Obsidian Director Says Studio's DNA Remains the Same Despite Layoffs
The statement directly counters narratives that Obsidian has fundamentally changed following Xbox's restructuring and layoffs, reaffirming continuity in leadership and creative direction.
Reporting from 1 source: Game Spark.
Obsidian Entertainment director Brandon Adler responded on LinkedIn to criticism that the studio has lost its identity after recent Xbox layoffs. He acknowledged the layoffs were difficult but argued that many of the same people who worked on past titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity still hold key roles. He said the studio has changed over 20 years but its core creative spirit remains unchanged.
Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Obsidian Entertainment was a target for closure as part of Xbox's business restructuring, though those reports were later retracted. Now, director Brandon Adler has directly addressed concerns about the studio's identity. In a LinkedIn post, Adler acknowledged that the week was extremely difficult due to layoffs that separated the studio from talented developers and close friends. He then pushed back against what he called misguided public commentary claiming Obsidian had lost its former self. Adler pointed out that the same people who led The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, and Fallout: New Vegas are still serving as lead directors and directors today. He admitted the studio is not the same as 20 years ago but insisted its DNA has not changed.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.