Obsidian Entertainment confirmed that it doesn't plan to continue the saga after sales results that were below expectations
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Obsidian Entertainment confirmed that it doesn't have plans to continue The Outer Worlds universe beyond its second installment. The decision responds to an internal evaluation after a demanding period for the studio, marked by consecutive releases and commercial results that didn't meet Microsoft's expectations, its parent company.
The confirmation came through Feargus Urquhart, the studio's director, who explained that the most recent titles didn't reach the projected sales targets. This situation forced Obsidian to rethink its development model and its long-term strategy.
Sales below expectations and internal strain
According to Urquhart, both Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 were in development for more than six years. Despite that extensive production cycle, the commercial performance was considered disappointing within the studio.
The impact wasn't only economic. During the same year, Obsidian released three different games, which caused severe strain on the development and support teams. This overload affected the studio's ability to properly support each release and to build active communities around its titles.
Obsidian confirma que no habrá nuevos juegos en el universo de The Outer Worlds
A change of strategy at Obsidian Entertainment
The internal analysis made it clear that the model of large productions with prolonged cycles isn't sustainable for the studio. In contrast, Grounded 2 was highlighted as a successful case, with a smaller investment and better results in terms of reception and continuity.
Based on this experience, Obsidian decided to focus its efforts on projects with shorter development times. The new objective is to produce games within three to four years, with more spaced-out releases and better resource planning.
Fewer releases and greater focus on each game
Josh Sawyer, the studio's design director, acknowledged that releasing three games in the same year was an accidental and unfavorable situation. The internal competition for the audience's attention, combined with a saturated market, prevented each title from having the expected impact.
The lack of time between launches also made post-launch support difficult. This resulted in games that didn't achieve the longevity or the commercial success initially projected. As a consequence, Obsidian chose to reduce its roadmap and to prioritize quality over quantity.
Obsidian confirma que no habrá nuevos juegos en el universo de The Outer Worlds
What will happen with The Outer Worlds and upcoming projects
Although there won't be a new installment of The Outer Worlds, the studio will continue to offer additional content for The Outer Worlds 2, as well as for Grounded 2. Both projects will continue to receive support and updates.
Looking ahead, Obsidian will focus its creativity on new original proposals and on expanding the Avowed universe, which shares a world with Pillars of Eternity. Although a direct sequel wasn't confirmed, the studio is considering exploring new stories within that setting.
As part of this strategy, Avowed will arrive on PlayStation 5 with key improvements. It will include a New Game Plus mode, new races, additional weapons, a photo mode, and optimizations for Xbox and PC.
With this shift, Obsidian Entertainment seeks to ensure more sustainable development and to invest in universes that still have room for growth and player retention.
