GAMES Bethesda rolls Obsidian Entertainment into parent company, retains Feargus Urquhart as studio head PLAYSTATION 5 Remedy’s Control Resonant Hits 34,000 Concurrent Players, Surpassing Original Control’s Peak CONSOLES Console Heroes releases SEGA Game Gear blind boxes with 2-inch figures for $4.49 TABLETS Huawei MatePad Air Z starts at around $446 with 12-inch 144Hz PaperMatte display HANDHELD GAMING iQOO Pad Ultra launches with 165Hz OLED display and 4,500-nit peak brightness AMD Switch 2 developers blend DLSS and FSR to hit 60 FPS, but input lag remains at 30 FPS PC HARDWARE Razer Kiyo V2 Pro webcam brings 4K 60 FPS and Sony STARVIS 2 sensor for $300 NVIDIA NVIDIA files patent for AI diagnostic assistant to automate PC game optimization SOFTWARE AND UPDATES AI browser agents bypass same-origin policy, exposing user data to prompt injection GAMES God of War Creator David Jaffe Blames Ninja Theory’s Potential Closure on ‘Artistic’ Ambitions GAMES Graveyard Keeper 2 Surpasses 53,000 Concurrent Viewers on Launch Day GAMES Escape from Tarkov PvE Prestige Adds Exclusive NKVD Finka and Shark Knife Rewards PLAYSTATION 5 GTA VI Actress Manni L. Perez Deletes Post After 18 Million Views Spark Casting Rumors GAMES The Sims 4 Update Fixes Robotic AI With Eye Contact and Hand Washing

Bethesda rolls Obsidian Entertainment into parent company, retains Feargus Urquhart as studio head

Owen Carter 0 comments 2 min read

Bethesda restructures by rolling Obsidian Entertainment into its parent organization. Feargus Urquhart stays on as CEO, and the studio keeps its creative voice.

Bethesda rolls Obsidian Entertainment into parent company, retains Feargus Urquhart as studio head
GAMES

Bethesda is restructuring its game development operations by rolling Obsidian Entertainment into its parent organization. This move follows broader layoffs at Xbox and aims to streamline how the company manages its major intellectual properties. For players, the change signals a shift toward a franchise-led model where specific studios own distinct series. The restructuring ensures that Obsidian retains its unique creative voice while operating under a unified corporate structure.

Obsidian retains creative identity and leadership under new franchise-led model

Jill Braff, the president of Bethesda, sent an email to staff outlining the new reporting lines. She stated that Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart and the leadership team will continue to run the studio. However, the studio will now report directly to Braff rather than maintaining its previous independent status. This administrative change integrates Obsidian more closely with the broader Bethesda Game Studios ecosystem.

The primary goal of this restructuring is to support a franchise-led model. Braff explained that this structure keeps accountability for both the studio and its assigned franchises clear. Bethesda Game Studios will continue to lead the Fallout franchise, ensuring dedicated focus on that series. Obsidian will maintain its creative identity and strengths as the core of its work on other projects.

Obsidian is currently developing Grounded and a new Fallout game. A July report from Bloomberg suggested the studio cancelled a sequel to Avowed to focus on the new Fallout title. While specific cancellation details were not confirmed in the primary source text, the report indicates a shift in development priorities. The studio is now balancing these projects under the new organizational framework.

The restructuring confirms that Obsidian will keep its distinct creative identity within the larger company. Feargus Urquhart remains in charge of the studio, providing continuity for ongoing projects. The move aligns with Xbox's broader strategy to consolidate development resources. Players can expect the studio to continue producing games that reflect its established design philosophy.

Source: VideoGameChronicles

Related stories

Discussion

0 comments

Leave a comment