Brandon Adler, veteran of Obsidian Entertainment and director of Outer Worlds 2, weighed in on Microsoft’s Xbox mass layoffs and the rumored cancellation of Avowed 2. He emphasized that despite staff cuts, the studio’s core DNA remains unchanged and warned against spreading false narratives.

मुख्य बिंदु (Key Takeaways)

  • Obsidian faced a 25% staff reduction, with many developers and friends saying goodbye.
  • Adler asserts the studio’s DNA remains the same, linking past hits like The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas to current projects.
  • Rumors about Avowed 2’s cancellation are deemed misinformation; the studio is shifting focus to a new Fallout title.

On July 6, Microsoft announced a sweeping layoff across its Xbox division, directly affecting Obsidian Entertainment. The cuts eliminated roughly a quarter of the studio’s workforce, prompting Outer Worlds 2 director and 20‑year Obsidian veteran Brandon Adler to describe the week as “extremely difficult.” He said, “I’ve had to say goodbye to amazing developers and also to some of my best friends. If you’re looking to hire any of these former Obsidian devs, you’re hiring some of the best people around—both professionally and personally.”

Combating False Narratives

Adler noted that the most challenging part of recent days has been the flood of “cold‑take artists” commenting on what Obsidian “is or isn’t.” He took issue with claims that the studio “is no longer who they used to be” or that its DNA has shifted. “Most of the time they are not just wrong, but spreading an enormous amount of misinformation,” Adler said. He reminded readers that many of the current leads and directors are the same individuals who worked on The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity, and Fallout: New Vegas—essentially the same talent line that runs from KotOR2 to today’s titles.

Studio DNA and Future Direction

While admitting that Obsidian is “of course not” the exact same studio it was two decades ago—“nothing stays the same” in life—Adler insisted that “the DNA at Obsidian is the same as it always was.” He highlighted the studio’s legacy of critically acclaimed games such as Knights of the Old Republic, Fallout: New Vegas, Neverwinter Nights 2, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. “I’m extremely proud of our history and I am also excited for who we have become,” he said, urging the community to ignore baseless commentary that lacks insight into game development.

Brandon Adler’s Journey

Adler joined Obsidian in January 2006 after serving four years in the United States Air Force, participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as a senior airman. His first role was as a QA tester on Neverwinter Nights 2, followed by associate producer positions on Alpha Protocol, Fallout: New Vegas, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. After a brief stint at MEDL Mobile in 2012, he returned in 2013 to become lead producer on Pillars of Eternity. He later served as gameplay design director on Avowed and now leads the unannounced project while directing Outer Worlds 2 alongside Leonard Boyarsky.

Layoffs Impact and New Focus

According to reports, the layoffs hit deep, with 25% of staff let go and the planned sequel to Avowed reportedly canceled. Obsidian is reallocating resources toward a new Fallout game, spearheaded by New Vegas director Josh Sawyer. Despite these shifts, Adler’s message is clear: the creative spirit that defined past successes remains intact, and the studio’s future titles will continue to bear that hallmark.