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Obsidian game director reacts to people “spouting off” about the studio and how it’s not what it “used to be”
Brandon Adler, a 13-year veteran director at Obsidian Entertainment, publicly defended the studio following Microsoft's recent job cuts. Addressing what he called an "extremely difficult week," he challenged outsiders making unfounded claims about Obsidian's evolution, emphasizing that many staff members spreading commentary lack direct knowledge of game development or the studio's history. Adler highlighted that the same leadership figures responsible for acclaimed titles spanning two decades—from Knights of the Old Republic 2 to The Outer Worlds—continue directing projects today.
The statement came amid broader fallout from Microsoft's reorganisation of its gaming division, which saw Obsidian lose approximately one-quarter of its staff. The company realigned the studio's priorities toward Fallout franchise titles rather than its previous projects, resulting in the cancellation of multiple games including the announced Avowed sequel. Adler acknowledged the studio is not identical to its past self but argued its foundational identity and creative approach remain consistent, while cautioning observers against speculating without substantive insight into studio operations.
In short
- Obsidian Entertainment director dismissed public criticism of the studio's direction, arguing core leadership and talent remain unchanged despite industry perception
- Microsoft's Xbox layoffs cut roughly 25% of Obsidian's workforce and shifted the studio toward Fallout projects, resulting in cancelled games including an Avowed sequel
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The changes at Obsidian are material and consequential—the studio has lost a quarter of its staff, had multiple announced games cancelled, and been redirected by its corporate owner towards a single franchise. A studio's identity is substantially defined by its people, its autonomy, and the range of work it produces; these have all demonstrably shifted. Such structural changes represent a genuine transformation, not merely circumstantial difficulty.
The case against
The creative leadership and foundational vision that defined Obsidian across two decades—overseeing acclaimed titles from Knights of the Old Republic 2 to The Outer Worlds—remain in place to guide the studio forward. A studio's core character rests in its proven talent and creative philosophy rather than headcount alone; the same leadership, capability, and approach that made Obsidian distinctive persist despite external pressures. Much of the external criticism lacks substantive knowledge of development and conflates temporary restructuring with fundamental dissolution.
Explained simply
Obsidian Entertainment is a video game studio that has been developing games for over two decades, including celebrated titles such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 and The Outer Worlds. The studio has been owned by Microsoft since 2018.
This week, Microsoft announced job cuts across its gaming division, with Obsidian losing roughly a quarter of its staff. As part of a wider reorganisation, the studio's focus shifted towards developing Fallout games instead of its previous projects, with several announced titles including an Avowed sequel being cancelled.
These changes have sparked discussion among gaming observers and fans about whether Obsidian has fundamentally changed. Some have argued the studio is no longer what it once was, a claim recently addressed by Brandon Adler, a director at the studio who has worked there for 13 years.
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