Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gaming
  3. News

Obsidian Entertainment teases new RPG with a space gun and a skin cream

By

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas, the Pillars of Eternity series, South Park: The Stick of Truth and Tyranny, is teasing a new RPG using images of a space gun and skin cream.

It all started with a tweet from the California-based developer that pointed followers to its official website.

Recommended Videos

Hmmm… anyone else getting those ads on https://t.co/i158nrCxBL???

— Obsidian (@Obsidian) November 28, 2018

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Visiting the website brings up one of two countdowns to December 6, when a special message will be delivered at The Game Awards 2018.

1 of 2
obsidian entertainment teases new rpg tease 2
Image used with permission by copyright holder
obsidian entertainment teases new rpg tease 1
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The countdowns were followed by what looked like product advertisements for some sort of space gun, and a random assortment of household products that include skin cream, ointment, bread, and something called “anthrocill,” though that might not be the full name.

1 of 2
obsidian entertainment teases new rpg spacer
Image used with permission by copyright holder
obsidian entertainment teases new rpg cleo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The messages and advertisements are from Spacer’s Choice and Auntie Cleo’s, which are not related to any of Obsidian’s previous titles. The style of the images, however, seem to point to some sort of retro science fiction theme.

Related

Obsidian, which was recently announced as an acquisition target by Microsoft, has been known to be working on a new RPG that will be published by Private Division, an indie label under Take Two Interactive. The partnership raised concerns from gamers that the new RPG will feature microtransactions or loot boxes, but Obsidian quickly responded with a promise that it will not adopt the controversial business model.

Not much else is known about Obsidian’s new RPG, sending speculations into overdrive. One of the more tantalizing theories is that Obsidian is working on a game based on the Bioshock universe, given the involvement of Take-Two and the look of the ads that would fit within the aesthetics of the franchise.

Fortunately, gamers who are intrigued with Obsidian’s upcoming RPG will not have to wait long for an official announcement. Geoff Keighley, the creator and host of The Game Awards, confirmed that the world premiere of the new Obsidian title will be in this year’s edition of the highly anticipated event.

Don't miss the global premiere and announcement of the upcoming RPG by @Obsidian and @PrivateDivision at @TheGameAwards streaming live everywhere next Thursday, December 6 at 9 PM ET / 6 PM PT. #WorldsWillChange pic.twitter.com/LjW8GmdwcB

— Geoff Keighley (@geoffkeighley) November 28, 2018

The Game Awards 2018 will be held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, with a range of streaming options including on the Digital Trends website. This year’s Game of the Year nominees are God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and Monster Hunter: World and Celeste.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Aaron Mamiit
Aaron Mamiit
Contributor
Aaron received an NES and a copy of Super Mario Bros. for Christmas when he was four years old, and he has been fascinated…
First-party Xbox game Pentiment will release on November 15
A boat in Pentiment

Obsidian Entertainment announced that Pentiment will release on November 15 for Xbox consoles and PC. As it's a first-party Xbox title, the game will be available through all versions of Xbox Game Pass at release in addition to Steam.

Pentiment was first revealed at the Xbox & Bethesda showcase in June. It'll help fill Xbox's rather desolate slate of exclusive titles this year, given that Bethesda's Starfield and Redfall were delayed to 2023. Pentiment also joins an incredibly crowded slate of November video game releases. God of War Ragnarok, Sonic Frontiers, and Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are all notable heavy hitters dropping within a week of this game.

Read more
I don’t need Starfield because I have The Outer Worlds
The spacer looks out over a vast horizon in The Outer Worlds 2 key art.

Starfield will be one of the biggest games of 2023, but I'm not that excited to play it yet.
While  Starfield's spotlight at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase this year highlighted some impressive features, I couldn't shake the feeling that I'd already gotten everything I'd want from a traditional sci-fi RPG like this from another game: The Outer Worlds from Obsidian Entertainment. Ironically developed by another Microsoft-owned studio, The Outer Worlds showed that bloating up a sci-fi game with thousands of planets isn't necessary when a "less is more" mentality can still result in an expertly designed sci-fi RPG. 
Although The Outer Worlds might not be as nearly as grand as Starfield in scope, it still leaves an impression every time I revisit it. It's a focused, replayable, and hilarious adventure without much bloat, which is what I want from my RPGs. It does this while emulating Bethesda's classic The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games too, beating Starfield to the punch.
Starfield could impress me when it launches, but what I've seen of it hasn't got me that eager to play it when I'm so content with replaying The Outer Worlds while avidly waiting for its sequel.
Starfield: Official Gameplay Reveal
Fewer worlds, more fun
From the moment your escape pod accidentally lands on a bounty hunter that's supposed to help you, it's clear that The Outer Worlds is a tongue-in-cheek, satirical take on capitalism, colonization, and the sci-fi genre as a whole. While Bethesda Game Studios' narratives have their fair share of humor, much of its writing tends to be more serious and dryly written. We haven't seen enough of Starfield's dialogue or narrative to get a sense of its thematic identity yet.
Starfield's narrative could be more playful than we've seen so far, but the game's massive scope is what really worries me. During the Microsoft showcase, Todd Howard boasted that there are over 1,000 planets to explore. Because Starfield is so huge, I worry that it risks feeling unfocused. Will I get bored on planets that aren't very handcrafted and don't have as much to do? It's the same potential issue that infamously plagued No Man's Sky at launch.
Meanwhile, The Outer Worlds and its upcoming sequel are intentionally designed to avoid those bloat issues, according to former Obsidian Entertainment Narrative Designer Nitai Poddar in a 2019 Game Informer interview. "There is a lot of value in having an open-ended game that is still structured around individual discreet levels," he said. "It also tends to be easier to develop, and I'm always a fan of making the most of a budget that you have."

The Outer Worlds' developers didn't have a huge budget, and kept the game small but very tightly designed as a result. You might not be able to explore entire planets or fly between them, but you'll definitely remember what you did on every single one you visited. This smaller scope allowed the studio to make the world more reactive to each dialogue choice and player decision.
Playing a combat-focused build in The Outer Worlds gives you an entirely different experience than a dialogue-driven playthrough. You can also murder or scorn everyone you meet in The Outer Worlds, and the game accounts for it in tangible, narrative ways. This makes The Outer Worlds a great sci-fi roleplaying experience, and I'm hopeful its sequel will be too. I'm not as hungry for a sci-fi RPG on such a potentially problematic large scale anymore when The Outer Worlds and its handcrafted worlds and narratives are so enjoyable moment-to-moment, just like classic Bethesda games. 
Where both games will boldly go
As far as sci-fi experiences go, Starfield can stand out from The Outer Worlds with its combat, base-building and shipbuilding, and space combat. But when it comes to the core tenets of Bethesda's best RPGs -- compelling characters, well-written narratives, and lots of reactive and choice-driven moments -- The Outer Worlds beat Starfield to the punch without any additional fat. I already have the Bethesda-like sci-fi experience I always wanted.

Read more
Microsoft teases new Windows 11 feature, calling it a ‘game-changer’
panos panay at the Windows 11 event.

Microsoft isn't done yet with new Windows 11 features. A day after teasing a new Snipping Tool, Windows and Devices chief Panos Panay just revealed a new Focus Sessions feature for Windows 11 -- hinting at new ways for the operating system to help you stay productive and creative.

The short 14-second Focus Sessions teaser clip highlights a completely redesigned clock app for Windows 11. In addition to the usual timers, alarms, world clock, and stopwatch, the clock app looks to now be the home to a special "Focus" section. These are where you'll find focus-themed hubs for setting timers, checking tasks, checking your daily focus progress, and even listening to songs on Spotify.

Read more