Bethesda say new underlings Obsidian will retain their “distinct” creative identity, despite no longer being as free to work on their own creatively distinct series

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Bethesda say new underlings Obsidian will retain their “distinct” creative identity, despite no longer being as free to work on their own creatively distinct series

Rock Paper Shotgun · 1 hour ago

Obsidian Entertainment has been reorganised under the leadership of Bethesda following Xbox's recent studio restructuring, with the studio now reporting to Jill Braff rather than operating independently. Bethesda has stated that Obsidian will retain its "distinct creative identity" despite this change in reporting structure, though the article argues this claim is difficult to reconcile with the studio's reduced autonomy.

In practical terms, Obsidian's developers are now focused on a new Fallout project led by Josh Sawyer, whilst the studio's own RPG series—The Outer Worlds and Avowed—have been shelved. The restructuring reflects Xbox's shift towards a franchise-led strategy centred on established flagship series. The article's analysis suggests that Obsidian's distinctive character historically stemmed from its independence, and that greater oversight from Bethesda's leadership is likely to gradually erode that identity over time, transforming the studio into a collaborator supporting Bethesda's franchises rather than a creator of its own properties.

  • Obsidian now reports to Bethesda under new Xbox restructuring, losing independence
  • Studio pivoting to Fallout work instead of developing its own series
  • Bethesda claims distinct identity will remain; analysis suggests structural constraints make this unlikely

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