The president of Bethesda has tried to reassure Obsidian Leisure workers that the studio will retain its “inventive identification” following its transfer.
Earlier this week Xbox introduced further layoffs and widespread changes to its entire studio structure, with a lot of its studios transferring to different publishers or merging with different studios.
As a part of the plans, Obsidian – recognized for such titles as The Outer Worlds, Avowed and Grounded – can be rolled into Bethesda, because it continues working its present tasks together with Grounded and a brand new Fallout recreation.
Now Bethesda president Jill Braff has despatched an electronic mail to Obsidian workers telling them the transfer is “primarily a change in reporting construction” and that Obsidian’s inventive ideas can be unaffected.
As reported by Aftermath, the e-mail reads: “The inventive identification and strengths that make Obsidian distinct will stay on the core of their studio and work.
“[Obsidian CEO] Feargus [Urquhart] and the Obsidian management staff will proceed to guide Obsidian, with the studio reporting to me. Bethesda Sport Studios will proceed to guide the Fallout franchise.
“Collectively, the groups will construct on their longstanding relationship and the early work already underway on a brand new Fallout challenge, with extra to share within the months forward.
“This construction helps the franchise-led mannequin we’ve been strengthening, whereas holding accountability for each the studio and the franchise clear.”
She added: “I’ve had the chance to get to know Feargus Urquhart and his staff over the previous six years, and I’ve nice respect for what they’ve constructed. Obsidian has extraordinary inventive expertise, deep experience, and an extended historical past of making memorable video games and experiences. I’m trying ahead to working extra carefully with them.”
In July it was reported that Obsidian was one of many studios affected by Xbox’s major ‘reset’, which entails shedding 1000’s of staff throughout all its departments and refocusing on its largest franchises.
In accordance with a WARN discover in California, Obsidian – which was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 – misplaced 52 staff, together with 43 primarily based in its California places of work and 9 in-state distant staff.
In a Bloomberg interview with Obsidian head Fergus Urquhart printed earlier this 12 months, it was implied that Grounded 2 was “a giant hit” for the studio, however that neither The Outer Worlds 2 nor Avowed met gross sales expectations.
A report from the same publication posted in July claimed that Obsidian cancelled a planned sequel to Avowed to start out work on its new Fallout recreation.