Only a few months after Avowed was released, game director Carrie Patel has left Obsidian Entertainment, taking a position in Netflix’s game-development division. Avowed reviewed well and has been one of Xbox’s major first-party games this year. Patel’s departure doesn’t necessarily signal any issue with Avowed or its reception, nor any problems at Obsidian; such moves are fairly common after major projects are completed.
Patel announced her move to Netflix on LinkedIn (via Eurogamer), saying nothing more than “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Game Director at Night School: A Netflix Game Studio!” This ends her nearly 12-year tenure at Obsidian, which encompassed the entire Pillars of Eternity franchise (including Avowed), and The Outer Worlds and its expansions. Night School Studio is best known for the two Oxenfree games, the most recent of which came out in 2023.
Avowed Director Carrie Patel Joins Netflix’s Night School Studio
Night School’s Next Project Is Unannounced
Patel’s move to Night School Studio may see her in on the ground floor of the developer’s next game. After the wholly unique Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals launched in 2023, Night School has seemingly been preoccupied with Thronglets, a mobile game tie-in to Black Mirror season seven. As of Patel’s joining, the studio’s next project remains unannounced.
Thronglets wasn’t the first television tie-in game developed by Night School, as it released Mr. Robot: 1.51 exfiltrati0n in 2016. Afterparty and Next Stop Nowhere followed in 2019 and 2020 respectively, before the developer was acquired by Netflix in 2021. Netflix has been hoping to break into the gaming industry for quite some time, but hasn’t produced any major hits. Patel’s hiring could be in the interest of finally shipping a major AAA game, though this remains to be seen.
Obsidian & The Outer Worlds 2 Go On Without Patel
More Outer Worlds 2 Info Coming In June
Patel’s departure from Obsidian comes during a busy year for the acclaimed development house. Avowed was released in February, and The Outer Worlds 2 is expected sometime later in 2025. Xbox seems to have high hopes for the title, as it’s getting its own dedicated presentation following Xbox’s summer showcase in June. Its predecessor has a mixed reputation, with sentiments praising its setting and writing, but criticizing its variety and level design.
Patel’s first stint as game director was on The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon, which is generally thought to be more compelling than the base game. Avowed will seemingly not get the same treatment, with no DLC indicated on the roadmap released alongside its newly introduced arachnophobia mode. The full consequences – if there are any of significance – of Avowed‘s director leaving Obsidian likely won’t come to light any time soon, but the studio is currently focused on getting The Outer Worlds 2 out the door.
Source: Carrie Patel/LinkedIn (via Eurogamer)
9/10
- Released
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February 18, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
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Xbox Game Studios
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 5
- Number of Players
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1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
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Unknown
- PC Release Date
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February 18, 2025
