Bethesda President Says Obsidian Will Keep Creative Identity After Integration
Bethesda president Jill Braff told staff that Obsidian will retain its leadership and creative focus despite being placed under Bethesda following Microsoft’s restructuring.
Microsoft’s recent reorganization placed the role-playing studio Obsidian under Bethesda as part of a broader “franchise-focused” reset. In an internal email viewed by the outlet, Bethesda president Jill Braff said the change is mainly a reporting shift and that Obsidian’s “creative identity and strengths … will remain at the core of their studio and work.”
"[CEO] Feargus Urquhart and the Obsidian leadership team will continue to lead Obsidian, with the studio reporting to me."
Braff added that Bethesda Game Studios will keep leading the Fallout franchise and that the two teams will collaborate on an upcoming Fallout title. She expressed respect for Obsidian’s talent, noting, “I’ve had the opportunity to get to know Feargus Urquhart and his team over the past six years, and I have great respect for what they’ve built.”
The integration follows earlier layoffs that cut about a quarter of Obsidian’s staff in July and forced the cancellation of several projects, including a sequel to the fantasy RPG Avowed, to redirect resources toward a new Fallout game. Observers have noted the studio’s recent successes with original titles such as Pillars of Eternity, Outer Worlds, Grounded and Pentiment, alongside its work on established IPs.
Industry analysts say the restructuring reflects Microsoft’s strategy of consolidating franchises under centralized management, while employees remain cautious about how much creative autonomy the studio will retain.