Reported lead of Obsidian’s new Fallout game wants you to feel a “sense of agony” when playing an RPG, rather than being an all-powerful god-splatterer
Josh Sawyer, the renowned director of Fallout: New Vegas, is leading Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming Fallout game with a distinct design philosophy centered on challenging player agency and meaningful consequences. Rather than empowering players as all-powerful characters capable of solving any problem, Sawyer emphasizes creating a “sense of agony” where players must grapple with difficult decisions and acknowledge inherent limitations.
A core principle of Sawyer’s approach is that not all challenges can be resolved through combat or raw power. He uses mass starvation as an example—a systemic problem that cannot be “punched your way out of,” underscoring the importance of economic, social, and environmental gameplay elements. This design philosophy advocates for RPGs that respect player vulnerability and force meaningful choices with complex outcomes.
Sawyer’s vision represents a departure from traditional power fantasy RPGs where players accumulate overwhelming strength and resources. Instead, his approach emphasizes emotional and intellectual engagement through systemic constraints and realistic consequences. Players will need to consider broader impacts of their decisions and confront situations where no perfect solution exists.
This design direction reflects Sawyer’s longstanding approach to RPG development, evident in his previous work. The philosophy promises an RPG experience focused on depth, consequence, and player frustration as a legitimate design tool—creating engagement through challenge and moral complexity rather than accumulated power.