Known for developing games of high-quality and excellent writing, Obsidian Entertainment's fantasy RPG Avowed is no doubt on a lot of people's radars. The Fallout: New Vegas studio is looking to release its new tit?le early next year, but there is an opportunity to play it sooner.

However, it will necessitate forking over some extra dough. According to a recent blog post on Xbox Wire, you can get a copy of Avowed on February 13 �??as opposed to February 18 �if you're prepared to buy the Premium Edition.

How to get Avowed Early Access as easily as possible

You can pre-order the more expensive version of the game, which will set you back $90 instead of $70 for the Standard Edition. In addition to getting to download and play "up to" five days earlier, the Premium Edition also gives you access to a digital artbook and soundtrack, as well as two premium skin p?acks.

The post goes on to say pre-orders are available on Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox App, Steam, and even Blizzard's Battle.ne??t service. You can also, if you so choose, buy the Standard Edition and upgrade to Premium at a later date, which will give you the bonuses plus the early access. It will, however, cost you an additional $25 for the privilege.

Avowed will also be available on Game Pass from day one. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game ?Pass subscribers can play via their Battle.net member?ship.

As for the exclusive skin pack, these have been inspired by "characters and regions from Pillars of Eternity." If you're like me and you're wondering if you need to have played this game before diving into Avowed, it seems as though that won't be necessary.

Although the latter does take place in the same universe as the former, no knowledge of Pillars of Eternity is required. If you're a fan of Obsidian games overall, then Avowed sounds like it's going to b??e one to look out for, whether you play it five days early or not.

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Although it's a hugely successful and much-beloved game, Fallout 4 sometimes gets criticized for its continued scaling back of more traditional role-playing elements. It's these elements that arguably made the series such a cult hit in the first place. Since Bethesda took over for the third installment, it definitely feels like things have slid into more action than str????aight-up RPG.

Of the later Fallout games that have come about, New Vegas is almost universally considered the best in the series. People are always keen to return to this modern classic, and that includes the modding community, where Nexus Mods user bp42s (thanks, DSO Gaming) brings us "REPUTATION."

Aside from being spelled out in a way that makes it feel like you should shout it out loud with your arms held aloft, this mod adds one of New Vegas' much-missed features into Fallout 4. Specifically �and as the name implies �it adds reputation, allowing you to g?ain fame or infamy among known fac??tions.

Just like in the good old days

This means you can now achieve good standing with a number of settlements across the nuclear-annihilated city of Boston, which c?an yield rewards. For example: having a positive reputation may "provide you with access to their gear, materials, or a tribute chest in your honor."

Yo??u can also get access to supply crates, which can become unlocked if that particular faction sees you in a more favorable light. Additionally, you can get unique perks for reaching an "idolized" status. These perks are said to be powerful, but "not game-breaking or unbalanced."

Alternatively, if you decide to be an utter bastard on your Fallout 4 travels, you can earn such negative esteem, that people will send out hit squads, similar to the Legionary Assassins in New Vegas. Vendors will also?? increase their prices for both buying and selling depending on what they thin??k of you.

Also, sal??utes have been added to the game, and bp42s says that generic NPCs "in the more organized or militaristic factions will have a chance to salute you when you look at them, depending on how lik?ed you are." It's all about making friends or enemies, then.

It's a nice little revival of a role-playing element that seems to have gone away completely in the Fallout series. The fact that your actions and antics can once again influence how citizens and other wastelanders regard you �and whether they want to shoot you in the face �is something I think a lot of fans of the series will be keen to see in Fallout 4.

The post This Fallout ??4 mod brings back the reputation system from New Veg??as appeared first on Destructoid.

Considered to be the greatest Fallout game ever made, Fallout: New Vegas is simply screaming out for a follow-up from Obsidian Entertainment. Sadly, nearly 14 years later and we still haven't had a new Fallout from the Avowed studio.? Oh well, at least ?we still have plenty of mods to keep us amused.

And amused I am, thanks to this one from Nexus Mods user SadWeeble in which NPCs in New Vegas literally explode randomly. The game itself is already known for its dark? humor and elements of the slightly absurd, so this should basically fit right into your normal playthrough.

SadWeeble describes it as turning the wasteland into the "tensest game of Hot Potato." Imagine just strolling through the Vegas Strip or the Mojave Desert itself, only to see the denizens and Wastelanders flip and ragdoll via an explosion that leaves very little ti?me to say goodbye to personal limbs.

Customizable booms

It gets better, as well. The mod creator has also added in some custom settings to allow you to configure the randomness of NPCs exploding. You can, for e?xample, change the delay before said NPC goes all boom. You can change the explosion "type," reward yourself some XP each time someone explodes, and mark essential characters as ones to ignore.

The only downside? perhap?s is you do need a few more downloads for this one to work. SadWeeble says in order to get "NPCs Randomly Explode" to work, you'll need the following:

• The New Vegas Script Extender
• The JIP LN NVSE Plugin
• The SUP NVSE Plugin
• The Mod Configuration Menu (optional)

I recently replayed Fallout: New Vegas, having not picked it up for a few years. One thing people typically praise the game for is its story and writing. It has a certain levity to it that offsets the somewhat bleak aspects of living in a post-apocalyptic world, something that Bethesda can't quite measure up to. I know I'm definitely not alone in hoping Obsidian will give us a New Vegas 2 at some point.

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Long-time fans of Fallout will no doubt be familiar with the name Timothy (or Tim) Cain. As the creator of the series, as well as having a prolific car??eer in video?? game development overall, his name is often associated with the post-apocalyptic series, at least when it all began.

While Cain hasn't worked on a Fallout game since he left the sequel's production, it ha??sn't stopped fans from asking if he'll ever make a triumphant return. In a recent video, the veteran programmer not only waxes lyrical about some of the projects he's worked on over the years, but ponders what it would take to encourage him to go back to the world he helped create.

If you're a fan of Cain's work in any respect, the above video is definitely interesting. To hear what a respected developer with an impressive resume has to say about his own career is worth a watch. However, it doesn't look like we'll see him come back to Fallout just yet.

Fallout needs to offer something "different"

Across the whole 17 minutes, Cain talks about?? what it is that draws him to a certain project. He says that it's not necessarily?? about money or authority, but about whether the game in question offers something "new."

In the case of Vampire: The Masquerades - Bloodlines, it was an opportunity to work with an engine he hadn't personally designed (in this case: Valve's Source). When it came to South Park: The Stick of Truth, it was about helping to develop a console title for the first time in his career. For The Outer Worlds, it was about getting ?to work on a sci-fi opera game.

With Fallout, Cain essentially says that any upcoming projects being offered to him would have to be more than just a straight-up sequel. It has to interest him personally, with something diff??erent that he perhaps hasn't tri??ed before. You have to admire a person who holds on to such convictions after a successful career that spans three decades.

In essence, whether it's a numbered Fallout game, some offshoot that takes place in the same universe (such as New Vegas), or a remake of the very first installment, Tim Cain may well never return to the now Bethesda-owned franchise unless it genuinely intrigues him. He's done the action-based role-playing game set in a post-nuclear wasteland, and it seems unlikely that Fallout will ever budge from its award-winning identity.

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The sudden closure of Arkane Austi?n,?? Tango Gameworks, Alpha Dog Games, and Roundhouse Studios has understandably left many worried about the future of Microsoft's other internal studios, such as The Outer Worlds developer Obsidian Entertainment. Perhaps to help dispel fears of Obsidian meeting the same fate, Carrie Patel and Matt Hansen, the director and art director of the upcoming Avowed, hav?e comm?ented on how supportive they feel Microsoft has been throughout development.

"It's always sad and it always sucks to see studios close and devs lose their job," said Patel in a recent Eurogamer interview. "I really hope all those people land on their feet, be?cause I know our industry is better with them in it." However, she doesn't believe in "living in fear," adding that she feels a "a strong sense of security in being part of Obsidian" and has a lot of trust in Microsoft's leadership: "I do want to emphasise that Microsoft leadership and Xbox leadership have also been incredible supportive of what we do, how we make games, and [are] very communicative with us as well."

Hansen also describes th??e closures as "unfortunate," in the Eurogamer interview, but is otherwise "not afraid" about Obsidian's future under Microsoft. He adds, "The only side effect that I've personally felt since Microsoft acquired us is just more support. There's less unknow??ns, less financial risk, and so we're able to take more creative risk—but to do that in a measured way. It's been a really, really rewarding process."

As for Avowed itself, the fantasy RPG saw another new trailer at the recent Xbox Games Showcase, and it still otherwise looks like a fun time. It didn't get a lot of focus, though, and Microsoft hasn't nailed down an exact release date beyond fall 2024. A blog post from Obsidian did mention a November 12 launch, but that date has since been excised. Whether this is sim?ply because it was shared too early or isn't set in stone is unclear.

While it's nice to hear Obsidian is being supported well, there's not much to offer in terms of reassurance after so many layoffs in recent years. Let's not forget that Microsoft considered Hi-Fi Rush a ??success, and yet developer Tango Gameworks was shut down anyway.

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Avowed, the next RPG from those famed RPG creators at Obsidian, got another trailer during the 2024 Xbox Games Showcase this weekend. The new footage confirmed it's coming this year, but Avowed had a full release date revealed elsewhere ?b??efore it was quickly removed.

As spotted by Wario64 on X, the Avowed story trailer blog page on the official Obsidian site revealed a release date of November 12, 2024. But like the Tr?oxler effect, no??t long after eyes were cast upon the date, it disappeared from the blog post entirely.

The date came as part of a? short quote provided by the game director, Carrie Patel. Today, the q??uote reads:

"The last few months at Obsidian Entertainment have been fast-paced and exciting. Since we saw you at the Xbox Developer Direct this past January, we’ve been busy with Avowed getting it ready."

Using the cosmic powers of the Wayback Machine, I was able to confirm the release date on the pre-edited page. Originally, the quote? continued to say, "for release on November 12, 2024." And then it was gone.

Avowed got a November release date for a short while, at least

There's no need to queue up that X-Files music; the reveal may have likely been for a target date, but something ch?anged. I recall a year where every other month felt like it had a game delay announcement or two. It could have been altered, whether due to a delay or something else. We can't really know for sure.

For the most part, Obsidian is still targeting 2024 for Avowed. The exact month and day may still be up to the fates, but the year hasn't been changed yet. We may see the game around the fall regardless, nestled snuggly with others like Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred and Life is Strange: Double Exposure.

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The final content drop for Grounded has arrived in update 1.4, aka the 'Fully Yoked Update', bringing with it many changes. One such addition is the New Game Plus mode, and here are all its features in Grounded.

Grounded New Game Plus mode isn't one for those who are freshly shrunk. The mode is aimed toward experienced players who have completed the game's story, beaten many of its bosses, and are hungry for more. New Game Plus features changes that shake up the Grounded formula, adding more content and remixing the backyard.

How to unlock New Game Plus in Grounded

You can only unlock the New Game Plus mode in Grounded after completing some steps. As mentioned, you'll need ??to be pretty far ahead in your world before yo?u can venture into the new one.

Here ?is what you need to do to ac?cess New Game Plus:

• Defeat the Broodmother, Wasp Queen, and Mantis world bosses
• Complete the JavaMatic section at the end of the story
• Find the "secret cave"

There's a secret cave? Yes, to access New Game Plus in Grounded you need to complete the last story challenge and beat those bosses to unlock a door at the end of ??a hidden cave. O??nce you finish those tasks, go to the cave entrance. It's located in the northernmost section of the Flower Bed that surrounds the Koi Pond.

The entrance is here, between two stone blocks in the wa??ll that sep??arates the Flower Bed and the Upper Grasslands:

The door opens with a button that activates once the bosses are dead and the JavaMatic fight is finish???ed.

Grounded: All New Game Plus features and more

New Game Plus allows you to continue your adventures in Grounded but with some significant changes. Developer Obsidian Entertainment calls it a 'Remixed' backyard, in which the various insects and arachnids are ?powered up with Raw Science that increases their strength and speed. The bugs are also charged with "unique properties that make them extra challenging."

Here are other features coming with the New Game Plus mode in Grounded:

• New Trinkets

  • On death, bugs infused with Raw Science will drop new Trinkets with random properties
  • BURG.L Chips award in Trinkets with special properties

• Yoking Station - Level 10

  • The Yoking Station can upgrade your weapons even more, but requires "new materials and resources only found in remixed yards"

• More Molars to find and in randomized locations

  • There are more Milk Molars in remixed backyards, but they're not in the usual places anymore

• Additional options in the Science Shop

  • The ASL Terminal at the Oak Lab now offers more items such as a sign set, the Yoking Station, and more equipment and weapons

• More Raw Science and increased awards

  • To help players with purchasing the new goods at the ASL Terminal, the remixed backyard includes more Raw Science locations and increased MIX.R rewards

Be sure to hit up the official patch notes to learn all there is to come in the Fully Yoked version of Grounded.

The post All Grounded New Game Plus features appeared first on Destructoid.

Obsidian Entertainment's pint-sized survival game Grounded is making its way onto PlayStation and Switch on April 16. But it's not going to be the same game Xbox fans have enjoyed up until now. Grounded update 1.4, or the "Fully Yoked" update, adds even more content and a New Game+ mode.

Much of the content in the Grounded update 1.4 isn't for the new players, mind. The update is mostly geared toward those who have already either mastered the game's backyard or have gotten pretty close. It includes a lot of mid- to late-game content, and unlocking New Game+ requires defeating the backyard's most terrifying bosses. But it could be worth it, as New Game+ is more than just "Grounded but with recipes unlocked."

Everything in the Grounded "Fully Yoked" update 1.4

Changes to the ants and colonies

It's the ant update, apparently! Grounded update 1.4 adds three Ant Queen rulers, who can be a friend or foe based on what "delectable offering" you present. Your relationship with the queen and her brood offers different rewards based on your actions, with choices creating "ripple effects." Some?? of the rewards may be in structures, as the update includes 12 new buildings themed after the Ant Queen. Yo??u can also tame a baby ant as a pet, and yeah, I think I'm convinced.

Grounded gets a New Game+ mode

New Game+ mode is set to change the backyard with every new playthrough of the mode. The mode introduces a "remixed" version of the game, in which you face stronger enemies "infused with the essence of Raw Science." Beating them awards you in Raw Science, naturally, along with trinkets that can "enhance your character." The mode is only unlockable after you wipe out the big, bad bugs from the backyard. You'll have to beat the Broodmother, Wasp Queen, ?Mantis, and Javamatic bosses to gain ??access.

Here's what else the New Game+ mode brings:

• Different creature spawns
• Tougher bosses
• Eerie anomalies and hidden secrets
• A Yoking Station which is used to level up weapons even further
• New, randomized locations for Molars

And more

The Grounded update 1.4 has even more changes in store. And they're not exactly small, either. Here's a list of everything else you can expect in Groun??ded update 1.4 (courtesy of Obsidian):

• Hosts can now load a save while in the middle of a multiplayer session and all connected players will seamlessly transition into the new game world.
• Full Japanese Voice Overs: Immerse yourself completely with full Japanese voice-overs, covering everything from the teen characters to BURG.L, cutscenes, and audio logs. Simply enable this feature from the Game Options menu.
• The 1.4 update adds four new achievements, one new mutation, twelve Ant Queen-related buildings, new baby ant pets, and so much more we can’t list here!
• Cross play will be supported across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.

Grounded update 1.4 launches alongside the game's release on P?layStation and Nintendo Switch on April 16.

The post Everything in Grounded update 1.4 appeared first on Destructoid.

Few things are more frustrating than gearing up for some crafting and survival with friends, only for one or more of you to run into connection issues. It can really put a damper on the weekend. For fellow Grounded players, here's?? how to fix the multiplayer when it isn't working.

Grounded, like most games, will have its share of issues and bugs. No, not the insect variety, though there are plenty of those in the game. Even the most popular of fixes may not be enough to get your game back on track. But we have compiled some suggestions and t??ips to get you back? online.

Steps to fix Grounded multiplayer not working

First things first, make sure you've followed all the right steps to get the multiplayer in Grounded to work. It's a cross-platform game across console and PC via Steam and Game Pass. Players on Steam will need to follow an extra step to play with console and Game Pass friends.

Steam players need to download the Xbox App and sign in with a M??icrosoft account.? Once that's all setup, enter the app and link your Xbox and Steam accounts. Follow these steps to get connected:

• Open the Xbox App and make sure you're signed in
• Click on your user name at the top-left of the screen
• Click on 'Settings'
• Scroll down to 'Linked accounts' and sign into your Steam account

With that out of the way, you should be ab??le to view each other on your Xbox friends lists.

If you've already done the abo??ve, or if you aren't playing with Steam u??sers, here are some other suggestions:

• Restart your internet connection
• Restart your platform (PC or console)
• Check the Xbox network status
• Check the game's status on X

If those options aren't working, there may be something more serious going on and you'll need help from an expert. Head on over to Obsidian Entertainment's support page and look up the i??????????????????????????ssue or send a ticket to the su??pport team.

The post How to fix Grounded multiplayer not working appeared first on Destructoid.

Last week, Microsoft confirmed it would bring more first-party titles to other platforms. There was plenty ?of speculati?on as to what those games would be, but after various announcements today, the roster has been set.

During today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo fired off the first confirmation that Grounded would be heading to the Nintendo Switch in April and Pentiment would arrive February 22. Then, Hi-Fi Rush for PS5 leaked a little early.

Now, Xbox has confirmed all four games: Grounded, Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Thieves.

The first to roll out will be Pentiment, and it's coming quite soon! Obsidian Entertainment's "superb" RPG is coming digitally to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, a?nd Nintendo Switch on February 22.

Following Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush is coming to coming to PlayStation 5 on March 19. Tango Gameworks' shadow-dropped rhythm brawler is apparently skipping over the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The title will be available for preorder over on the PlayStation Store at some point today.

As previously mentioned, Grounded is making its way to the Nintendo Switch on April 16. Howe??ver, it's also making its way onto the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well. Crossplay will be built in over all platforms, so expect a significant player base boost as we head towar?d the summer.

Finally, as many predicted, Sea of Thieves sees another system off on the horizon. Rare's still-going-strong live-service pirate sim is coming to PlayStati??on 5 on April 30. This, too, will feature crossplay so that PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox players can all adventure toget??her.

Microsoft gently reminds us in today's Xbox Wire post that the above four titles join other massive Xbox properties like Minecraft, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Diablo to go third-party. For whatever reason, some Xbox fans are still balking at this business decision. However, it's pretty clear at this point that this is the direction Microsoft will be considering for its games going forward, though those like Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones are staying on Xbox.

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You can take the Fallout: New Vegas out of the silly, but you can't take the silly out of Fallout: New Vegas. Or something like that. At any ??????????????????????????rate, someone has managed to make modding history by finding an old file that was thought to have been lost to the annals of time.

This one is very much for you late '90s/early 2000s nu-metal fans. As spotted by PC Gamer, Twitch streamer Micky D (via Twitter user UsagiCola) has re-uploaded a mod for NV that adds Fred Durst of Limp ?Bizkit fame as a companion. Whenever you interact with him, he can only reply in snippets from some of the b?and's music.

Neither Micky D nor UsagiCola are the original creators of the mod. The story goes that modder lb8068 created and uploaded it around seven years ago. However, after formatting their computer, t?hey lost the files.

It's my way, my way or the (abandoned) highway

The person who has brought it back from the dead said they just happened to have it on their hard drive. As such, we can once again enjoy the stylings of Durst as he accompanies us across the Mojave Desert. You can download the mod from here.

Ah, I remember the nu-metal days. Spiky hair, baggy JNCOs, no deodorant. Good time??s. Limp Bizkit was definitely at the forefront of the genre, even if Durst himself was pretty much the embodiment of a skater douche.

Personally, I wouldn't really want him singing and rapping at me while I play Fallout, but it's nice to know that the mod has found a new home. We should all celebrate ??video game preservation. Whatever form it comes in.

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Excitement for Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming action-RPG Avowed has no doubt ramped up since it was shown? off at Developer Direct. Since then, some ext??ended footage has been doing the rounds, with an in-depth discussion about the game from its two directors.

In the recent video from the official Xbox podcast, Game Director Carrie Patel and Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo take us through some moments from Avowed's Shatterskarp area??. We get a pretty tasty morsel of what's to come from Obsidian's next release (though it needs to be said?? that all footage is from the alpha build currently).

The action looks pretty sweet and while the game is not intending to be Skyrim adjacent, I can't help but see a little bit of TES5 i??n all that sword swinging and shield bashing. I'm here for it, essentially.

Doing what Obsidian does best

While all this high-octane, fantasy action is a key part of the gameplay, there will be plenty of people who'll be interested in how well the story will be written (yo). Obsidian is known for crafting rich worlds with great dialogue options, something which Avowed will likely feature.

Remember, this is the same studio that brought us the narrative-rich Pentiment (a game I absolutely fell in love with when I played it). Oh, also something called Fallout: New Vegas. Maybe you've heard of it.

It seems Obsidian Entertai?nment can't do much wrong at the minute. Whatever genre it dips its toes into, the studio often come up with something that has an equal mix of great gameplay and fantastic writing. Win-win.

On top of that, Avowed will be coming to Xbox Game Pass on launch day. W??e don't know when it's releasing exactly, but it's expected later this year.

The post Avowed extended footage shows off sweet, Elder Scrolls-e?sque combat appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox is laying out its road ahead with the Developer Direct 2024. Obsidian started the show today, sharing some new looks at Avowed as it heads for a Fall 2024 window.

Today, we got a deeper look at the first-person RPG from Obsidian Entertainment. Set in the same world as Pillars of Eternity, Eora, Avowed is a more action-ori?ented approach. And a decent chunk of the opening minutes of today's look covered the scrapping, from magic and swords to flintlock-style pistols. Heck, you can even wield a bunch of wands, if you want. More wands means more magic, after all.

We see some reptilian combatants wielding a breadth of equipment, including shields and ranged weapons. Obsidian says you'll be able to set loadouts for combat and swap between them, letting the player quickly swap around for whatever approach you need. It seems pret??ty customizable, though I'm not completely sold on it.

Part of Avowed also looks to involve some light mystery-solving. We see ??some segments of the player talking with various NPCs, trying to discern whether a private is telling the truth or lying, possibly even confr??onting him. Whatever the player chooses, consequences follow.

Fantasy lands await

We also got a look at the vistas and locales waiting in Avowed. There ar?e lots of different biomes to explore, f??rom forests to deserts, all falling under the general high fantasy umbrella.

As for news on a date, we just have the window of Fall 2024. It was good to see a little bit more of what Avowed has in store, though today's look didn't really hold surprises for those expecting a first-person fantasy RPG. I'm curious to see how Avowed will set itself apart when it? arrives ?later on this year.

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Microsoft is ready to get 2024 rolling. The company has anno??unced that it will host an Xbox Developer Direct on January 18.

Xbox teased several of the projects that we'll be seeing during the January 18 Developer Direct. Amongst them are Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed, MachineGames' Indiana Jones title, and Ninja Theory's Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.

The Xbox Wire shed a few more details on what to expect from the event, including our first real look at Indiana Jones. The Developer Direct will spend about 10 minutes on the project, which includ??es the first gameplay trailer and details on the title's setting and story.

There weren't really any details given for Hellblade 2's segment. Instead, the Xbox Wire says to expect a behind-the-scenes look at the game courtesy of Ninja Theory. We last saw the title at The Game Awards within an impressive new trailer and a release window confirmed for this year.

Avowed is getting a "deep dive into the gameplay experience" from?? Obsidian Entertainment. The studio will detail the game's Living Lands and the action RPG's "deep themes, dynamic gameplay??????????????????????????, and thoughtful reactivity."

Also at the Developer Direct will be Oxide Games' Ara: History Untold. We'll get a new look at gameplay and features from the history strategy game crafted by veteran developers of the Civilization series.

Xbox also notes that there will be a standalone presentation from Zenimax Online Studios following the Developer Direct. Here you can expect details on The Elder Scrolls Online's 2024 roa??dmap, including a new zone, storyline, and gameplay feature??s.

The Xbox Develop?er Direct will stream on Xbox channels on Thursday, January 18 at 12:00 p.m. PST, 3:00 p.m. EST.

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Chris Avellone, the former chief creative officer and co-founder of Fallout: New Vegas developer Obsidian Entertainment, has revealed that the company tried to make an Elder Scrolls game in a similar vein. In a thread confirming an old tweet uncovered by 80 Level, Avellone discussed details about the proposal.

He also compared the idea to the way Infinity Ward and Treyarch handled alternate Call of Duty games during that generation, with Bethesda developing a main game and Obsidian working on something that would offer more Elder Scrolls adventures, like Fallout: New Vegas did for that series.

According to Avellone, the idea didn't gain traction with Bethesda, and he suggests that the Starfield studio wasn't happy with the reception that Fallout: New Vegas received, "good and bad."

Although Fallout: New Vegas has become highly regarded over the years since its release, there was initially some backlash toward the game due to bugs and game breaking issues.

After years of patches and updates, Fallout: New Vegas has gotten the recognition that it deserves. It's disappointing to think of what we could have had if this had ultimately panned out. It has been over a decade since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released, and it doesn't look like we'll get to play The Elder Scrolls VI anytime soon.

If only we had an Obsidian-developed Elder Scrolls game to fill the decade plus gap between releases. It seems like Bethesda missed a trick with that one. Maybe Obsidian's (remarkably Elder Scrolls looking) fantasy RPG, Avowed, can fill that hole in my heart.

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If you're the creative type, the latest Grounded update should be right up your alley (or backyard). Later this month, Obsidian Entertainment will introduce the Playgrounds mode �a creation toolset that enables players to create within the world of Grounded.

The new Playgrounds mode was introduced via the Xbox Wire today. It's a creation suite that can be compared to Halo's Forge mode or Forza Horizon 5's EventLab.

Game director Adam Brennecke said that "this feature has been on the backlog for a very long time." The idea for Grounded's Playgrounds stems from the ingenuity of the modding community. The Grounded development t??eam at Obsidian is relatively small, so instead of directing resources towards new content, Brennecke and the team decide to craft the Make It and Break It set of building tools that enables the game community's imagination to run wild.

Brennecke says that ??the Make It and Break It is impressively malleable. Essentially everything in the game is at your disposal creatively. "We’re going to provide the tools, and someone’s going to make something magical," he said.

Players can build buildings, place furniture, create obstacles, implement creatures, and of course, larger bosses. You'll even have the ability to install specific sounds and music into specific locations and scenarios. The vast majority of Grounded's campaign assets can be utilized for creativity. It's extremely cu??stomizable, "down to individual blades of grass."

The new Make It and Break It free update will roll out for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC on November 13. In addition to Playgrounds, the upd??ate will also consist of new challenges for Burgle quests, fresh base-building assets, and combat adjustments.

Grounded is available via Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. See what other big titles are?? headed to the subs?cription service soon right here.

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Over the years, there's been debate among fans about who fired the first nukes that kick-started the events of Fallout. Well, it looks as though this h??as been answered, as Tim Cain let the cat out of the vault, so to speak.

In a recent conversation with YouTube channel TKs-Mantis, Cain �who co-created the first two Fallout games �let it slip that China struck first. At around the 1:26:40 mark, he discusses the reason why America was nuked as part of the lore, related to how the US was creating an artificial?? virus known as FEV. It's then China is mentioned i?n the conversation, basically confirming the country was the first to strike when the states refused to cooperate.

Host Mantis then, with raised eyebrows, tells Cain that what he just said was "earth-shattering." At this point, Cain becomes a little coy, seemingly unaware that Fallout fans were not sure who "shot first," adding, "Oh, well then I don't know.?.. Who knows? It was probably some rogue nation."

Let's hope there's no immediate fallout from this revelation

Leonard Boyarsky �the other co-creator of the early Fallout entries �has gone on record saying that it doesn't really matter who launched the first attack. Ho?wever, this recent slip up from Cain basically confirms what some may already have suspected.

In any case, it's a neat little bit of extra lore for ?those who are big into the post-apocalyptic franchise's universe. Who launched the first nuclear bombs is someth?ing that's been talked about for over two and a half decades. Now, it looks like we have closure.

On top of that, we've also recently learned that the Fallout TV show releases in April 2024. With the success of the Last of Us adaptation, others will no doubt be wanting to follow in?? those footsteps.

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Explore it next year

Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind hit games like The Outer Worlds, Pentiment, and South Park: The Stick of Truth is taking players to the Living Lands next year in Avowed. During? today's Xbox Games Showcase, a new trailer for the game debuted, and it actually managed to pull me in. I'm not the biggest first-person R??PG fan, but something about this looks like a hoot.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULsF7B6bFuU

As previously revealed, Avowed will take place in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series. Avowed will release in 2024 and, of course, it'll be available on Xbox Game Pass at lau??nch.

The post Avowed from Obsidian Entertainment should kee??p us b?usy until the next Elder Scrolls appeared first on Destructoid.

The space adventure gets a special collection

Obsidian's outer-space RPG The Outer Worlds is getting a special edition for newer consoles and PC. The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition arrives on March 7, 2023 for PlayStation 5, Xbo??x Seri?es X|S, and PC.

Given that this version is heading to newer consoles, it'll have a few more bells and whistles compared to the original Outer Worlds. Higher resolution graphics and improved performance, enhanced details, dynamic weather, overhauled lighti?ng, and more all await.

And for those who missed the extra story post-launch, Spacer's Choice links all that in too. The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition will have both DLC packs, Murder on Eridanos and Peril on Gorgon, included in the package. The new version will retail for $59.99 by itself, though if you own the game on a previous system (PS4, Xbox One) or on the same PC? storefront, you can upgrade to this version for $9.99.

For those looking to keep their adventure going, though, you'll have to stay on the original platform. A Private Division spokesperson confirmed to us that saves will not transfer over to The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2dnCAurJcQ

It's Spacer's Choice

It's a bit of a surprise to see The Outer Worlds get a bumped-up option for the newer consoles, but likely a welcome one for those who missed this game the first time around. Obsidian's space adventure was certainly a little messy at times, but had some worlds and characters that made a decent impact.

With a new sequel in the works, this does seem like a decent excuse to either refresh yourself or get up-to-speed with The Outer Worlds. Or heck, even if you just need a space-centered RPG to tide you over for whenever Starfield arrives.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer's Choice Edition arrives for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series ??X|S on March 7.

The post The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition lands next week appeared first on Destructoid.

The following contains mild spoilers for Pentiment. If you haven't played it yet, go do that right now! Then come back and see us.

Obsidian is in peak form, if you ask me

We're already looking ahead to an amazing year of releases in 2023, but part of me still can't let go of one of my favorite games of last year: Pentiment. Although it was released mid November of 2022, I didn't play it until a month later when we were in the midst of the end of year rush, so I didn't get to give it as much attention as I thought it deserved. So here I am, taking a moment to highlight not only what a great game I think Pentiment is, but also my thoughts on how this? game's mere existence, along with its subsequent success, is actually a good thing for the games industry as a whole. Let's get into it.

In today's market, singularity is everything

Say what you want about Pentiment, but there is one thing you can't deny: the game is entirely singular in the games industry. From its art style to its setting to its story to its gameplay, there's nothing I can point to and say "eh, they did it first" or "they did it better." I'll start with the art. A key characteristic of the game's protagonist, Andreas, is that he's an artist. I?t would have already been a brilliant decision to go for a style that accurately recreates the art style of the period that the main character is actively creating in the game, but the fact that it ties back into the narrative so seamlessly as a storybook recounting the history of the town of Tassing �it's near perfection if you ask me.

[caption id="attachment_358053" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image via Obsidian Entertainment[/caption]

Plus, it's just a really beautiful game �the distinct visual style is credited to its art director Hannah Kennedy. The crisp lines filled with vibrant, painterly hues is such a refreshing take on an era that's ?usually depicted in various shades of gray and brown. The stylized art also has the benefit of aging well, too, so it'll be a joy to replay in the coming years and de??cades (something I could find myself doing a lot based on how much there is to do and see).

Shining a spotlight on the transition to the Modern Era

I'm there's something out there I'm missing, but from what I can tell, pretty much every other game set in the late Medieval period is a third person action game or a strategy game. It's fun to see the era get some love from one of my favorite genres: point-and-click. Murder mysteries and point-and-click have long been an excellent match, and Pentiment is yet another prime example of this. It also just mak??es some really great design decisions that makes me wonder ??why they're not a more regular thing.

For instance, you can go around and talk to pretty much everyone at any given time, and when you interact with a character, one of two things will happen �either you'll transition into a conversation, or they'll simply throw out a speech bubble with some kind of greeting. It's such a little thing, but only launching into full conversations when a character has new information to discuss with you is such a nice feature. It give you a sense of progress, an??d doesn't waste your time with draw?n out exchanges that won't get you anywhere.

This simple mechanic also pairs really well with the journal, which is the game's way of keeping track of your quest progress. Rather than prescribing what tasks you need to do in order to progress, most of the time the journal simply records your discoveries. When you read it back, you can see there are plenty of threads to follow without si?mply pushing you along a particular path. You don't feel lost, and you don't feel talked down to. I wish more games would implement quest systems like this.

[caption id="attachment_358056" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Obsidian Entertainment[/caption]

Questions and answers

I love a good story that leaves me with more questions than answers. It has to be asking thoughtful, compelling questions, but when executed right, stories that leave me wondering are often the ones that impress upon me the most. Pentiment's story isn't perfect, but it's a game that's had me thinking about?? the relationships between morality, religion, grief, and art for weeks after I rolled credits.

The game never gives you definitive answers on who the killers are (at least, beside who the puppet master of the whole affair, but that's a whole other conversation). This might be discouraging for some, because of course in games like this, we're used to the Scooby Doo-esque unveiling of the villain at the end. Instead, the game challenges you to follow the leads you find most compelling, use your best judgement, and live with the consequences of your decisions without the confirmation of whether your instincts were correct or not. In a medium that seems to tell very few stories with that true sense of ambiguity, I find Pentiment's dedication to the unknown to be a?n incredible feat.

[caption id="attachment_358054" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Obsidian Entertainment[/caption]

The secret ingredient is love

The one thing about Pentiment that comes across the strongest after only minutes of playing it is that this time was made with so, so much love. The game is the love child of Obsidian game designer and Pentiment director Josh Sawyer, who worked on classics like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. The game was pitches years ago, but the fact that it was finally made after all this time and with such care is a testament to the strength of the premise, and to the de??dication that went into bringing it to life.

It's the most minute details that give it away, like the fact that the dialogue of those who work with the printing press appears all at once, as opposed to the scrawled-out hand we usually see from the other characters, or the use of an art style for the Ethiopian Brother Sebhat of Sadai who is depicted in the art style of his home country. And the glossary that explains all of the historical context of the names, places, and items mentioned throughout? That's just evidence of a team that pu?t a lot of time, effort, and love into chasing down every last piece o?f pertinent research.

More of this, please

For years, one of my biggest hopes for the games industry is that larger studios with big teams and seemingly endless resources would break off into smaller teams and bring their passion projects to life �it seems that's exactly what Obsidian did in this situation. Of course we love the epic blockbusters that a studio will release every handful of years (I am certainly looking forward to The Outer Worlds 2), but to have more frequent releases in the mean time that are highly polished, unique, and clearly exist become someone is really exci??ted to bring that vision to life? That's my literal dream coming true.

[caption id="attachment_358055" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Obsidian Entertainment[/caption]

Pentiment may not even be considered the best game of its release year, but I can tell that its legacy will last longer than most. It's just a solid game all around, and in a time where it feels like a lot of studios are only focusing on releases that will generate the most profit over a creative vision, Pentiment is a breath of ?fresh air in t?he midst of that stale heartlessness.

I'm hoping with my whole chest that Pentiment starts a new trend in the industry, because of course I want a return to smaller-scale, story-focused games. Bu?t really, what I want more than anything is for these larger game companies to wear their bleeding hearts on their sleeves, and Obsidian is certainly off to a fantastic start in that regard.

The post Pentiment is?? the breath of fresh air that games desperately need??ed appeared first on Destructoid.

A history that almost wasn't

Pentiment is out this week for PC and Xbox, and it sounds like that might not have happened if not for Xbox Game Pass. In a new interview with Waypoint, dire??ctor Josh Sawyer says he wouldn't have propose??d the project without Game Pass as a factor.

"I never would have proposed making Pentiment without Game Pass," said Sawyer. "Like??, I literally just wouldn't have done it. I just don't think it would have been possible."

Host Rob Zacny follows up, asking whether that was because it would have been shot down or akin to sending developers on a sure-to-fail mission. Sawyer elaborates, mentioning the "old mentality" of focusing on larger teams and larger investment for a higher ROI (return on inv?estment). He says that's not really the point, in this environment or ecosystem.

"In a t?raditional model, I just don't think I would have even bothered, because no one's gonna pick that up," said Sawyer. "Even if my boss were supportive of it, it would've been so incred??ibly difficult to get a publisher to pick it up. And that's why this specific environment is the only way in which I really conceive of it being viable."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfYryKWkNfw

Getting on the Pass

The entire conversation, with Sawyer and Grounded's Adam Brennecke, is a great listen if you're curious about some directors' thoughts on shifts in game distribution. Games like Pentiment are niche, for sure. A largely dialogue-focused adventure, mixing Night in the Woods with 16th century faith and politics, is a bit of an outlier. An excellent one, for sure, but not your average blockbuster.

But the potential for outliers to shine on Xbox Game Pass is there. Each month, it feels like surprise hits are cropping up on the service. Some of my favorite indies, like Signalis, Citizen Sleeper, and Immortality, have all appeared on the Pass.

Pentiment is a passion project from a small team at Obsidian that's something fresh and interesting. And while subscription services still feel a little new in this space, I'm happy it's at least resulted in games like Pentiment.

The post Obsidian’s Josh Sawyer says he wouldn’t have proposed Pentiment without Game Pass appeared first on Destructoid.

A historical whodunnit

Real history is an interesting setting for games to use. Pulling in actual world events to tell a tale can be tricky, but Pentiment does it in stride.

Pentiment is a passion project from a small team of developers within Obsidian. It’s set in the tiny town of Tassin??g in Bavaria, in the early 16th century. It’s a town with clear divides between the peasants and their fields, the townspeople’s crafted good?s, and the double monastery looming just down the lane.

??Every villager, sister, and monk in Tassing has a story. Each family has branches that grow out and interlock. It might seem too small a place to keep a secret. But as protagonist Andreas Maler soon discove??rs, those appearances are deceiving.

It’s a combination of history and detail, alongside a fantastic commitment to art direction, that give Pentiment a true sense of place. It’s a role-playing adventure that fills its houses wi?th details to discover, and difficult choices to make. Because someone has been murdered, and it’s on both Andreas, and you, to figure i?t out.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjIfxeNhrj4

Pentiment (PC [reviewed], Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One)
Developer: Obsidian
Publisher: Microsoft
Released: November 15, 2022
MSRP: $19.99

When in Tassing

The story starts with Andreas waking up in the town of Tassing on a normal day. He’s a journeyman artist taking up residency in the local Kiersau Abbey. He works on commission for the brothers there, at the abbey’s scriptorium, while gradually putting together his masterpiece. Once?? it’s finished, he can head off to Nuremburg, where a workshop, wife, and future await.

Most of Pentiment is played in a point-and-click adventure fashion. The player, as Andreas, can walk around town and interact with the locals. It’s dialogue-driven, though a few puzzles and minigames pop up here and there. None of them were particularly difficult, and mostly ??served a narrative purpose; whether it’s snapping sticks for kindling or solving a code, nothing seemed too dense or felt like a fail-state.

Rather, the drive is towards learning. Part of this is gaining info from characters. At first, it’s just getting to know your neighbor. And later, after some events have transpired and a body is discovered, it’s about learning what yo??ur neighbors might b??e hiding.

Comparisons to games like Disco Elysium are easy to make. There isn’t as much role-playing here though, at least in a hard dice-rolling sense??. At the beginning, you get to select some origin story information for Andreas. If you’re like mine, you can make your Maler a medical school d??ropout who liked getting into fistfights. Or you can have him be a learned theologian, or dip into the occult. Different areas he’s traveled to can influence what languages and customs are familiar to him.

These don’t re?ally block off access in any way, but do offer options for extrapolation. Sometimes, that means an extra dialogue choice, and even in one case, an alternative puzzle solution. Most of the time, it added flavor to the experience. My Andreas had a history before arriving in Tassing, and it affected his stay in many small ways.

In Paradisum

An average slice of Pentiment, once the discovery period has begun, will see Andreas running around the town and inquiring with locals. These usually eat up time, and that time is precious. Doing some fa??vors for someone might get them to open up to you. But it might also put you in a disadvantageous position with others.

One early example puts Andreas between a rock and a hard place. He can help someone with their housework, but also assist in some mild bl??asphemy in the process. While this might endear him to them and get them to open up about why they intensely dislike another character, it might also put you out of favor with the local reverend and the abbey. 

Pentiment is full of choices, big and small. And they’re rarely easy, too. I had to abandon any hope of a “golden route�fairly early, as that doesn’t seem like the goal here. Instead, Pentiment centers much more on how you decide to spend your time, what you do with it, and how that affects the people around Andreas. Several decisions I made weighed on me until the credits rolled, and Pentiment doesn’t?? pull punches in dealing with both the short and long-term consequences of your actions.

The world at your door

Being historical fiction, Pentiment is also deeply steeped in its lore. It’s a major part of Pentiment’s up-front appeal, and the team at Obsidian went into in?credible detail maki??ng sure Tassing feels like it takes place in the right area and era.

The divides in wealth fester over time, as do long-held grudges between the church and those old enough to still cherish Pagan practices. Dialogues about an upstart named Martin Luther, different translations of classic texts, and the power dynamics of the town place Pentiment squarely withi??n its time period. An in-game glossary helps keep everything in context too, if you need ?a refresher.

The art direction emphasizes this as well. All of Pentiment is displayed in a gorgeous, classic illustrative style. But my fav?orite touch is the way conversations are displayed. Every character’s dialogue is shown as different types of communication, whether flourishing script or simple lettering, to even a stamp-and-press type-set for the local printer.

Everyone has their own assigned type, and they will even change as Andreas learns certain details about someone’s background or education. Typos will be made and fixed on the fly, letters stenciled and colored in, and holy phrases left for the end, as they require differently colored ink. It’s a wonderful detail that never got old through my roughly 20 hours with Pentiment. Though if the f??onts prove difficult t?o read, there’s a wealth of accessibility options to fine-tune them.

Long-buried secrets

All of this layers up an incredible historical foundation and sense of place, which Pentiment then wields to tell an honest, emotional story. The murder mystery is an initial draw, but Andreas�own issues, and the woes of the t?ownsfolk, are also key components. Characters like Sisters Matilda and Illuminata, Brother Piero, Otto, Claus, and more are intensely memorable, with storylines that deeply resonated with me.

Without giving too much away, the story of Pentiment shows how decisions and choices play out over a period of time. And how, over the years, both internal and external strife put pressure on those living in Tassing in different ways. No town lives in isolation, and Pentiment shows how issues that s??eem far from your door are much closer than you’d think.

Because of this, the writing and story of Pentiment are an ab??solute highlight, and some of my favorite beats of the year. The world and its inhabitants grow and suffer, and deal with so much over the course of time that you become endeared to them. There’s some really poignant discussions and writing on faith, belief, power, laws, and rights. My ??screenshots folder is littered with snippets that made me stop and pause for a moment, whether for a thoughtful reprieve or an emotional gut-punch.

Danse Macabre

Where Pentiment sometimes struggles is getting exact info to the player, and communicating time investment for certain leads. Often, characters will let yo?u know if a certain action is going to eat up a segment of your day. But looking into other leads, or diving into some side tasks,?? won’t eat up a segment of your day.

When the clock is ticking and Andreas is up against a deadline, this can lead to some indecision. Locating everything is another matter, too. While the in-game glossary holds maps, character info, and even lea?ds, it doesn’t tell you where certain characters are. During some parts, I’d just find myself running circles around town, trying to find a specific person and determine whet??her talking to them was going to be a quick chat for some extra info, or cost me a chunk of my day.

Mouse and keyboard can feel finicky, especially when trying to click on a glossary term within a choice. It was sometimes a careful dance between looking into a term and making a choice, and I had to jump back out and in to undo some decisions I didn’t mean to make. Pentiment also uses just an auto-save feature, meaning t??hat if you’re not careful, you can lock yourself into certain choices. That’s ni?ce to prevent save-scumming, which felt a bit antithetical to the story’s focus, but less so when you’re just trying to roll back an accidental selection. They’re small frustrations, but one’s I did run into more than a couple times.

Tangible history

As I think about my time with Pentiment, I keep going back to one moment. On??e frequent gameplay section has you choose who Andreas shares a meal with for the day. These moments offer a chance to gain some insight into certain families. Understanding their dynamic can inform your investigation, or just sate a curiosity.

Through much of my early time, I ate with peasant families. As conversation proceeds, you make a select??ion of which food item to eat. In one case, the family puts more in front of you than themselves. It shows a bit of character, in that moment, as you’re given a tangible feeling of both their struggles and perseverance in spite of them. They maintain hospitality, even?? in the face of tightening taxes and pressure.

Then I ate with the abbot, who tried to tell me about his own hardships, in front of a lavish spread. And Pentiment asked me how I felt about the church’s role in the current s??truggle. Boy, did I have?? opinions.

Pentiment is a compelling narrative adventure that pushes you to make decisions, and then see how those consequences play out. But it also has a dedication to showing how the people, as much as the town and ongoing intrigue, have to live with everything that goes down. It’s a murder mystery, but it’s also a decades-spanning story about people trying to make a life in a little town cal??led Tassing. It’s gorgeous, crafted, and will certainly fit the bill for anyone seeking some historical intrigue with a complex but earnest heart inside.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Pentiment appeared first on Destructoid.

Squish or be squished in this shrunken backyard survival game from Obsidian Entertainment

After two years in Early Access, it's time to check back in with Grounded now that it's been f??leshed out with more bugs to battle and harvest, more impossibly large backyard sights to seek out, and a fully realized story �complete wi?th an eventual ending �to uncover.

Having only dabbled in the early build, back when there were hardly any threads to follow, I'm surprised how far Grounded?? has come thanks to ongoing updates and a big f??inal push for the 1.0 launch on PC and Xbox. Originally, the familiar yet creative-up-close shrunken world was its biggest asset �and it still is to this day. But now, the whole survival loop feels cohesive, with plenty of thoughtful touches you'd expect from a passion project.

Since the game's work-in-progress debut, some players never really left, and they've got magnificent (and painstaking) home bases to prove it. As fo??r me, I started fresh with a new save file and got to exploring. Little did I know I'd be in for a 30-hour adventure.

[caption id="attachment_345543" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{It's worth repeating that Grounded has an intricate Arachnophobia mode with multiple comfort thresholds.}[/caption]

Grounded (PC [reviewed], Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Released: September 27, 2022
MSRP: $39.99

Even with familiarity from my Early Access playthrough, this is still one of the most interesting worlds I've gotten to know in a survival game, right up there with Subnautica.

Chopping down towering blades of grass and hauling planks like a lumberjack, scurrying through ant tunnel labyrinths with a torch in hand, scavenging for half-buried scales in a koi pond with water fleas nipping at your feet �it's an unforgettable lens for such an established genre. And the more I play Grounded, the more I'm weirded out looking down at my own backyard. What tiny creatures are out there, and just what are they up to?

It's an absorbing game, in other words �the kind you can keep coming back to session after session whether you're "mostly here for the story" or you're ready to settle in and get cozy as a miniature architect. I'm far more in the former camp, and admittedly, Grounded has an overly drawn-out pace at times. But in the end, I'm glad I stuck with it, and I'm excited to thoroughly investigate e??very area, from the toxic trash heap to the children's sandbox to the smoldering spilled grill and creepy crawlspace under the shed.

So much of the game is getting to know the land, its surprisingly ruthless inhabitants, and the resources that'll keep you alive day-to-day and rarer finds that can help you find a way out of this conundrum. With that knowledge base (and smartly positioned hand-made shortcuts), you can cut down on a lot of the back-and-forth tedium. Wiki refreshers help, too. But either way, Grounded i?s no?t a game to rush through without proper preparations.

[caption id="attachment_345544" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{There's no wasted space, and Obsidian makes the most of its '90s backyard theme.}[/caption]

Early on, I was shocked by how hard-hitting and dangerous Grounded can be, even when I was trying to mind my own business and keep a low profile. The early game is ??harsh.

With makeshift armor, no permanent stat increases or perk-like ??Mutations unlocked yet, and a puny "weapon" that big (and even medium) boys can shrug off, you shouldn't go picking fights. You've got to be ready to book it, then bandage up as needed. Spiders are ferocious, of course �more so than any arachnids I've seen in a game before �but the sa??me goes for bombardier beetles, mites, larvae, and mosquitoes, among many other threats. Several foes can even gang up on you, sometimes to a comical degree.

In one-on-one fights, there's a distinct rhythm to bouts, including "perfect blocks" that open up your opponents. Combat is fun once you're strong enough to have more margin of error. Each enemy has a memorable personality and particular "tells" that you can master, which I liked �but skirmishes started to feel less engaging the longer I played. Expect mashy chaos from time to time. There's also ranged combat with bows and a huge assortment of arrow types, as well as bombs. Crafting gear out of your prey is entertaining in that Monster Hunter sort of way, and pieces have different perks and weight ratings. Certain sets are needed? for navigating fumes and underwater caves.

With more excursions under your belt, a stable place to call home and craft at, and better gear sourced from the bugs you are able to pummel, Grounded gets easier over time. Bless the life-steal weapons. With the exception of a few boss battles (some of which are optional) and a late defend-three-points-and-pray mission that got really dicey, most of my struggles were frontloaded. Things might've been smoother in?? online co-op, which is the ideal way to play �but I? got through it all alone, and with patience, you can too.

[caption id="attachment_345542" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{You'll unlock beneficial Mutations just by doing stuff day-to-day. Keep an eye out for a four-leaf clover and a D20.}[/caption]

Thankfully, Grounded has multiple autosaves to fall back on, death isn't?? the worst (more of an inconvenience), and you can freely save outside of combat. I'd recommend doing so often. It's possibl?e to set a respawn point at (easily built) shelters, and if you're taken out, it's a matter of fetching your lost backpack to regain your on-hand items. That said, this is an exploration-heavy game with a lot of running around �avoid any repetition you can.

While hunger and thirst meters are a consistent threat, for the most part, fresh water is plentiful �just smack a blade of grass to release a high-up droplet �and food doesn't strictly have to be cooked, though roasted aphid is far better sustenance than a handful of plucked mushrooms. If you neglect these needs for too long, an ominous countdown will begin. This timer was only a problem for me onc??e, when I was stranded deep in an uncharted area for story reasons. But generally, out in the open, everything's in reach.

Big picture, the main considerations are scouting out a good central location for your home (or homes), since you'll keep coming back to unload your backpack and craft building-dependent creations, and also maintaining a healt?hy reserve of materials. Armor and weapons degrade and can be repaired with the right ingredients, but it's possible to strategically upgrade them (using rare but not finite stones) when they're almost kaput.

It's worth noting that Grounded has three primary difficulties �I'd honestly recommend the lowest, Mild �as well as a Creative build-cool-shit-stress??-free mode, Creative with Bugs, and Custom modes with lots of granular you-do-you options. There were times when I thought about bumping my save to a custom game due to obnoxiously aggressive insects and stamina constantly running l?ow, but I resisted; it's a one-way conversion.

If you're struggling, gameplay-based Mutation unlocks are a fun RPG-like touch, and changing your build on the fly can go a long way. You'll also want to smash giant teeth (Milk Molars), which award points to permanently benefit your max health, stami??na, hunger/thirst burn rate, and max item stack sizes. There's never enough inventory space!

[caption id="attachment_345540" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Remember to keep a backup torch in case night falls while you're far from home.}[/caption]

I've gone long enough without getting int?o the story, haven't I? I'll keep it light.

The storytelling gives meaning to your exploration, and it's sufficient motivation to see where things go (there's a "good" and a "bad" animated ending), but the writing is better viewed as a playful, funny, clever bonus than as your sole reason for playing. Expect a lot of audio recordings but minimal interactions with NPCs and some scattered flashback cutscenes �the vast majority of Grounded is everything I've described up until this point?.

Without spoiling anything, I'd say that if you're usually survival-wary and are only interested in Grounded because of Obsidian's well-established name, be cau??tious. There was enough narrative substance here for me as a survival fan, definitely, but you might not feel the same way. I liked the central abduction mystery and ??the opposing sides.

In the beginning, you'll get clues a?bout several labs with chips you need to recover, and if ??you're brave, you can go "out of order" �I love that sort of freedom.

Much later, you'll be funneled toward the upper yard, above the retaining walls. You can do your ow??n thing as long as you want, but it does pay to explore these labs to the fullest for resources and other goodies. Eventually, the limiting factor was less "where do I go next?" and more "where do I find these highly specific parts to craft a high-tier hammer to smack something and progress the story?" When I mentioned a pacing slowdown, this was it. Even though the next section seemed tantalizingly within reach, getting geared up was a seemingly small roadblock that snowballed out of control for hours. So many errands.

I get it �this is classic survival gating �but in these moments, I longed for a more organic approach, as seen in Subnautica. With quicker traversal (or even a one-way "warp home" ability), there would've been much less busywork in my playthrough. If I could do it all again, I would build more "waystations" to supplement my main base and pick better spots ??for my staircases that stretched up to lofty biomes. Hauling grass planks can be tedious as a solo player, especially i?f you don't have the most efficient armor equipped.

[caption id="attachment_345539" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{If you're not much of a builder, a utilitarian base will do just fine �don't worry about raids.}
[/caption]

I should say, I love the way Grounded handles blueprints �it's a step above most of its peers. You can analyze materials to unlock related recipes, sure, but that's not the only way. There are also quests to take on, collectibles to? find, and po??ints to spend. With all of these methods in play, it's a steady blueprint rollout that never feels overwhelming.

And while I'm not a builder at heart, it's worth stressing that you could conceivably get into Grounded just for the construction side �it's intuitive, and the backyard sprawl makes for a ??great setting. To that end, even though I wish combat and traversal went a bit deeper given the scope and length of this game, I was so invested in this charming and surprisingly fresh miniature world th??at I didn't mind too much. There's a certain finesse.

With its 1.0 release, Grounded has so much to discover, and enough of a hook to justify the dozens of hours you might invest. Whether you're an exploration-minded player in search of landmarks and tucked-away treasures, or a castle-building fiend with a vision, you should ideally bring friends along for the ride. Still, playing alone, it was hard for me to walk away from Grounded, even in its slowest moments. I wasn't satisfied wi?th my end-of-game score, so I searched for secr??ets and kept going, boosting my grade in the process. Even now, there are still more bugs to catalog and, inevitably, squash. Nothing personal!

Whi?le ?Obsidian isn't known for survival games, it ended up making a great one.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Grounded appeared first on Destructoid.

Living history

When you first see Pentiment, it's quite plainly dif?ferent from most other games. It's a historical thriller, an adventure told in another era using art, sounds, and ??design conducive to the overall feeling of life in 16th century upper Bavaria.

It's no surprise, then, that this is a passion project for the developers at Obsidian putting it together. We got a chance to take a look at some of Pentiment ahead of Gamescom and participate in a Q&A with some developers behind the project. And it didn't take long for Pentiment to seize my attention.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXq20gant-4

Pentiment follows Andreas Maler, an artist working in a scriptorium. Though just a journeyman, Andreas becomes embroiled in a series of murders over the course of 25 years. In the process, he'll be tasked with investigating ?the murders and, hopefully, bringing the truth to light.

The entire art style of Pentiment is incredibly accurate to the art and aesthetic of the ?16th century. Obsidian's team, made up of 13 developers, spent a lot of time digging into history. Part of it was for the explicit art style, but another part was to just get the general feel of life in this era.

Art dir??ector Hannah Ken??nedy says the team looked at different paintings from the time period, and artists from that region, to get contextual info on how people lived back then.

Life and type in motion

These deta??ils stem out and seep into even the game mechanics. Each character's lettering is based on their own background and upbringing. A clergy member might lay out empty lettering that gets filled in with ink afterwards. But this was near the rise of the printing press, and so someone working in that industry might have their dialogue stamped in by lettering tiles, in machine-like fashion.

The murder-mystery has to contend with methods of the time as well. Game director Josh Sawyer notes that m??any?? common forensic tools are not available to the player due to the time period, and even the justice system may seem odd to a modern player.

"There's a lot of ambiguity here, and you're put in a position where you have to kind of pin the murder on somebody," ??said Sawyer. "And it's never going to be clear, if that's really the person."

You just have to make a judgment call and decide. Pick the best option available. Or hey, pick someone you don't like. The punishment for murder in the 16th century is, well, pretty serious. That's a way to deal with a thorn in your side, so to speak. I reached out for clarification on this, and a spokesperson told me there is no "right" outco??me. The narrative will adapt to the player's choices, and different options will lead to different consequences.

"So yeah, we really want you to see the consequences of these play out over a long period of time," said Sawyer. "That being said, there is a really strong central narrative that is connected to Andreas, that's pulled through the entire story. And so yeah, we're try??ing to do the classic thing where we interweave the choice and reactivity within a ve??ry strong storyline."

Reach out and touch faith

Of course, this being the 16th century, religion and faith play a major role. One pointed moment that Obsidia?n showed as an example was a minigame, where Andreas was assisting a woman by arranging the items on her wall.

It's a neat little minigame, and Obsidian wants these to be character moments that are designed for the vibes and bringing you into the world. But at one point?, the woman requests that you remove the cross from her wall. She's unhappy with the church, ?and it provides a moment for the player to acquiesce or assert themselves.

Role-playing is still a part of Pentiment, even if it's a narrative adventure with RPG elements rather than a full-on role-playing game. The player gets to determine And??reas' background, and make choices as him that will echo throughout the story. Some might be major, some might be minor.

Take, for example, the choice of where to eat your meals. Getting to know someone might give you an option later on, making it easier to convince them to help you. Or maybe it won't. These are tools? that the narrative team at Obsidian utilizes to reflect the player's choice in the story, though it's trying to keep it within reason.

"We try not to get bogged down in visibly tracking this stuff," said Sawyer. "Meaning we don't have meters or things like that. We just try to track the ??things that feel like characters would pay attention to. We let you know when they're paying attention to them, and when they come up in conversation again."

A historical whodunnit

Removing traditional systems like, say, combat or gathering, let the Obsidian crew work on building a lived-in world. And it really shows. What I saw of Pentiment looks like a passion project from developers who wanted to try something?? new.

Of special note is the accessibility options Obsidian is including, too. While the flowery lettering and text looks great, especially in a historical context, it's not the easiest?? to read for everyone. Sawyer says the team has been assisted by Microsoft's usability group in testing. Features like the high-contrast mode came from that, and they got testing on their easy-r??ead fonts and scaling as well.

What's certain is that Pentiment seem??s like a unique experience, mixing murder and intrigue with art and history. It's a passion project for the?? developers that put it together, and seems well-positioned to be a surprise hit when it arrives later this year.

Pentiment will launch on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via Steam and Windows. It will also launch on Game Pass for both Xbox and PC.

The post Obsidian’s Pentiment brings history to the fore for its adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Friends and family can play the same world even when the normal host isn't around

The shrunken backyard antics of Grounded shine bright in co-op, as it's fun to build a base together that everyone can enjoy, and, y'know, spiders are just less intimidating when you've got backup. In the home stretch before the 1.0 release of Grounded on September 27, Obsidian announced a S?hared Worlds feature to make multiplayer less of a hassle.

Here's the idea: You'll be able to create a Shar??ed World that lives in the cloud and lets other players hop in even when you aren't around to host it. In other words, less time getting everyone's schedule on the same page, and more time smas?hing bugs.

In a forum post this week, Obsidian walked through the work-in-progress Shared Worlds feature and its benefits, some of which aren't immedia??tely obvious.

Standard Worlds can become Shared Worlds

The good news is that you don't need to create a Shared World from scratch �you can convert a Standard World in Grounded into a multiplayer-centric Shared World using the Save / Load menu. ??And on the flip side, "any Shared World you own or have been shared with can be copied down as a local Standard World for you to play on your own."

That means the Shared World system can be used to "share copies of save games with friends," even if you're not the original creator. Or you can take a world from Steam to the Xbox or Windows Store version of Grounded and continue making progress.

In the feature's current form, which Obsidian st?ill considers "beta," it's advised that you keep a backup copy in case the service goes offline during testing or any issues crop up.

[caption id="attachment_339980" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{[Image Credit: LemonFiavured]}[/caption]

Some limitations to keep in mind

Another caveat is that while you can "own" three Shared Worlds at any given time, you can have up to 50 of these worlds shared with you. One f??inal point to keep in mind: "Shared Worlds can only be?? played by hosting it as a Multiplayer game."

With all that said, I can see this stuff getting a lot of use �it's a more or less "expected" feature of a survival/crafting g?ame that supports online mult??iplayer.

Talk about a pleasant surprise in the run-up to Grounded's late-September launch. My experience so far has primarily been alone �also fun! �but with this easier multiplayer setup and all of the other new bits a??nd pieces arriving with version 1.0, I'll have to start planning. This game has been somewhat quietly simmering, bu??t it should be huge.

The post Grounded has Shared Worlds and here’s how they work appeared first on Destructoid.

Two years later, it's almost done

It's so easy to love the shrunken-kids-versus-oversized-insects premise of Grounded, especially with Obsidian Entertainment's sense of humor, but no matter how good this base-building survival game looks, many players are going to hold off until early access wraps up. The studio previously quoted September, and has since narrowed it down to a September 27 release for Grounded 1.0 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

In case you missed the 1.0 trailer during the summer gaming showcases, here it i??s again.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKYG-Lj0lpQ

According to game director Adam Brennecke, the team is in the "home stretch."

The final early-access update is being tested now. Obsidian also noted that "this update will be notably lighter than previous ones as we have been putting most of our focus towa?rds 1.0 work and polish which will be our biggest content release? to date."

On top of armor and weapon upgrade changes (which no longer use Quartzite or Leather), balance adjustments, and fixes, there are several new features in Grounded:

• Convert Non-Custom Games to Custom â€?You can now convert any non-custom game into a custom game at any time while playing to be able to tune values on any game as you go.
• Gnat Pet â€?You can now tame and own a bumbling little gnat pet. Pets are also more helpful and less squishy as outlined in tuning changes further below.
• Rest Time-lapse â€?Upon resting, you will see a quick time-lapse of the yard as the 8 hours pass.
• BURG.L Moves! â€?BURG.L has acquired enough chips to remember he can roll his treads to inspect the Oak lab and fulfill his assistant duties.
• Cookery â€?Meals are now crafted at the new Cookery building instead of the Oven.

[caption id="attachment_337353" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{Swimming in the Koi Pond with tadpoles.}[/caption]

It's a digital-only release

If you're a physical game collector, never say never. For now, though, Obsidian has reiterated that Grounded 1.0 will be a digital-only release in September.

I'm curious (and generally hopeful) to see how things shake out after the slow-and-steady ramp-up. I've enjoyed my time with the early access build, and I hope the story comes together in a satisfying ?way. Worst case, I like the building. And since I last checked in, there's a bunch of new content �on the ground,?? underwater, and all over the place.

As a survival fan who's not totally burnt out yet, there's a base mechanical allure here, though I know some of you need a compelling story hook, too. With wider plans for an animated series based on Grounded, let's hope all of the pieces fall into place.

The post Grounded locks in September 27 for 1.0 release on PC ?and Xbox appeared first on Destructoid.

Quit bugging me

Obsidian Entertainment's well-received backyard adventure Grounded is set to receive a TV adaptation. The animated series is currently in pre-production as a joint venture between Bard?el Entertainment, Kinetic Media, and SC Productions. A premiere date was not announced.

"Grounded has caught the imagination of millions of people and we've learned that the biggest fans want even more of that world," said game director Adam Brennecke in a press release. "This partnership will allow us to give fans more Grounded while expanding? the world that so?? many have come to love."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsUvQaTi6nc

The Grounded show will, much like its video game counterpart, tell the story of a group of kids forced to fend themselves against bugs and critters of all shapes and sizes when they are shrunken down via some mysterious and unstable technology. And if fending off gargantuan wasps, spiders, ants, and beetles weren't enough, the kids must find a way to return to full size in order to expose a conspiracy threatening the entire town... Think Honey, I Shrunk the Kids meets All the President's Men. Probably.

Grounded will be written by Brent Friedman (Star Wars: Clone Wars, Star Trek: Enterprise) and directed by Brien Goodrich (Halo). A special panel is set to take place at San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC) where the first details about the show, its premise, characters, and cast are likely to be outlined. Production for the Grounded TV show is in its infancy, so it is very unlikely that we'll see i??t hit our screens until later in 2023 at the very earliest.

The post Grounded to be adapated into animated TV series appeared first on Destructoid.

"Patrolling the Mojave almost makes you wish for a nuclear winter" - say no more

A new Fallout New Vegas mod is in town, and it's going to be tough to?? see this one dethroned anytime soon.

Spotted by Twitter user eternalfloette, the mod (found here, and created by Testudini, off of a suggestion by Fallout Mods Redditor Coffeechipmunk) is appropriately titled "wishes come true - nuclear winter," and the goal is very simple: to nuke NPCs that wish for a nuclear winter. You know how most open-world games have that one line of repeated dialogue? I'm not even going to say the Skyrim one. But for New Vegas, it's:

"Patrolling the Mojave almost make?s you wish for a nuclear win??ter."

I can j??ust hear it in my head! NCR soldiers have uttered this p?hrase countless times in my playthroughs, and now you can do something about it. The mod "immediately targets the NPC with a nuclear strike," and amazingly enough, it triggers both via dialogue initiated by the player or the NPC. Testudini makes it clear that the mod is compatible with pretty much anything that doesn't modify that particular line of dialogue, so it's super easy to install and try out.

As if I needed an excuse to go back to Fallout New Vegas, one of the most fun modern open-world games in t??he past few decades.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2DImcAPcdE

The post This insane Fallout New Vegas mod inst?antly nukes NPCs wishing for a nuclear ?winter appeared first on Destructoid.

Like something out of a really dark storybook

Obsidian is best known for RPGs like Pillars of Eternity or Outer Worlds, but this time they're taking on a new genre: narrative adventures. Today they announced their new project Pentiment, which takes place in medieval times and features a gorgeous 2D art style. We didn't get a huge insight into what the story is about just yet, but it looks to be the usual kinds of thing?s one would encounter back in the day, including being burned at the stake.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXq20gant-4

Pentiment looks dark and compelling, and I have to admit it's refreshing to see a studio with such an impressive track record as Obsidian take on a project like this. As a huge fan of narrative games, this will definitely be one I'll be watching with a close eye. Pentiment will be releasing on Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud, and Xbox Game?? Pass in November 2022.

The post Pentiment is a medieval narrative adventure coming ??from Obsidian appeared first on Destructoid.

Playing in the sandbox may be inadvisable for your health

Grounded, Obsidian's game of backyard survival, is getting a new update that's adding even more to the yard. The Hot and Hazy update for Grounded will shift up the sandbox and the "Haze," as well?? as some? neat-sounding new gameplay hooks.

A few previews went up today at various outlets like IGN and Eurogamer, showcasing the two major biome updates coming to Grounded in the Hot and Hazy update. The first, or the Hot, is the sandbox. Grounded has a knack for turning everyday backyard decorations into arenas where shrunken players fight for survival, ?and?? the sandbox is no different. With massive dunes and an overbearing sun, players will have to dart between shade to avoid the "sizzle," which steadily heats you to death.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7GDPXQDMlE

Of course, defeating some ant lions in the sandbox will let you eventually craft sizzle-impervious armor. That'll make it even easier to dig treasure out of the sand, too. But that won't help so much with the Haze, the second part of the Hot and Hazy update for Grounded?. This is a renovation of the "haze" biome, now turning it into a fungus-infest??ed area covered in a fog of deadly weedkiller. You're going to need a mask.

Milk Molars are also coming. These collectibles will let you upgrade stats like health, stamina, or how many mutations you can equip. You can choose which aspects you want to upgrade, an??d you can also buy upgrades for the group too, or apply upgrades to weapons. Armor is getting a rework as well, with different classifications and tradeoffs according to how heavy your armor is.

Grounded has been an interesting game to watch evolve over time, as Obsidian continues to rework, reinvent, and build upon its shrunken survival adventure. With the Hot and Hazy update, it sounds like Grounded is getting even more dangers to overcome, a??nd hopefully building ever-closer to that full launch out of early access.

The Hot and Hazy update will hit Grounded on Oct. 20, 2021.

The post Obsidian’s Grounded is getting a big Hot and Hazy update this month appeared first on Destructoid.