Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment has now been placed under the Bethesda umbrella, who has taken over management responsibilities of the company from Xbox Game Studios. However, the studio is set to keep its ‘creative identity’ despite the shift.
That’s at least according to a leaked memo from Jill Braff, President of Bethesda, who revealed that this development is “a change in reporting structure. The creative identity and strengths that make Obsidian distinct will remain at the core of their studio and work,” she said in an email to employees, which was picked up by Aftermath.
“[CEO] Feargus [Urquhart] and the Obsidian leadership team will continue to lead Obsidian, with the studio reporting to me. Bethesda Game Studios will continue to lead the Fallout franchise,” Braff added. “Together, the teams will build on their longstanding relationship and the early work already underway on a new Fallout project, with more to share in the months ahead. This structure supports the franchise-led model we’ve been strengthening while keeping accountability for both the studio and the franchise clear.”
Prior to the latest wave of Xbox cuts that facilitated Obsidian’s shift to Bethesda, the company was confirmed in July to be working on a brand new Fallout game. That same month, it was reported that Obsidian had suffered a number of job losses with 25% of its staff said to have been laid off in the first wave of Xbox cuts.
[Source – Aftermath via GamesRadar]