Josh Sawyer, the studio design director of Obsidian Entertainment, has expressed his desire to work on Pillars of Eternity 3, but, before you celebrate, there’s a catch.
In a candid video interview with Touch Arcade, Sawyer revealed he’d work on the threequel if the powers that be will be willing to give him a budget similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, this year’s Game of the Year frontrunner by Larian Studios.
Obsidian Entertainment launched Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire in May 2018, three years after Pillars of Eternity came out in March 2015. Despite the popularity of the series, news regarding a potential third entry has absent nonexistent. But, if we go by Sawyer’s recent revelations, it’s not that the studio isn’t willing – it’s just that the budget isn’t there. Drawing comparisons with budgets, he stated, “I know what the budget was for Deadfire, which was not a whole lot, and I have heard from multiple people what the budget was for Baldur’s Gate 3… if I got that budget, sure, I’ll make Pillars 3.”
For perspective, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire was brought to fruition thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign on Fig in 2017. With an initial fundraising goal of $1.1 million, the campaign not only achieved this target in under 23 hours but soared past it, accumulating a grand total of $4.4 million. In stark contrast, Baldur’s Gate 3 boasted a budget that’s estimated at a whopping $100 million, equivalent to the financial backing of a major Hollywood blockbuster.
Both games share a spiritual lineage, drawing inspiration from the isometric RPGs born in the 90s, most notably those crafted by Black Isle Studios, the predecessor of Obsidian Entertainment.
Despite the critical acclaim garnered by Pillars of Eternity, the sequel, in particular, grappled with financial challenges. The good news is that the universe remains very much alive, with Avowed, which isn’t an isometric RPG but is set in the same world, coming out in 2024. Although it’s worth noting that Avowed isn’t off to a great start, mainly because of its lackluster graphics, as pointed out by fans following an earlier showcase.
Moving on, Sawyer elaborated on his vision for the potential third installment, revealing an inclination towards a turn-based combat structure. As per his explanation, “I’m pretty happy with Pillars and Deadfire, but I do think that if it were not crowdfunded, I would probably make it turn-based.” Sawyer believes turn-based systems, such as that integrated post-launch into Deadfire, offer a more strategic and immersive experience. The simultaneous actions in real-time with pause can sometimes obscure intricate combat systems, making it harder to engage players. He observed that many who played Deadfire in its turn-based mode reported a deeper understanding of certain game mechanics that had previously eluded them.
Interestingly, while speaking on game choices, Sawyer appeared content with his work on Pentiment, showing virtually zero immediate desire to revisit it for a sequel. “I really do feel very satisfied with that game,” he mused.
Discussions surrounding Pillars of Eternity 3 isn’t new. In previous jests, Sawyer mentioned waiting for a call from Xbox, presumably for a green signal on an impressive budget for the game. There’s speculation on whether Microsoft will be more willing to allocate a similar budget for Pillars of Eternity 3 following the colossal success of Baldur’s Gate 3. For now, any concrete development on this potential project might be a distant dream. With Obsidian currently engrossed in Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, any substantial work on another project might only start around 2025, possibly for the next Xbox console, which might come out in 2028.
Whether or not the studio rallies behind Sawyer’s vision with the financial muscle he so very much desires will remain a pressing question for the foreseeable future.
But, for now, Xbox fans can take solace knowing that this idea is on the table. Between the massive lineup of incoming games and the success of Starfield as well as whatever else Microsoft has planned for Diablo 4 – the game is currently available for free to Xbox owners for the weekend – Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard franchises, the future is bright for the green team.
