Obsidian Entertainment has experienced mixed results with their 2025 lineup, as their ambitious titles, Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, failed to achieve significant success, despite positive reviews. In contrast, the survival crafting game Grounded 2 thrived. Feargus Urquhart, head of Obsidian, emphasized lessons learned from this year, advocating for shorter development cycles to boost profitability and efficiency. With Avowed taking nearly seven years to develop and undergoing a significant reboot, there’s a collective push within Obsidian to reevaluate long-term projects. The studio's successful smaller titles balance out the larger disappointments, hinting at a more sustainable approach for future projects.
What challenges did Obsidian Entertainment face with Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2?Obsidian faced significant challenges with Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, notably underwhelming performance despite favorable reviews. The lengthy development cycles, coupled with ambitious project scopes, hindered the financial success of these titles compared to the more accessible and immediate returns from Grounded 2.
Avowed, an open-world fantasy RPG inspired by The Elder Scrolls, represents Obsidian's bold foray into established genre conventions. With an extensive development history, the game's evolution and eventual outcome underscore a broader conversation within the industry about sustainable game development and the impact of extended timelines on market performance.
Casey Loh
Casey Loh is a tech-savvy writer who specializes in the intersection of gaming and technology. With a background in computer science, Casey brings a technical lens to her reviews, breaking down the nuts and bolts of game engines, graphics, and AI innovation.
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Comments
It's interesting to see how the industry's push for blockbusters can sometimes backfire, even for teams with great ideas. Maybe the real lesson is that a well-executed smaller game can build a more loyal community than a sprawling project that loses its way.
It's wild how even a beloved studio like Obsidian can get caught in the bigger is better trap. Sometimes the most satisfying wins come from those smaller, focused passion projects.