The Surprising Truth: Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2's Unconventional Take on Romance Will Leave You Breathless!

Highlights

Obsidian has moved away from incorporating romance in its RPGs, prioritizing the quality of the core RPG experience and world-building instead.

The studio's previous releases, like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, incorporated romance storylines inspired by BioWare's style. However, more recent titles such as Pillars of Eternity and Tyranny have omitted romantic subplots. The success of The Outer Worlds, a highly acclaimed game that did not feature romance options, demonstrated that engaging in romantic relationships with companions is not essential for a rewarding RPG experience, especially in first-person perspective games like its upcoming sequels.

Obsidian has taken a significant step towards exploring its original IPs with the highly anticipated releases of The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed. While previously known for its success in delivering strong sequels and spin-offs for established franchises, the studio's focus shifted after the successful crowdfunding campaign for Pillars of Eternity. Although their recent titles incorporate many elements of modern RPGs, it appears that the inclusion of romance is not a priority for Obsidian.

Romance in RPGs has gained immense popularity, embodying the true essence of roleplaying in games. Games like Baldur's Gate 3 have witnessed a surge in interest, thanks to their intimate scenes and compelling romance storylines. These experiences often draw comparisons to BioWare's Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, a parallel that has been drawn since the early days of Obsidian. While some of their earlier releases may have embraced romance, Obsidian has progressively moved away from this aspect to establish its own distinctive identity.

Obsidian’s History with Romance in its RPGs

Initially established in 2003, Obsidian emerged from the remains of Interplay's Black Isle Studios. The team consisted of developers who had worked on renowned RPG titles such as Fallout 2 and Icewind Dale. Their first release, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2, received acclaim for its captivating characters and immersive storyline, which overshadowed any technical flaws. Taking inspiration from BioWare's style, KOTOR 2 offered diverse romance arcs based on player choices. Alpha Protocol, while controversial, featured numerous love interests for the protagonist. In contrast, Neverwinter Nights 2 exemplified Obsidian's preference for a straightforward approach to RPG storytelling.

In a departure from similar games, Pillars of Eternity consciously omitted any romantic elements, emphasizing the studio's indifference towards this aspect. Instead, strong character development focused on delving into a player's psyche, avoiding intimate feelings altogether. Tyranny further distanced itself from conventional RPG love stories, utilizing its somber world and hardened characters. Deadfire, the sequel to Pillars, finally incorporated some romance options, though they were widely criticized for their inadequacy. In their recent and upcoming releases, Obsidian prioritizes enhancing other aspects rather than placing emphasis on romance.

The Outer Worlds Proved Romance isn't Mandatory

The disappointment of Fallout 76 left many longing for a game that could fill the void, and The Outer Worlds successfully did just that. Despite not including any romantic relationships between the player and their companions, this RPG was still appreciated by fans. The decision to focus solely on a first-person perspective, with the player character not being visible outside of the menu, made it reasonable to exclude romantic storylines that are typically enhanced by cinematic elements. Given that both The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed will also adopt the first-person perspective, it wouldn't be surprising if they followed suit and omitted romance options, which are popular in other RPGs.

Obsidian officially stated that the absence of romance options in The Outer Worlds was due to budget limitations. However, with the studio now under the umbrella of Microsoft, this dynamic may change. While Obsidian has maintained a consistent approach to game development in recent years, it's still possible that The Outer Worlds 2 and even Avowed could introduce romance options with a surprising level of depth. Nevertheless, history suggests that Obsidian Entertainment always prioritizes the quality of the core RPG experience and the construction of its game worlds above all else.