Outer Worlds 2 Director Reacts To Mass Layoffs At Xbox And Dispels “Misinformation”
Microsoft conducted mass layoffs on July 6 affecting Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds and Avowed. Approximately 25% of Obsidian’s staff were laid off, prompting an emotional response from Brandon Adler, the director of The Outer Worlds 2, who expressed sadness at losing colleagues and friends while praising the departed developers’ talents.
The layoffs prompted significant changes in the studio’s roadmap. Reports indicated that Avowed 2 has been effectively cancelled, with Obsidian pivoting to focus on a new Fallout game being led by Josh Sawyer, the director of the acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas. This shift sparked industry discussion about whether Obsidian could recapture its former creative heights following the upheaval.
Adler addressed these concerns, defending Obsidian’s creative capability by asserting that the studio maintains “the same DNA” that produced acclaimed titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Knights of the Old Republic 2. He expressed pride in the studio’s history while remaining optimistic about its future direction, emphasizing that the remaining team possesses the core creative vision that defined Obsidian’s most celebrated work.