The gaming industry has been rocked by a series of somber announcements, with Microsoft’s recent wave of layoffs at Xbox hitting studios like Obsidian Entertainment particularly hard. For Brandon Adler, a 20-year veteran of Obsidian and the current game director of The Outer Worlds 2, the news triggered a deeply personal crisis. Following the announcement on July 6, Adler took to social media to express not just professional grief, but the heartbreaking reality of losing colleagues who had become his closest friends. In his tribute, he reached out to the wider industry, emphasizing that those let go are not just talented developers, but exceptional individuals, urging other studios to snap them up while they have the chance.
Beyond the immediate tragedy of the job losses, Adler found himself increasingly frustrated by the discourse surrounding the studio in the aftermath. He expressed his disdain for what he termed “cold take artists”—commentators who, often without any real insight into the inner workings of development, rushed to declare that Obsidian had lost its way. These critics frequently argue that the studio’s “DNA” has been diluted or that it is no longer the titan of RPG development it once was. For Adler, witnessing these armchair analysts define who Obsidian is—and who it isn’t—was a uniquely irritating distraction during an already painful week.
Adler pushed back firmly against the narrative that the studio’s identity has been erased, pointing to the continuity of leadership as a vital piece of evidence. He highlighted that the creative heads and directors currently steering projects like The Outer Worlds 2 are the very same people who built the foundation of fan-favorite titles like Pillars of Eternity, Cat & Mouse legacy titles, and the cult classic Fallout: New Vegas. In his view, the “through-line” from the early days of Knights of the Old Republic II to the studio’s current projects is transparent to anyone actually paying attention to the industry. To suggest otherwise, he argued, is to peddle misinformation based entirely on conjecture rather than fact.
While acknowledging that change is an inevitable part of a two-decade history—stating that “nothing stays the same” in life or business—Adler maintains that the core principles of Obsidian remain ironclad. He pointed out that the same creative spirit that birthed hits like Neverwinter Nights 2 and South Park: The Stick of Truth is still very much the beating heart of the office. While the studio has certainly evolved since its inception, he remains fiercely proud of both the legacy they built and the team they have become. He cautioned fans to ignore those who claim to know the “true” nature of the studio from the outside, noting that their critiques lack the nuance of knowing who actually brings these games to life.
Adler’s own journey offers a unique window into the commitment he holds toward the studio. His career began in early 2006, shortly after serving as a senior airman in the U.S. Air Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Starting as a QA tester for Neverwinter Nights 2, he climbed the internal ladder through associate producer roles on Alpha Protocol and New Vegas before briefly stepping away to explore the mobile gaming sector. His return in 2013 solidified his role as lead producer on Pillars of Eternity, eventually leading him to his current high-level creative roles. His tenure is not just a resume; it is a life’s work that makes these layoffs sting with the force of losing a family member.
As the dust settles, the studio faces a difficult transition. Reports suggest that the layoffs affected roughly 25% of the staff, and the industry is already mourning the reported cancellation of an Avowed sequel. With the team shifting their energy toward a new Fallout project helmed by the legendary Josh Sawyer, the path forward is complex. Adler’s message serves as a reminder that behind the press releases and the speculation, these are human beings trying to navigate a volatile landscape while holding onto the creative identity they have spent decades defining. For the people at Obsidian, the focus is now on honoring those who left while trying to preserve a legacy in a rapidly changing world.