"Avowed Director Leaves Obsidian for Netflix's Oxenfree Studio After Over a Decade"

Carrie Patel, the director of the acclaimed RPG Avowed, has left Obsidian Entertainment, a legendary name in the RPG genre, shortly after the game's release. Patel, who had been with Obsidian for over a decade, announced her departure on LinkedIn, revealing her new role as Game Director at Night School, a studio owned by Netflix and renowned for the Oxenfree series of narrative adventures.

"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Game Director at Night School: A Netflix Game Studio!" Patel shared in her LinkedIn update. While the specific project she will direct at Night School remains under wraps, her transition marks a significant shift in her career from the sprawling worlds of RPGs to the more focused, narrative-driven games of Night School.

Night School gained prominence with its Oxenfree series, with the latest installment, Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals, released in 2023. The studio also ventured into the Black Mirror universe with Thronglets earlier this year, though it faced challenges, including an unspecified number of layoffs. This period also saw Netflix closing another of its studios, which was developing a AAA game led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten.

During her time at Obsidian, Patel contributed to several high-profile projects, including The Outer Worlds and the Pillars of Eternity series. She took the helm of Avowed after its initial concept—a darker fantasy akin to The Elder Scrolls with a single open world and multiplayer co-op—was rebooted. Under her direction, Avowed transformed into a brighter, more distinctive game, featuring multiple large maps and a strictly single-player experience.

Avowed - Xbox Developer Direct Screenshots

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The reception to Avowed was largely positive, with Patel expressing enthusiasm for the franchise's potential future, including expansions or a sequel. However, she will not be part of that journey. Last week, Obsidian released a development roadmap for Avowed, promising free updates over the next six months, such as a Photo Mode and New Game Plus.

IGN's review of Avowed praised its worldbuilding and character writing, though it noted the game's adherence to familiar fantasy tropes rather than pushing boundaries. Looking ahead, Obsidian's next major release, The Outer Worlds 2, is set to be showcased in detail at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.