Avowed director Carrie Patel has left Obsidian Entertainment, a renowned RPG developer, shortly after the release of their latest game. Patel announced on LinkedIn that she has taken up a new role as Game Director at Night School, a studio owned by Netflix and known for the Oxenfree series of narrative adventure games. While her specific project at Night School remains undisclosed, Patel expressed enthusiasm about her new position.
Night School gained recognition with the Oxenfree series, the latest being Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals released in 2023. Earlier this year, the studio also launched a Black Mirror spin-off called Thronglets, amidst reports of layoffs. This comes after Netflix shut down another of its studios, which was developing a AAA game under the direction of Halo veteran Joseph Staten.
Patel, who spent over a decade at Obsidian, contributed to major titles such as The Outer Worlds and the Pillars of Eternity series. She assumed the directorial role for Avowed after its early development reboot, steering the game away from a darker, Elder Scrolls-like fantasy setting towards a brighter, more distinctive experience. The final version of Avowed featured multiple large maps and a single-player focus, diverging from the initially planned open world and multiplayer elements.
Avowed - Xbox Developer Direct Screenshots
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Avowed received generally positive feedback, with Patel having previously expressed interest in expanding the franchise through expansions or a sequel. However, she will not be involved in any future developments. A recent development roadmap for Avowed outlined upcoming free updates, including a Photo Mode and New Game Plus.
IGN's review of Avowed praised its worldbuilding and character writing, reminiscent of Obsidian's signature RPG style, but noted that the game's overall approach felt safe and familiar rather than groundbreaking.
Obsidian's next major release, The Outer Worlds 2, is set to be showcased in detail at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.
