Obsidian Carries Momentum with Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire

Obsidian Entertainment has been more than just a little busy, and with good reason. In 2015, the company released Pillars of Eternity, the isometric RPG that harkened back to classic Black Isle games such as Icewind Dale, Baldur’s Gate, and Planescape: Torment. Pillars proved to be both critically and commercially successful. In addition to a two-part expansion for that game, Obsidian released another isometric RPG just over a year later, the evil-sided “Tyranny” that showed how the other half lives.

It’s barely been three months since Tyranny launched and Obsidian are already fit and ready for their next game. On 26th, Obsidian launched a Fig crowd-funding campaign for Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire. In under 24 hours, Obsidian met their goal of $1.1 million.

For Pillars of Eternity II, Obsidian has chosen to explore a different part of Eora from the first title. Deadfire takes place on the eponymously named chain of islands. Those who played the first game will also find their decisions will carry over to the sequel, where companions and NPCs will react differently to player decisions. NPCs in RPGs are infamous for their unwavering lifestyles -- they’re always there for the player to talk to and usually with the same bit of dialog, usually the same exploitable offerings. Obsidian hopes to break this tedium for the NPCs by using a more realistic design, primarily by assigning NPCs in Deadfire lives and jobs and daily routines (think: TES). When and where you find them may change your interaction with them.

Tyranny is available on Steam and GOG.com. Pillars of Eternity II is being crowd-funded on Fig.com here. The campaign ends on February 24th, even though the goal has already been met. As of now, Pillars of Eternity II is slated to launch early 2018, but you can stay tuned to GamersNexus for more on Deadfire throughout the year.

- Keegan Gallick