Summary
- Obsidian has moved away from incorporating romance in its RPGs, prioritizing the quality of the core RPG experience and world-building instead.
- The studio's earlier releases, such as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, featured romance arcs similar to BioWare's style, but recent titles like Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny have lacked romantic subplots.
- The Outer Worlds, a well-received title that didn't include romance options, proved that romancing companions isn't mandatory for a fulfilling RPG experience, particularly in first-person perspective games like its upcoming sequels.
With The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed being anticipated upcoming releases, Obsidian is delving deeper into its original IPs than ever before. Initially known for its ability to do justice to pre-existing franchises through strong sequels and spin-offs, the studio’s trajectory has shifted ever since the successful crowdfunding campaign for Pillars of Eternity. While its recent titles may be known for featuring many of the hallmarks of modern RPGs, one popular mechanic likely isn’t much of a priority for Obsidian at all.
A concept in line with the actual roleplaying aspect in games, romance in RPGs has possibly become more popular than ever. With Baldur’s Gate 3 seeing a spike in interest following one of its intimate scene reveals that has been more than maintained with the rich romance subplots the game offers, many players have been reminded of the dynamics present in experiences like Mass Effect and Dragon Age from BioWare, a developer that Obsidian has been compared to from the beginning. Some earlier releases may have leaned into romance, but Obsidian has largely moved away from it as it has carved out more of its own identity.
Obsidian’s History with Romance in its RPGs
Initially formed in 2003, Obsidian was formed from the remnants of Interplay’s Black Isle Studios by developers who worked on classic RPG titles like Fallout 2 and Icewind Dale. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2 was Obsidian’s first release, a game known for its memorable characters and deep story that led many to forgive its technical shortcomings. With varied romance arcs depending on the player’s choices, KOTOR 2 was much more in line with the BioWare style of the first game. While the controversial Alpha Protocol would go on to feature several love interests for its protagonist to encounter, Neverwinter Nights 2 served as an example of the straightforward approach to RPG storytelling that Obsidian seems to have always preferred.
Despite the prevalence of the mechanic in similar titles, Pillars of Eternity would forgo romance entirely and continue to show the studio’s lack of focus on the mechanic. With strong character writing that doesn’t delve into intimate feelings for the player, this choice could be a warranted stylistic preference. Tyranny would go on to utilize its grim world and harsh characters to distance itself even further away from the love stories found in other RPGs, while Pillars’ sequel, Deadfire finally compromised and provided some romance options that most players have found severely lacking. When it comes to the studio’s recent and upcoming releases, Obsidian’s priorities simply seem to be in enhancing other areas.
The Outer Worlds Proved Romance isn't Mandatory
A well-received title that served to fill the void that the disappointment of Fallout 76 left for many, The Outer Worlds managed to be a fulfilling experience for RPG fans despite not featuring any romances between the player and their companions. A game that solely takes place in first-person where the player character isn’t even seen outside the menu, it ultimately makes sense to omit romantic subplots that greatly benefit from cinematic presentation. With both The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed set to feature the same first-person perspective, it would not be surprising to see them both forgoing the romance options that have become so popular in other RPGs.
Obsidian officially stated that the concept of romancing companions wasn’t implemented into The Outer Worlds due to budget constraints, and with the studio’s acquisition by Microsoft, this dynamic has certainly shifted. While it may remain true to the trend it has established over the past few years, there’s still a chance that The Outer Worlds 2 and even Avowed could feature romance options with an unexpected level of depth. If the developer’s past has indicated anything though, it’s that Obsidian Entertainment always seems to prioritize the quality of the core RPG experience and world-building of its games over anything else.