The head of Bethesda has confirmed that Obsidian Entertainment will continue to operate as an independent team
Jill Braff, head of Bethesda, has communicated to employees that Obsidian Entertainment, known for Grounded, will continue to function as a separate entity with its current leadership intact.
On September 22, Xbox unveiled a major overhaul of its studios. This included transitioning Obsidian to operate under Bethesda, shifting ownership of the Halo series and the storied UK studio Rare to Activision, suggesting the potential shutdown of Ninja Theory, and reporting an additional 268 job losses. Details were shared via an Xbox Wire post, in line with prior reports about forthcoming layoffs.
Jill Braff's memo highlighted that the change primarily affects the reporting framework, while ensuring that Obsidian's unique attributes and key strengths will remain unchanged.
The full email, as acquired by IGN, states:
Hi everyone,
Building on Matt [Booty]'s earlier message, I wish to clarify how today's news impacts our teams.
Having known Feargus Urquhart and his team for six years, I deeply admire their accomplishments. Obsidian boasts considerable creative prowess, expertise, and a rich legacy of crafting unforgettable games. I am eager for deeper collaboration.
The recent update is largely about restructuring the reporting lines. Obsidian's distinctive creative identity and strengths remain pivotal to their operations.
Feargus and his leadership team will keep steering Obsidian, reporting directly to me. At Bethesda Game Studios, we'll maintain oversight of the Fallout series.
The teams will strengthen their decades-old relationship and continue progress on a new Fallout project, with updates forthcoming. This framework bolsters our franchise-led approach while maintaining clarity in studio and franchise accountabilities.
We understand there might be concerns among our teams about the implications for current priorities. To clarify, we're not adjusting our roadmap or expecting teams to modify their focus. Our aim is to explore how teams can better support each other, benefiting both our players and fans. We'll maintain open communication as developments unfold.
I am enthusiastic about engaging more with the Obsidian team as we build on the robust foundation within our organizations.
Warm welcome to Feargus and his team – more updates soon!
Jill