Obsidian Game Director Brandon Adler has responded to criticism that the studio “isn’t what it used to be.” Adler said it’s unrealistic to expect any studio to stay exactly the same over two decades. “Is Obsidian the same as it was 20 years ago? No, of course not. Nothing stays the same.” He argued that while developers have come and gone, the studio’s core identity remains intact. “The DNA at Obsidian is the same as it always was.” Adler pushed back against claims that all creators of the studio’s classic RPGs have left, saying many veterans remain and continue shaping its games.

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, is facing a class-action lawsuit in California over claims that it violated labor laws. According to an amended complaint filed by a former QA lead, the lawsuit alleges a “systematic pattern of wage and hour violations.” The claims include: >unpaid overtime >missed meal and rest breaks >late wage payments >unreimbursed work expenses >inaccurate pay statements. The proposed class covers non-exempt employees who worked for Obsidian in California since October 2021. The lawsuit seeks compensation, penalties, and legal costs. And ofc Obsidian has denied the accusations. In its response, the company rejected the claims and asked the court to dismiss the case.

According to former Obsidian co-founder Chris Avellone, a sequel to Avowed is already in early development. Avellone says veteran RPG designer George Ziets is leading the project. Ziets previously worked on games like Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer and Pillars of Eternity. He also claims Josh Sawyer is involved in a similar way to the first game, while Carrie Patel is not directing the sequel.

Fans are calling out Obsidian Entertainment after the studio announced a “free upgrade” for The Outer Worlds. Obsidian’s April 30 announcement said things like: “If you have at least the base edition of The Outer Worlds in your library before May 27th, you will be receiving the Spacer’s Choice Edition free. That’s right, free! This is for all platforms…” The issue is that many players say the upgrade is not truly free for everyone. To access the upgraded The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition: > On PC, Ps5, and Xbox X|S, owners of the base game before May 27 receive the upgraded edition at no extra cost. >On last-gen (PS4 and Xbox One), players must own both the base game and the two DLC expansions to qualify for the free upgrade. The Outer Worlds later released a statement regarding The Spacer’s Choice Edition upgrade: "If you purchased the base game on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 between 4/30 and 5/27, or have any issues with the upgrade, please contact our support team and we’ll work with you to make it right."