Following the release and enormous success of Baldur’s Gate 3, the first cRPG with a triple-A budget, fans of the genre are now also wondering about a similar treatment for games like Pillars of Eternity 3.
Replying to a fan on the matter, Obsidian Entertainment’s Studio Design Director Josh Sawyer, the man behind the first two games (as well as Fallout: New Vegas and Pentiment), jokingly said he’s waiting for Xbox to greenlight Pillars of Eternity 3 with a $120 million budget.
It doesn’t sound like he really expects that to happen any time soon. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire sold below expectations, as admitted by Sawyer himself at the time, which is why Obsidian moved on instead of making a sequel right away. It’s a shame, as both games were critically claimed, receiving two 9/10 scores on Wccftech from Francesco De Meo and Nathan Birch, respectively.
Pillars of Eternity is one of the best role-playing games released in recent times, and the Complete Edition is well worthy of its name, with a redesigned UI that managed to make the game playable on consoles. The huge amount of text and the challenging battle system make it a game that’s not exactly for everyone, but those who can look past these potential issues will find an RPG that will suck them in and won’t let go easily, thanks to the excellent worldbuilding and story.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire is an exceptional roleplaying experience that truly lets you forge your own path in a rich, multilayered, grog-soaked world. Occasionally the game is just a touch too retro for its own good, but, for the most part, Pillars of Eternity II proves Obsidian has set the right course. It’s clear sailing ahead for the classic computer RPG.
Obsidian is now busy translating the world of Eora into a first-person action RPG with Avowed, scheduled to launch next year. However, Baldur’s Gate 3’s outstanding success may have provided a different perspective to the folks at Microsoft’s Xbox. Sawyer’s mere tweet was enough to send the community into a frenzy, speculating about the possibilities and asking Xbox to make it happen. The veteran director may get his wish of a big-budget Pillars of Eternity 3 after all.
