A Disco Elysium writer once told Josh Sawyer that ‘we can do better than this now,’ and Sawyer agrees
Josh Sawyer, director of acclaimed RPGs including Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Pentiment, recently appeared on the Human Can Opener Podcast to discuss the collaborative nature of game development. During the interview, Sawyer reflected on how game developers continually draw inspiration from one another’s work, describing the relationship as one of mutual learning rather than competition.
Sawyer emphasized that he doesn’t claim to have all the answers when it comes to RPG design, and that the industry thrives when creators engage with and learn from each other’s approaches. This perspective was reinforced by a writer from Disco Elysium, who reportedly reached out to Sawyer to discuss evolving game design practices and raising creative standards. The exchange highlights a broader message about the importance of continuous creative evolution in the industry.
The comments underscore how established developers like Sawyer remain open to feedback and new perspectives, believing that raising the bar collectively benefits the entire medium. This attitude of mutual inspiration and willingness to improve reflects a healthy creative community where established voices encourage rather than dismiss emerging or alternative design philosophies.