Microsoft Cancels Avowed Sequel, Pivots Obsidian to New Fallout Game

Microsoft has canceled the planned sequel to Obsidian's Avowed, a move that reshapes the studio's immediate future and removes a major entry from the Xbox first-party lineup. This cancellation follows broader corporate restructuring at Xbox, which includes significant staff reductions and a strategic pivot toward established franchises. The decision means players will not see an Avowed 2, while the studio shifts its resources to support existing titles and a new Fallout project.

Studio leadership shifts to Bethesda collaboration amid corporate restructuring

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Avowed, is now redirecting its development efforts toward a new Fallout game. Josh Sawyer, the creative lead for Avowed, will lead this new Fallout title in collaboration with Bethesda Game Studios. This internal transfer of leadership marks a significant change in direction for the studio, which previously focused on original intellectual property and spin-offs.

The cancellation of the Avowed sequel coincides with a wider restructuring at Microsoft, where Xbox CEO Asha Sharma announced 3,200 job cuts across the division. Obsidian itself has laid off approximately a quarter of its workforce as part of this consolidation. Despite these cuts, the studio will continue to support The Outer Worlds 2 with downloadable content and is currently developing Grounded 2.

Although the sequel has been canceled, Obsidian continues to support the original Avowed as an active title. By shifting resources to a new Fallout game, the studio demonstrates a continued commitment to the franchise while still maintaining its existing player base. This strategic shift reflects Microsoft's broader approach of focusing on established intellectual properties within the current market landscape.

Recent updates to Avowed have addressed similar balance and stability issues, but the studio's future now depends on its success with the new Fallout project. While the cancellation of Avowed 2 marks the end of one project, the transition to Fallout keeps Obsidian's creative contributions vital to Xbox's overall gaming strategy.

Source: DEXERTO