think anybody really likes five-, six-, seven-year dev cycles," noted Brandon Adler, who served as director on The Outer Worlds 2. "We've kind of grown into that."


Referencing Microsoft's eye-opening 30% profit-margin target for some Xbox studios, Obsidian boss Feargus Urquhart said he hoped the company still continued to fund riskier projects and accepted that "maybe where we are going to be from a profitability standpoint isn't going to be 30%."


https://www.ign.com/articles/obsidians-the-outer-worlds-2-underperformed-and-there-wont-be-a-third

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

 

[Signalis]

They haven't made anything good for a long time now. Last good game they made was Tyranny.

 

[Shubh_C63]

Good. Now please hire writers who aren't 8 year olds.

 

[SmokSmog]

Avowed was garbage.

 

[MiguelItUp]

I understand sometimes things don't line up, but man, when an entire community is asking for something, you should probably look into giving them that something. In this case, I'm talking about New Vegas 2, or a similar Fallout iteration, lol.

 

[Plague Doctor]

Capitalism truly was the real villain after all .

 

[Clintizzle]

I never finished the first Outer Worlds, but the sequel felt like a major improvement and I actually completed it. It's a shame there won't be a third game, though I can see why. Nothing about the series was distinct enough to justify continuing it

 

[Trogdor1123]

I still want to try this game. Hopefully there is a decent deal on it for pc.

 

[Paasei]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

Current Obsidian is unable to make such a game again. As shown by the Outer Worlds 1, Avowed and part 2.

 

[Revolutionary]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

The Obsidian that made New Vegas has been gone for a very long time...

 

[CowboyLou]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

You think the studio who gave us Avowed and Outer Worlds should really try their hand at New Vegas 2?

New Vegas was heavily based on work done by former Black Isle devs for the canceled Fallout 3 in the early 00s, and the Obsidian devs who then worked on New Vegas are all either burnouts, sellouts, or industry outcasts these days (or all three).

That's the modern industry in a nutshell - the best thing you can hope for a beloved classic is for it to be left the fuck alone.

 

[Durin]

I've accepted for a while now they just make mid slop. Grounded and Tyranny are the last things good from them.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Nothing of value was lost. Go woke, go broke.

 

[The_hunter]

Stick of truth was their last good game.

I was disappointed with pillars of eternity and tyranny and haven't bought any of their games since then.

 

[LectureMaster]

Gotta say goodbye to my man adam's fav character designs.

 

[MidGenRefresh]

Gotta say goodbye to my man adam's fav character designs.

Part 2 is much, much better at this than the first one.

 

[Fbh]

Obsidian is one of those devs that I feel like would be instantly more popular if they got rid of most of their art department and started with a new look from scratch.
Maybe i'm being too superficial but I've heard good things about Outer Worlds 2 and yet I can't find any excitement to play it because I just find the overall look of the world and characters unappealing

 

[diffusionx]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

you really want Nu-Obsidian to make New Vegas 2?

 

[RafterXL]

you really want Nu-Obsidian to make New Vegas 2?

Absolutely not.

Can people just be honest about Obsidian?...they were overrated to begin with. They made two great follow-ups to other developers games, where they literally had to do nothing but make story and they still were buggy as fuck. Since then they've literally not made a decent 3d video game...not one. They have zero technical competency, which is why their archaic 1996 era 2d games, which they should probably stick to, are far superior to anything that requires modern talent.

There is a reason why NV2 isn't coming, they just aren't even capable of making something of that quality anymore. Their bread and butter was always their story telling, and they are terrible at that now as well.

 

[adamsapple]

you really want Nu-Obsidian to make New Vegas 2?

If it's gonna as good as their last two games, yes.

 

[IntentionalPun]

"There won't be a 3rd" - They never said that in the interview, but of course IGN knows this.. why can't we just discuss the source of information (the interview, already has a thread) vs. clickbait sites linking to it?

 

[SJRB]

Get absolutely fucked.

How many L's in a row is this now?

 

[Zacfoldor]

"maybe where we are going to be from a profitability standpoint isn't going to be 30%."

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that he should not have said that at this time. Even if it is true. Don't advertise it. Get lost in the shuffle. Now instead this studio will be the first example when pointing to studios that cannot reach 30%. It's not a good look inside MS right now.

 

[Doggyred]

People need to realize that the original team that made Fallout NV departed the studio and that a NV 2 by them will never hold a candle to the original.

 

[Panajev2001a]

If it's gonna as good as their last two games, yes.

Why do you want to kill Obsidian?

 

[Lionel Richie]

It's really crazy to me that they released 2 games in the same year in these times, which is almost unheard of, and they're both really mid and even kind of redundant. Microsoft's gaming portfolio management is an all timer clusterfuck.

 

[Hawk The Slayer]

Good

 

[uncreativename]

The only game that's interesting to me that they've made recently is Pentiment. I don't understand how the same people who make something so beautiful and smart as Pentiment can make such boring looking AAA games as well.

Outer Worlds 2 in particular has an art style that looks like they time warped the art team from Bioshock into 2025 and told them to do exactly what they were doing back then. Very boring and not impressive.

They should make another Pentiment style game, though

 

[blacktout]

"There won't be a 3rd" - They never said that in the interview, but of course IGN knows this.. why can't we just discuss the source of information (the interview, already has a thread) vs. clickbait sites linking to it?

Yeah, I was hugely disappointed by the original Outer Worlds and have zero investment in the series, but the headline is deceptive. There's a pretty big difference between saying there are "no plans at this time" to make a third game and outright confirming that a third game won't happen.

I'd be absolutely shocked if we see an Outer Worlds 3, but there's value in being precise about what is actually being said.

 

[FoxMcChief]

So no need to try the second now? Ok.

 

[Codes 208]

Im not surprised. I remember the $80 they tried to push it for (and the digital version continued to be $80 after they dropped the physical to $70 just before launch)

 

[Knight of the Round]

I'm devastated.

Literally heartbroken.

 

[Hemingwayoffbase]

Honestly? Good. This series did not have nearly enough gas in the tank to warrant another one. The jokes weren't that funny and the gameplay can be put to better use elsewhere.

Outer Worlds is basically just Futurama written by Gen Z.

 

[CowboyLou]

People need to realize that the original team that made Fallout NV departed the studio and that a NV 2 by them will never hold a candle to the original.

I feel like a lot of people don't even realize that NV's lead writer went on to write Horizon Zero Dawn. Talk about going from hero to fucking zero. Sometimes lightning strikes exactly ONCE.

 

[DownLikeBCPowder]

I couldn't really get into the first game but I did give the second a try and while it didn't completely capture me it was pretty solid. I finished the First Act or whatever you want to call it, Planetary system. It wasn't bad but I didn't feel compelled to keep playing particularly.

Avowed, on the other hand, I really enjoyed despite all of the haters. I think some people hate it just to fit into some clique, not that some people don't have legitimate grievances but I often hear complaints that are baseless and reveal they haven't even played the game or know anything about it, such as someone going on about how there are no fish in the water. Like that matters anyway.

Anyway, as I said before in a previous post, I would rather have a pillars of Eternity 3 but I would also take more of this as well in a more refined fashion I think they could do well. And that's one thing I think obsidian has done well with is the Cadence of release so it's interesting that they talk about how they want to increase times between releases when they were previously on record talking about how that was something they did well was the lower amount of time between releases.

Oh well, I don't think anything really has much of a long-term future under Microsoft either way you spin it though. In that regard it really doesn't matter.

 

[Wilhelm_85]

Good. Now please hire writers who aren't 8 year olds.

The problem is that they are mid-to-late 30s ~ early 40s. Millenials.

 

[icecold1983]

Gotta say goodbye to my man adam's fav character designs.

I haven't played any of these games, but this art alone justifies the games failure.

People need to realize that the original team that made Fallout NV departed the studio and that a NV 2 by them will never hold a candle to the original.

Is this their current staff? the above picture makes perfect sense now.

 

[Red Crayon Aristocrat]

I remember how hyped I was when that first game made it's debut at the VGAs 2018.

But it was so boring I couldn't even finish it, people say the sequel is better, but there's just too many other games out there to give a second chance to an ip that made such a bad first impression.

 

[Humdinger]

"maybe where we are going to be from a profitability standpoint isn't going to be 30%."

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that he should not have said that at this time. Even if it is true. Don't advertise it. Get lost in the shuffle. Now instead this studio will be the first example when pointing to studios that cannot reach 30%. It's not a good look inside MS right now.

One thing that will save Obsidian from the axe is their ability to generate content. They are putting out games at a pace that other MS studios aren't. And Xbox needs the material for GamePass. I think that will be their saving grace. They finish games and get them out the door. They aren't great, but they're Content for the machine.

I feel like a lot of people don't even realize that NV's lead writer went on to write Horizon Zero Dawn. Talk about going from hero to fucking zero. Sometimes lightning strikes exactly ONCE.

I liked HZD's story. I found it more interesting than most videogame stories. I didn't care for the story in the second game, though. I couldn't tell you what FNV's story was about. Dialog was good, though.

Btw, someone please tell me that photo is just of their special hires, their art department, a photo from "Women are Wonderful" Day or something? Please don't tell me it's a representative photo of the entire studio.

 

[The Cockatrice]

Shame, Outer Worlds 2 was actually good compared to the first.

 

[Catphish]

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Current Obsidian is unable to make such a game again. As shown by the Outer Worlds 1, Avowed and part 2.

The Obsidian that made New Vegas has been gone for a very long time...

You think the studio who gave us Avowed and Outer Worlds should really try their hand at New Vegas 2?

New Vegas was heavily based on work done by former Black Isle devs for the canceled Fallout 3 in the early 00s, and the Obsidian devs who then worked on New Vegas are all either burnouts, sellouts, or industry outcasts these days (or all three).

That's the modern industry in a nutshell - the best thing you can hope for a beloved classic is for it to be left the fuck alone.

you really want Nu-Obsidian to make New Vegas 2?

Good points, my dudes. Gather the old team to make 2. Make it happen!

 

[CowboyLou]

Good points, my dudes. Gather the old team to make 2. Make it happen!

Can't recapture what was lost. People got old, moved on, washed up. Sure, Sawyer is still at Obsidian, but one look at his social media accounts, or experience the slog that was Pillars of Eternity tells you the guy's brain is clearly fried. Avellone is persona non grata and has mellowed out way too much to capture the quality of his earlier work. Gonzalez is back at the studio now but who knows, I found his work post-New Vegas to be as bad as it gets. And none of them could draw on the canceled Fallout 3/Van Buren concepts this time around - probably the only reason New Vegas could have been made in 18 months to begin with and was as good as it was.

I usually treat any great game as a miracle and never expect lightning to strike twice. I also really do believe game dev is a young man's game, the % of famous "seasoned industry vets" who haven't massively disappointed us in their later careers is vanishingly low. The problem isn't that these old dudes stopped delivering - that's just life. The problem is that the industry and the wider culture have developed in such a way that they were never replaced, and also that there's less room for real creative expression in the AAA space than ever.

 

[amigastar]

Why do you want to kill Obsidian?

Exactly, i want them to stay alive and producing games. Currently playing through Avowed and i really like it. Besides, Pillars of Eternity universe is really interesting to me.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Can't recapture what was lost. People got old, moved on, washed up. Sure, Sawyer is still at Obsidian, but one look at his social media accounts, or experience the slog that was Pillars of Eternity tells you the guy's brain is clearly fried. Avellone is persona non grata and has mellowed out way too much to capture the quality of his earlier work. Gonzalez is back at the studio now but who knows, I found his work post-New Vegas to be as bad as it gets. And none of them could draw on the canceled Fallout 3/Van Buren concepts this time around - probably the only reason New Vegas could have been made in 18 months to begin with and was as good as it was.

I usually treat any great game as a miracle and never expect lightning to strike twice. I also really do believe game dev is a young man's game, the % of famous "seasoned industry vets" who haven't massively disappointed us in their later careers is vanishingly low. The problem isn't that these old dudes stopped delivering - that's just life. The problem is that the industry and the wider culture have developed in such a way that they were never replaced, and also that there's less room for real creative expression in the AAA space than ever.

The good ole days of gaming are gone forever....

 

[uncreativename]

I liked Pillars of Eternity 1 just fine, but yeah idunno what they were thinking making a pirate game without some sort of decent ship combat and sailing mechanics. Didn't get very far in 2 because of that. Sid Meier's Pirates! remains the king of that genre.

I'm still pretty optimistic, though. I mean we still get at least 1 pretty amazing game out of the industry most years :]

 

[Nydius]

With both of their big titles underperforming in the same year, I think it's safe to say the clock is counting down on Obsidian. It's only a matter of time before any the decent talent is shifted elsewhere (Bethesda) and the rest of the studio is gutted then shuttered.

 

[Banjo64]

Good, now make fucking New Vegas 2 because it's all you are good for, Obsidian!

This version of the studio could not possibly write a script as compelling as New Vegas.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

Looks like Obsidian has a knack for getting a sequel out of games. Grounded 1/2, OW 1/2, and looks like Avowed will have a sequel.

The only game that's interesting to me that they've made recently is Pentiment. I don't understand how the same people who make something so beautiful and smart as Pentiment can make such boring looking AAA games as well.

Outer Worlds 2 in particular has an art style that looks like they time warped the art team from Bioshock into 2025 and told them to do exactly what they were doing back then. Very boring and not impressive.

They should make another Pentiment style game, though

Obsidian of old (going by their games history) seems much different than now. Makes sense since those old games could be 20 years ago.

But going by the studio's recent games, they seem more atune making quirky kinds of games... Grounded, Pentiment, and if anyone likes really colourful or cheesy kinds of RPG with female characters who all look like guys. Very different tone than their old games.

So it comes down to if any gamer likes odd kinds of games. Some will and they'll probably like them. But gamers looking for more traditional games or is hoping for a game similar to Fallout Vegas will be disappointment.