{"rewrite":{"id":"r_84176e687f94edaf511a2301","clusterId":"c_37366b1e3a8428b31da29af5","slug":"obsidian-cancels-avowed-sequel-will-focus-on-new-fallout-game","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Obsidian Reportedly Cancels Avowed 2, Shifts to New Fallout Game","summary":"Obsidian Entertainment has laid off 52 employees, about 25% of its workforce, as part of a broader Xbox restructuring. Multiple unannounced projects, including the sequel to the fantasy RPG Avowed, have been canceled. The studio is now redirecting resources toward a new game in the Fallout series, with Josh Sawyer, the director of Fallout: New Vegas, expected to lead development. Bethesda Game Studios is slated to co-develop the project, though the plan is not yet finalized. The layoffs and cancellations follow Microsoft's July 6 announcement of 4,800 company-wide cuts, with 1,600 in the Xbox division. Bloomberg reported that Avowed 2 was progressing smoothly and an announcement was expected within a year. The new strategy prioritizes major franchises, and the Fallout IP is considered a key asset. Other projects, such as downloadable content for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2, will continue. Obsidian has a deep history with the Fallout series, including the return of writer John Gonzalez in January 2025 and the involvement of co-creator Tim Cain in an unannounced title.","whyItMatters":"The shift from a new IP like Avowed to a proven franchise like Fallout, under the original New Vegas director, signals Xbox's strategic focus on legacy titles over original projects during its restructuring.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eObsidian Entertainment laid off 52 employees, roughly a quarter of its staff, following Microsoft\u0026#39;s July 6 restructuring that cut 4,800 jobs company-wide. The sequel to the action RPG Avowed, tentatively titled Avowed 2, was canceled despite reportedly progressing smoothly toward an announcement within a year. The studio is now pivoting to develop a new Fallout game, with Josh Sawyer-who directed the fan-favorite Fallout: New Vegas-expected to lead the project. Bethesda Game Studios is scheduled to co-develop the title, though the arrangement remains fluid. Other projects, including downloadable content for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2, are continuing development. The pivot comes after Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart told Bloomberg that sales of Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 underperformed relative to Microsoft\u0026#39;s targets. The studio has a strong Fallout pedigree: writer John Gonzalez returned in January 2025, and co-creator Tim Cain was reportedly involved in a prior unannounced project. The new Fallout game is now likely to bring many of those developers together under Sawyer\u0026#39;s direction.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Obsidian Entertainment reportedly canceled Avowed 2 and laid off 25% of staff. The studio is now pivoting to a new Fallout game led by Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer.","twitterPost":"With Xbox's restructuring, Obsidian is shifting focus from Avowed to Fallout. Is the new game a sequel to New Vegas? Josh Sawyer reportedly leads development.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Obsidian Entertainment has laid off 52 employees and canceled the sequel to Avowed. The studio is now working on a new Fallout game, with Fallout: New Vegas director Josh Sawyer expected to lead the project. The plan is still in flux.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"4Gamer.net\",\"url\":\"https://www.4gamer.net/games/520/G052098/20260709011/\",\"title\":\"Obsidian to cut 25% of staff, cancels development of action RPG sequel 'Avowed 2', and may start work on new 'Fallout' under Josh Sawyer\"},{\"source\":\"Automaton\",\"url\":\"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/obsidian-entertainment-20260709-454034/\",\"title\":\"Obsidian, Developer of Fallout: New Vegas, Reportedly Cancels Avowed Sequel and Other Projects Due to Xbox Reset; Will Focus on New Fallout Game\"},{\"source\":\"Game Spark\",\"url\":\"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/09/169027.html\",\"title\":\"Obsidian of 'Fallout: New Vegas' May Shift to New Series Development - Reportedly Led by 'NV' Director\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":6907,"outputTokens":2362,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1783562444,"createdAt":"2026-07-09T01:54:38.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-07-09T01:58:32.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-09T05:26:22.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_37366b1e3a8428b31da29af5","canonicalTitle":"『Fallout: New Vegas』など手がけたObsidian、XBOXリセットの影響で『Avowed』続編などが開発中止との報道。今後は“『Fallout』新作”に注力へ","representativeArticleId":"a_905428a6b927812e5641a1f0","sourceCount":3,"writtenSourceCount":3,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"Fallout: New Vegas\",\"Avowed\"],\"studios\":[\"Obsidian Entertainment\"],\"people\":[],\"type\":\"news\",\"domain\":\"games\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"written","firstSeenAt":"2026-07-09T01:17:02.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-07-09T03:36:53.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-09T05:26:22.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"4Gamer.net","url":"https://www.4gamer.net/games/520/G052098/20260709011/","title":"Obsidianが25％規模の人員削減。アクションRPG続編「Avowed 2」を開発中止し，ジョシュ・ソーヤー氏のもとで「Fallout」新作に着手か"},{"source":"Automaton","url":"https://automaton-media.com/articles/newsjp/obsidian-entertainment-20260709-454034/","title":"『Fallout: New Vegas』など手がけたObsidian、XBOXリセットの影響で『Avowed』続編などが開発中止との報道。今後は“『Fallout』新作”に注力へ"},{"source":"Game Spark","url":"http://www.gamespark.jp/article/2026/07/09/169027.html","title":"『Fallout: New Vegas』のObsidianがシリーズ新作開発へ移行か―『NV』のディレクターが率いると報道"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["Fallout: New Vegas","Avowed"],"studios":["Obsidian Entertainment"],"people":[],"type":"news","domain":"games","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Obsidian Entertainment laid off 52 employees, about 25% of its workforce.","The sequel to Avowed, tentatively titled Avowed 2, was canceled.","The studio is shifting to develop a new game in the Fallout series.","Josh Sawyer, who directed Fallout: New Vegas, is expected to lead the new Fallout project.","Bethesda Game Studios is expected to co-develop the new Fallout game, though the plan is not finalized."]}