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Obsidian Possibly Teases New Game on Twitter

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obsidian new game

Earlier this year, Obsidian teased that they were working on something called “Project Louisiana,” and people went justifiably crazy. No real news has popped up since then, but a recent tweet from the company shows that they haven’t forgotten about their works, as they teased what was to come in the future.

As you can see from the tweet, it is an overall look at their portfolio of games, dating all the way back to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords and ending at Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. After the mention of Pillars of Eternity, however, Obsidian leaves a teasing series of question marks. no doubt in an effort to drum up some curiosity on what those question marks could mean and when exactly we’ll be getting new information on them. So far, it’s worked, because we’ve been waiting to hear anything on this new game for some time.

When Project Louisiana was announced, many thought it could have something to do with a Fallout 4 expansion taking place in New Orleans. There hasn’t been anything to really solidify those rumors, however, and Obsidian has managed to do an incredibly impressive job at keeping everything under wraps. For now, we’ll just have to wait see, as Obsidian is clearly keen on not telling us much just yet.

Let us know what you think about this in the comment section below. Are you excited at the prospect of a new Obsidian game? Have you played any of their past, or would you be totally new to the company?

The post Obsidian Possibly Teases New Game on Twitter appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.


Obsidian Seemingly Has Nothing to do With Bethesda Announcement

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bethesda fallout announcement

Earlier this afternoon, Bethesda tweeted out an image that seemed to be relating to some sort of Fallout announcement. While fans still wait for what that might be, one of the studios known for handling Fallout properties has also put out a cryptic tweet.

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio that developed Fallout: New Vegas, took to Twitter (above) to ask how you might let someone down easy. The tweet ended with the hashtag “#ItsNotUs,” which would seem to confirm that whatever Bethesda might be announcing in the coming days or weeks won’t have anything to do with the company.

That doesn’t mean that a Fallout: New Vegas remaster is out of the question, but with Obsidian not being associated with the project it certainly shouldn’t make players hoping for one too excited. While Bethesda continues to tease their announcement on Twitch, it hopefully won’t be too long before we’re able to see what exactly they have in store.

For possible theories on what that announcement could be, look no further than our own Chandler Wood, who broke down what the teasing could all mean:

If you need even more proof, look at the coloring of the image. The test image holds hues of yellow and blue that are very similar to the Vault Boy cartoon color scheme. If what we’re all standing by for turns out not to be Fallout related, then Bethesda is just trolling us at this point. The last Fallout game was Fallout 4, released in 2015 (if you don’t count the VR support the game got for Vive), so it’s not entirely crazy to think that a brand new entry to the series could be in the works. It’s also possible that Bethesda is simply getting ready to announce Fallout 4 compatibility for the Nintendo Switch and/or PSVR.

We’ll make sure to keep you updated with any information once more becomes available.

The post Obsidian Seemingly Has Nothing to do With Bethesda Announcement appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Bethesda “Less Likely” to Have External Studios Develop Fallout Games

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bethesda fallout games

Fallout: New Vegas, developed by Obsidian, is a fan-favorite title in the Fallout franchise. For years, folks have awaited news of that team returning to the series. As time goes on, the less likely its seems that such an announcement will come to pass. With Fallout 76 taking a detour from what may be considered the mainline games, hopes are once again high for another New Vegas-esque spin off. Unfortunately, for the foreseeable future at least, hopes are all there will be.

Obsidian devs have been forthcoming about their wish to one day return to Fallout. However, Bethesda won’t soon offer them the opportunity. In an interview with The Guardian, Todd Howard doesn’t outright dismiss the possibility of having an external studio develop another Fallout game. Yet, he does put a pin in it for the time being. “I wouldn’t say never,” he reveals. “[But] now that our company is so big, it’s always better to keep stuff internal… it becomes less likely, but I could never say never. I thought the Obsidian guys did a fabulous job.”

In recent years, Bethesda Game Studios has expanded, adding two new developers under its wing. The two satellite studios include, Bethesda Game Studios Montreal, established in late 2015, and Bethesda Game Studios Austin, which BGS officially brought on board in March of this year. With offices in Maryland, Montreal, and Austin, Howard’s hesitance to commit to the possibility of having other teams work on Fallout is certainly understandable. But it would still be nice to see what Obsidian could accomplish with the series after all of these years.

Fallout 76 launches on November 14 of this year.

[Source via GameSpot]

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Obsidian Entertainment Has Its Eyes on Alpha Protocol

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Alpha Protocol Remastered

Obsidian Entertainment’s action-RPG Alpha Protocol first hit the market in 2010, but interest is coming back to it. The developer expressed interest in the game before, and now a social media post has people talking about how the studio has its eye on the game again.

On September 2, 2018, Limited Run Games Co-Founder Douglas Bogart created a Twitter poll that asked, “Do you want a remaster of Alpha Protocol for modern consoles?” Although Obsidian Entertainment did not make an official announcements, the company’s Twitter account retweeted the tweet with suggestive eye emojis.

Have a look at the company’s response below:

In the years since its release, Alpha Protocol has managed to accumulate a solid amount of fans, which are now latching on to the news of a potential reemergence of Alpha Protocol. Check out our review of the original game.

Obsidian Entertainment is otherwise known for dishing out incredible RPGs, including Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity and, of course, South Park: The Stick of Truth. Let’s hope they bring this one back, and give it a proper polish and a modern-day vibe.

[Source: Resetera.com]

The post Obsidian Entertainment Has Its Eyes on Alpha Protocol appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Report: Microsoft Purchasing Fallout: New Vegas Developer Obsidian

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It seems that Obsidian’s acquisition by Microsoft is swiftly becoming a reality. A Microsoft spokesperson gave comment to Kotaku, saying the deal between the two companies was at “90%” completion, and that “it’s a matter of when, not if.”

Xbox players can rejoice about the news, but what about those of us that hold allegiance strictly to PlayStation? Obsidian is a company that nearly went out of business until its revitalization with Pillars of Eternity through Kickstarter, garnering nearly 4 million dollars, nearly 3 million above the 1.1 million dollar goal. They’ve created timeless classics such as Knights of the Old Republic II, Fallout: New Vegas, Tyranny, and South Park: Stick of Truth.

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire was released in 2018 on Steam for both Linux and Mac, yet a port for the PlayStation 4 has yet to come out. The first title in the series was released on the PlayStation 4 on March 26, 2018, and was received fairly well by console players. Obsidian was quite clear that the second game would be distributed for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and even the Nintendo Switch for the upcoming holidays. Whether this statement remains true in accordance with the Microsoft deal remains to be seen.

Pillars of Eternity aside, it would be a shame for PlayStation owners to have Obsidian’s future titles become Xbox exclusives. But, on a brighter note, it’s nice that a team of developers whom brought us countless hours of entertainment have found job security, right?

How do the rest of you feel about this news? As a PlayStation player, will you be missing Obsidian as much as the rest of us? Let us know in the comments.

[Source: Variety via Kotaku]

The post Report: Microsoft Purchasing Fallout: New Vegas Developer Obsidian appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Obsidian Says a Fallout: New Vegas Sequel Is ‘Very Doubtful’

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fallout new vegas 2

Rumors are currently making the rounds saying that Microsoft intends to purchase Obsidian Entertainment as one of its first party studios. While neither Microsoft nor Obsidian has corroborated these claims, many feel inclined to believe there’s some truth to it. Therefore, curiosities about the developer potentially returning to Fallout have once more bubbled to the top. According to Obsidian, these hopes and dreams should be put to rest. A Fallout: New Vegas sequel is unlikely.

In response to a fan question on Twitter, Obsidian deemed the likelihood of Fallout: New Vegas 2 “very doubtful.”

If you’ve been following the discussion surrounding potential Fallout spinoffs, this news was expected. Bethesda Game Studios’ Todd Howard recently said BGS’ growth means hiring external developers to work on their IP is becoming “less likely.”

In his statement on the matter, Howard even name dropped Obsidian and its acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas title. “I wouldn’t say never,” he revealed at the time. “[But] now that our company is so big, it’s always better to keep stuff internal… it becomes less likely, but I could never say never. I thought the Obsidian guys did a fabulous job.”

Recently, Obsidian made the news when talks of a remastered edition of Alpha Protocol surfaced. Through a mere quote tweet, it appeared the studio harbored some interest in the possibility. No word has come from the brief tease since then. Yet, if Obsidian can’t make waves with Fallout, perhaps another one of their gems from last generation consoles will see the light of day once more.

[Source: Obsidian’s Twitter]

The post Obsidian Says a Fallout: New Vegas Sequel Is ‘Very Doubtful’ appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Fallout: New Vegas Developer, Obsidian, and inXile Entertainment Are Now Microsoft Studios

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microsoft obsidian

Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment, and Wasteland developer inXile Entertainment have officially been acquired by Microsoft. The acquisitions come months after Microsoft acquired Ninja Theory and Compulsion Games.

inXile is currently working on several projects including The Bard’s Tale and Wasteland 3, the latter of which is scheduled for release in 2019 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. It’s unclear at the moment if the acquisition will result in any change of plans for the PS4 release. However, like Ninja Theory, both inXile and Obsidian are expected to focus on Microsoft platforms going forward.

“Microsoft hired us because of who we are, and that’s a group of developers who love making and playing RPGs,” inXile explained on its forum. “That is what we’re going to keep doing, with work continuing on The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep, The Bard’s Tale Trilogy, Wasteland 3, and beyond.”

In a video announcement published on YouTube, Obsidian’s Chief Operating Officer Chris Parker said that game development is becoming increasingly tough, and requires the kind of financial backing and support that Microsoft is able to offer – a statement that echoes Ninja Theory’s explanation of its decision to join Microsoft.

Obsidian’s latest release is Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, which is already out on PC and scheduled for release on the PS4 and Xbox One sometime in Q4, 2018.

We’ll update our readers when we have more information on the aforementioned PS4 releases.

[Source: Obsidian Entertainment (YouTube), inXile Entertainment]

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Obisdian’s Newest Game, The Outer Worlds, Announced

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the outer worlds

At The Game Awards 2018, Obisidan announced its newest game in partnership with Take-Two’s Private DivisionThe Outer Worlds. The announcement came after more and more teases came out for the developer’s most recent venture. It is a first-person RPG set in the far reaches of outer space.

The Outer Worlds is one of many games that were announced at The Game Awards 2018.  Check out the announcement trailer here:

The Outer Worlds appears to have heavy Fallout vibes, which isn’t surprising, considering it comes from “the original creators of Fallout,” and Obsidian’s previous ties to Fallout. There also appears to be an undercurrent of dark humor throughout the whole thing, meaning The Outer Worlds won’t be an entirely bleak affair. However, there also appears to be a commentary on consumerism at play here. The Outer Worlds looks to have a bit of a pulp-esque aesthetic, which gives it even more of a Fallout vibe.

Obsidian is famous for developing games like Pillars of Eternity and Fallout: New Vegas. The once-independent developer was recently acquired by Microsoft, but that won’t have any impact on The Outer Worlds, as that is being published by Take-Two.

The Outer Worlds is coming in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds is a Lighthearted Space Romp with a Retro Look

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the outer worlds trailer

Obsidian revealed it’s newest game, The Outer Worlds, at The Game Awards 2018 and offered a trailer showing what looks to be a Fallout-esque adventure in outer space. Now, Obsidian and publisher Private Division have offered more details on its upcoming space romp. In addition, we have a release window! Look for it sometime in the next year, as it’s confirmed to release in “calendar 2019.”

In case you missed it, check out the announcement trailer for The Outer Worlds here:

As expected from the trailer, The Outer Worlds is a first-person, single-player RPG. In it, you are a part of a colonist ship heading to the far reaches of outer space. Unfortunately, you discover a conspiracy bigger than you could have ever imagined, and you’re in the middle of it. The trailer shows off a retro aesthetic similar to Fallout, which, considering the pedigree, isn’t surprising. In case you weren’t aware, The Outer Worlds comes from the original creators of Fallout, Tim Cain and Leonard Boyarsky..

There also appears to be a Borderlands-esque commentary on consumerism at play here, which plays into The Outer Worlds’ choice-based system. Throughout The Outer Worlds, you’ll encounter “various factions,” each with their own goals. You’ll be able to determine what role you play in everything, and your actions will have a direct impact on the story. However, The Outer Worlds appears to always have a sense of humor about it, never taking itself too seriously. It does seem to lean towards some dark humor, however.

The Outer Worlds is the latest game from Obsidian, famous for its single-player RPGs like Fallout: New VegasPillars of Eternity, and South Park: The Stick of Truth. It is being published by Private Division, a newly-established division of Take-Two Interactive. That means despite Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Obsidian, The Outer Worlds will be releasing on the PlayStation 4.

The Outer Worlds is releasing in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

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Get a Look at The Outer Worlds Dialogue Choices

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the outer worlds gameplay

After The Outer Worlds received a surprise world premiere during The Game Awards 2018, Obsidian released a few additional details about its new project. Now there’s gameplay footage to accompany it all. In the latest entry of Game Informer’s New Gameplay Today series, nearly 15 minutes of The Outer Worlds footage is shown off. Along with beautiful vistas, the dialogue options, gunplay, and melee get ample attention.

There’s plenty on display in the gameplay demonstration, but what receives the bulk of screen time is The Outer World’s dialogue system. Like other RPGs of its kind, this game’s dialogue options are varied. Some choices seem standard, merely meant to move the conversation along. Meanwhile, others appear consequential. One example of this exists in the choice to lie. This option seems tied to a leveling system. If a player lies successfully, XP is earned, and the story presumably takes a different turn. Whether or not these choices have long-term effects remains to be seen.

Apparently, The Outer Worlds will feature a level up system mirroring Fallout’s S.P.E.C.I.A.L. However, Obsidian has yet to decide what leveling up entails, and whether or not an acronym will be involved. Another aspect of The Outer World’s gameplay derived from Fallout is the former’s V.A.T.S-inspired system. Fallout’s popular targeting system doesn’t outright appear in the footage above. However, there are slow down options that certainly seem to influenced by the Bethesda-owned franchise. Specifics on this front have also not yet been revealed in any depth.

Though Microsoft recently acquired Obsidian, the studio’s partnership with Take-Two subsidiary Private Division on this project ensures The Outer Worlds is not Xbox exclusive. This space-faring, first-person adventure will launch sometime in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.

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The Outer Worlds Won’t Have Microtransactions, Obsidian Confirms

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the outer worlds gameplay

The Outer Worlds, Obsidian Entertainment’s newly-revealed RPG, will reportedly not contain any microtransactions. This is according to a recent Gamestar interview with Fallout series creator Tim Cain. In the interview, when asked specifically about microtransactions, Cain responded, “There are no microtransactions in the game. You buy it once and then enjoy it forever.”

Obsidian Entertainment isn’t pulling any punches with The Outer Worlds. The company established its track-record straight away in the reveal trailer, cementing itself as the original lord of Fallout. Now, it’s aiming to set The Outer Worlds apart from its contemporaries by assuring consumers they’re buying a game untainted by greasy calls to spend additional money after settling into the adventure.

We also got a some brand new The Outer Worlds screenshots, thanks to a Steam listing. You can find those screenshots in the gallery below. The listing also divulged some new game details.

Here are the key features, straight from Obsidian:

  • The player-driven story RPG: In keeping with the Obsidian tradition, how you approach The Outer Worlds is up to you. Your choices affect not only the way the story develops; but your character build, companion stories, and end game scenarios.
  • You can be flawed, in a good way: New to The Outer Worlds is the idea of flaws. A compelling hero is made by the flaws they carry with them. While playing The Outer Worlds, the game tracks your experience to find what you aren’t particularly good at. Keep getting attacked by Raptidons? Taking the Raptiphobia flaw gives you a debuff when confronting the vicious creatures, but rewards you with an additional character perk immediately. This optional approach to the game helps you build the character you want while exploring Halcyon.
  • Lead your companions: During your journey through the furthest colony, you will meet a host of characters who will want to join your crew. Armed with unique abilities, these companions all have their own missions, motivations, and ideals. It’s up to you to help them achieve their goals, or turn them to your own ends.
  • Explore the corporate colony: Halcyon is a colony at the edge of the galaxy owned and operated by a corporate board. They control everything… except for the alien monsters left behind when the terraforming of the colony’s two planets didn’t exactly go according to plan. Find your ship, build your crew, and explore the settlements, space stations, and other intriguing locations throughout Halcyon.

Lots of people might be massively excited about this one, so stay tuned for all of the latest updates on The Outer Worlds.

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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Coming to PS4 in 2019

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Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is slated for a 2019 release on PS4, Obsidian Entertainment has confirmed. In a lengthy update concerning Deadfire‘s latest DLC, The Forgotten Sanctum, Obsidian assured fans that the console ports were still in the works.

Here is Obsidian’s full statement.

If you read our last update, we promised to have more information regarding Deadfire’s console release. As we stated, our partners at Grip Digital have been hard at work, and Deadfire will be releasing on the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in 2019! We are pleased to also announce that the console edition will ship with all expansions, updates, and free DLC’s included at launch! We don’t have an exact date for you yet, but as soon as we have one, we will let you know!

This is great news, because Pillars of Eternity II sales on PC have been less-than-stellar so far. Back in November 2018, it was reported that, five months after its initial launch, Pillars of Eternity II had only sold a little over 100,000 copies. When you see numbers like that, you prepare for disappointment. You prepare for a complete restructuring of the DLC and expansion roadmap. You prepare for canceled console ports.

We couldn’t be more relieved to learn that Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is on track for a 2019 launch on PS4, and with all DLC included, no less! To get an idea of what you’re in for, check out our review of the original. As soon as we get a solid release date or happen upon some footage, we’ll update you straight away.

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Obsidian Praises Publisher Private Division as a Great Partner for The Outer Worlds

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the outer worlds publisher

The reveal of Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds during The Game of Awards 2018 was one of the ceremony’s most surprising moments. Considering the studio’s recent acquisition by Microsoft, news of the title’s publisher counts as another surprise. Take-Two subsidiary Private Division will publish Obsidian’s RPG, and the studio has nothing but praise to express about the partnership.

Apparently, Private Division’s support extends beyond funding Obsidian’s vision. The publisher is excited about The Outer Worlds; additionally, it’s been gracious in providing QA testing results. Developers Tim Cain and Leon Boyarsky shared these sentiments with EDGE for the magazine’s upcoming February 2019 issue.

Cain told the publication, “[Private Division has] been wonderful. Everybody there understands what we’re trying to make and they help us do that. They have this QA team who we’ve been sending game drops to along with test planets because this game has a lot of ways you can play it. And they’ve been really good at testing all the different paths and coming back and telling us what worked and what didn’t.”

Boyarsky chimed in next, adding, “It’s been great. Sometimes when you’re dealing with third parties and other publishers, they see something in your game that’s not the game you’re making, and they want to take a different direction. But Private Division really seemed to grasp what we wanted to do and were very excited about it.”

That Obsidian has a fully invested support system from its publisher is sure to please fans. For years, many have awaited the studio’s potential return to the Fallout series. Following both Bethesda and Obsidian confirming that such a project is unlikely to happen again, hope dwindled for an RPG of Fallout: New Vegas‘ nature from the studio. Luckily, based on what’s been shown, thus far, The Outer Worlds appears to be a direct answer to said concerns. Its unapologetic Fallout influence seems readily apparent, to say the least.

The Outer Worlds does not yet have a concrete release date. However, it is scheduled to release sometime in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.

[Source: EDGE Magazine via Wccftech]

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You’ll Be Able to Visit The Outer Worlds Physically or Digitally

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The Outer Worlds PS4

The staff at Game Informer recently got to interview Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind the upcoming action-RPG, The Outer WorldsThis led to some of the mysteries surrounding the upcoming game being cast aside. One noteworthy piece of information is that The Outer Worlds will get a physical release.

While this may not be shockingly surprising, it does prove that there is still a market for physical media and put to rest any notions that digital games will be taking over any time soon. As time goes on, the shift to a possible all-digital ecosystem is happening, but very slowly.

We also learned that The Outer Worlds will be available for $60 for the PS4, Xbox One, and PC, which again, isn’t surprising. This does beg the question about price-points for future games. Gamers sometimes complain about video game prices, but when accounting for inflation, games are less expensive than they’ve ever been. Continuing to see $60 price tags on next-gen games would be strange and it wouldn’t be surprising if various pricing models were explored when the time comes.

Either way, it’s good to know that The Outer Worlds will be available physically. Sadly, we don’t have a release date for it yet, but it’s planned for sometime in 2019. Release windows should probably be taken with a grain of salt, as they tend to shift around as development ramps up.

Will you be picking up The Outer Worlds physically or digitally? Let us know!

[Source: Game Informer]

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It May Be Possible to Beat The Outer Worlds Without Killing Enemies

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the outer worlds pacifist

For players that like to try their hand at finishing games as a pacifist, The Outer Worlds may offer such an option. Lead Developers Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain teased as much during a rapid-fire interview with Game Informer. Yet, both noted that the possibility may be slim.

When asked if The Outer Worlds can be completed without killing enemies, Cain merely responded by saying, “We hope so.” Boyarsky agreed, adding that they’re “not certain” as to whether a fully pacifist playthrough is possible. What the two were able to confirm is that they “sadly” know players can beat The Outer Worlds by laying waste to everyone. At the very least, it sounds as though players may have the ability to choose a moral high ground in most situations.

If a pacifist playthrough does become possible, The Outer Worlds will join a relatively small group of open world titles that makes such options available. The most recent examples of this, while they aren’t fully open world, include Metal Gear Solid, Eidos Montréal’s Deus Ex prequels, and the Dishonored series.

In addition to this tidbit, Boyarsky and Cain confirmed a few other details. For instance, while players shouldn’t expect to encounter sentient aliens in the game, there are alien lifeforms. Cain also noted that only two planets in the Milky Way setting will be explorable. However, players will find a number of asteroids, dwarf planets, moons, and space stations worthy of exploration.

With regards to post-game content, the developers revealed that while New Game Plus isn’t a surefire addition, it’s something Obsidian is “talking about.” Finally, the developers reiterated that The Outer Worlds won’t feature any microtransactions.

The Outer Worlds currently lacks an official release date. Obsidian’s new title is expected to launch for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One sometime in 2019, though.

[Source: Game Informer via Comicbook.com]

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The Outer Worlds May Take 15 to 40 Hours to Complete, Depending on How You Play

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Since its reveal during The Game Awards 2018, the hype for The Outer Worlds has yet to cease. However, there are a few misconceptions about the title that Obsidian wants to ensure fans aren’t running away with. For one, The Outer World will not feature a massive open world. It also won’t take players hundreds of hours to beat.

Lead Developers Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain made note of this during a recent interview with Game Informer. From what the developers have seen online, it seems people’s expectations may not be properly aligned. Apparently, speculation about the game’s length is heating up, with many believing The Outer Worlds will offer “hundreds of hours of gameplay.” According to Cain, this will not be the case. When asked if 15 to 40 hours of playtime was a fair assumption, both developers agreed.

Ultimately, it’s all contingent upon how players choose to spend their time in the game. For instance, Boyarsky revealed that some players get through the first area in under an hour. Meanwhile, others take three times as long. Exploration, and the choice between the stealth, combat, and dialogue paths all inform The Outer World’s length.

Additionally, Cain said he’s aware that many assume the game will be sandbox-like, allowing for exploration anywhere and on any of the planets. This will not be the case. Boyarsky used Knights of the Old Republic 2 as a reference for The Outer Worlds‘ size, but added that it may be “a little bit smaller than that.”

The Outer Worlds will launch on an unspecified date in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.

[Source: Game Informer]

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Obsidian Says It’s ‘Disheartening’ to See The Outer Worlds Being Used to Bash Fallout 76

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the outer worlds fallout 76

Since its The Game Awards 2018 reveal, Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds hasn’t been able to escape Fallout comparisons. Primarily, this is due to members of its development team being credited with the creation of Fallout. However, Obisidian’s new foray into the RPG space may also be considered a response to Fallout’s perceived decline in quality, with some fans using The Outer Worlds to malign both Bethesda and Fallout 76. During a recent interview, Obsidian developers made it clear they want this kind of discourse to end.

Indeed, Obsidian has seen the hostility aimed at Bethesda and addressed it an interview with Game Informer. Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart specifically confronted the notion that The Outer Worlds is a direct response to Fallout 76’s missteps. He also addressed speculation which suggests The Outer Worlds reveal trailer was intended as a jab at Bethesda. With regards to the latter, Urquhart said,

People even said things about our trailer: “Oh man, just slamming it home to Bethesda!” because we said the original creators of Fallout and makers of Fallout: New Vegas. We have storyboards from July that said that. I have no ill will for Bethesda, I love playing Fallout games… We’re not fighting for the same dollars.

Urquhart continued, explaining that, if anything, The Outer Worlds is meant to appease those who enjoyed Fallout: New Vegas. The team enjoyed developing the project and knows how much fans loved it. The Outer Worlds serves as an effort to recapture some of that magic. Urquhart told Game Informer,

This isn’t meant to be negative—it can probably be taken as negative. We really enjoyed making Fallout: New Vegas and people really enjoy Fallout: New Vegas. Bethesda is looking to take the Fallout brand in a different direction. There’s nothing right or wrong about that. That’s their choice. They own it, they get to do what they want with it. But in our mind, there are people that enjoy where Fallout was. That is what we wanted to do with The Outer Worlds, to give people that. And you know what? Maybe that’s a bad decision from the standpoint of the number of people that will buy it. I don’t know… People seem to really enjoy what Fallout: New Vegas was, so let’s give them an experience that’s as similar as we can to that.

During a video interview with the publication, Lead Developers Leonard Boyarsky and Tim Cain also spoke about the unfortunate discourse circulating The Outer Worlds and Fallout 76. Cain said it’s “disheartening” to see their project used to “tear down” someone else’s hard work. This, to Cain, suggests that some people aren’t anticipating The Outer Worlds release. Rather, they’re excited because Obsidian’s game is “going to show up another game. That’s not what we’re making this for.”

Boyarsky then explained that The Outer Worlds has been in development for several years. As such, it’s impossible for it to have been produced as a response to Bethesda’s latest Fallout endeavors. Furthermore, Boyarsky added, Obsidian isn’t “happy” about audiences thinking their team could put their hearts and souls into a project only to “say something about” another company’s equally Herculean efforts.

The Outer Worlds is slated to launch on an unspecified date in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.

[Source: Game Informer]

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Companions in The Outer Worlds Are Optional and Can Choose to Leave Players

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the outer worlds companions

Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds, similar to other RPGs of its kind, will feature a number of companion characters. According to Obsidian developers, each companion has their own personality and beliefs. Interestingly, because of this, companions aren’t obligated to stick with the player throughout the game’s entirety. In fact, should the player do something to displease them, companions are likely to leave. This detail alone makes The Outer Worlds’ companion system seem unique in many respects.

In an interview with Game Informer, Senior Narrative Designer Megan Starks explained that “we do have ways that a companion can choose to leave you.” However, a morality system doesn’t govern a companion’s reasoning. Nor are they more likely to stick around if players reward them with gifts. Rather, how players engage with major decisions will determine whether a companion finds them worthy of their companionship. Apparently, thanks to each character’s personality, players should be able to discern if certain companions will depart after making a tough choice.

Narrative Designer Nitai Poddar delved deeper into the matter:

Even if you lose a points-based morale system, I think you gain something by hand-crafting specific moments where a companion is like, “Why would you do this? You’re completely out of your mind!’” And that also gives the player an interesting opportunity to say, “You might be thinking that, but here are my reasons why…” and sometimes we can attach that to a persuade or leadership check, and that helps the player feel more rewarded.

For players that may want to avoid potential drama on this front, bringing companions into the fold isn’t a requirement. In fact, The Outer Worlds can be played from start to finish without recruiting other characters. According to Senior Narrative Designer Carrie Patel, Obsidian wanted to strike a balance between providing an enjoyable experience for players with and without the companion-centric content. Patel told Game Informer,

With a game like ours, there’s a balance you have to strike, because you don’t have to recruit the companions. You can have a full, complete experience of our game – minus the companion content – if you never recruit them. But at the same time, we do want them to feel very involved for players who choose to bring them along. While we have to be careful not to make them mandatory, we also look for ways to bring them in.

With the game ranging from 15 to 40 hours in length, it’ll be intriguing to see if players with no companions are more likely to complete the game sooner. Additionally interesting is that despite their being no romance options, it sounds as though The Outer Worlds will still have plenty to offer with regard to building relationships with NPCs.

The Outer Worlds currently lacks a specific release date, but will launch sometime in 2019 for the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One.

[Source: Game Informer]

The post Companions in The Outer Worlds Are Optional and Can Choose to Leave Players appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Rumor: Steam Database May Have Leaked The Outer Worlds Launch Date

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the outer worlds release date

For the last several weeks, a slew of new details have emerged regarding Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds. One specific, highly-anticipated bit of information remains under wraps, however. The role-playing game still lacks a release date. Yet, thanks to a leak via Steam Database, the launch date may have been leaked. If the leak proves true, players should expect to begin exploring The Outer Worlds by August 6, 2019.

The date initially appeared on the game’s official Steam Database entry on February 22nd. Within a day or so, however, the entry received an update. Now, The Outer Worlds release date listing features only a note about 2019 in general. Despite this, in looking at the entry’s “change history,” the August 6th date still appears as a “Removed Steam Release Date” note. You can see parts of The Outer Worlds’ Steam Database update history in the screenshot below. Pay special attention to the last featured entry.

the outer worlds release date

Of course, until Obsidian or publisher Private Division announce official details, this listing should be considered rumor. Still, a late summer launch for The Outer Worlds would be a smart, tactical move. It’s far enough from the numerous spring releases to stand on its own. In addition, there’s plenty of space between the fall rush of games to give Obsidian’s latest a chance to breathe.

Lately, Steam Database has seemed a haven for leaks. Mortal Kombat 11’s potentially leaked roster of fighters serves as the most recent example of note. Similar to The Outer Worlds release date details, MK11’s supposed roster information should be taken with a grain of salt.

Regardless of whether it launches in early August, The Outer Worlds is expected to hit the PlayStation 4, PC, and Xbox One sometime in 2019.

[Source: Steam Database via DSOGaming]

The post Rumor: Steam Database May Have Leaked The Outer Worlds Launch Date appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

Chris Avellone Says He Wouldn’t Work With Obsidian Again

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Industry veteran Chris Avellone, known for his work on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II and Fallout: New Vegas, recently spoke to VG247 about why he would never work for Obsidian Entertainment again. He cited numerous reasons as to why he would not return to work for the studio, but communication was a major sticking point. Rather, the lack thereof was an issue.

Avellone said that communication is one of the most important things when it comes to making a game, and the communication circle at Obsidian was more of a rectangle. He noted:

Even amongst the owner’s circle—there might be two owners who might actually really know what was going on with a certain project, with a certain issue, and the others might be in the dark. And that would happen at all levels.

Avellone also said that when certain members of the development team aren’t privy to important information regarding a game’s issues or certain decisions made by members of the team, it makes it nearly impossible to properly communicate. He explained that this can lead to bad decisions:

When that information isn’t disseminated, sometimes you make bad choices. Say you’re having a problem with the art for a game. Maybe you should bring in the art director and make them part of the conversation, versus having the art director be the last person to know that you’re going to change all the art in the game. But because you haven’t talked to the art director, not only are they in the dark, but they also can’t inform you as to why those decisions may have been made. It might completely change your mind, versus you suddenly coming in and doing something.

Another of Avellone’s reasons for not wanting to work with Obsidian again was the issue of nepotism. He said that when Obsidian would lay off employees, often employees with personal connections to some of the higher-ups in the company would get to keep their job, while others were not so fortunate. He said that he doesn’t think there is room for these types of practices in a company:

You might even actually have a good reason for keeping that person, but that connection, that’s going to be employee favoritism, so it’s best to just remove that from the equation entirely.

Lastly, Avellone ended the interview on a peacemaking note. He  said, “I don’t bear them any ill will, it’s just that I don’t think their management style is healthy.”

What do you think of Chris Avellone’s reasons for not wanting to work with Obsidian Entertainment again? Let us know in the comments below!

[Source: VG247]

The post Chris Avellone Says He Wouldn’t Work With Obsidian Again appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.

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