Obsidian had a split year in 2025: its big-budget RPGs Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 failed to capture as much attention as expected despite generally positive reviews, while Grounded 2 emerged as a clear commercial bright spot. The studio is now exploring whether quicker, more iterative development rhythms could reduce risk and better respond to player demand.

  • Avowed earned favorable critical notices but was largely absent from many year-end roundups and didn’t translate that praise into breakout sales or cultural momentum.
  • The Outer Worlds 2 mirrored Avowed’s trajectory, drawing respectable reviews but underperforming against expectations for a high-profile sequel.
  • Grounded 2 bucked the trend, with its familiar survival-crafting loop and incremental improvements resonating strongly with players and driving notable success.
  • In response, Obsidian is considering shorter development windows or smaller-scale projects to lower financial exposure and increase flexibility in a volatile market.
  • The potential shift could change the studio’s slate and timelines, prioritising more frequent releases or modular updates rather than long, resource-heavy productions.

Source: Eurogamer

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