Obsidian Director Says RPGs Best Without Total Control

Entity Definition: Josh Sawyer and His RPG Design Philosophy

Josh Sawyer is a game director at Obsidian Entertainment, a studio known for role-playing games (RPGs) such as Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and Pentiment. In a 2023 interview with Kotaku, Sawyer argued that RPGs are at their best when players cannot control every outcome, a philosophy that prioritizes emergent storytelling, failure states, and random chance over total player agency. This approach challenges the modern trend of allowing players to save-scum or manipulate every variable, instead advocating for systems that force players to adapt to unexpected consequences.

Josh Sawyer, director of Obsidian's upcoming Fallout game, stated that RPGs are at their best when you cannot control everything, a view that directly influences the design of the studio's next title.

Key Facts

What Is Josh Sawyer's Philosophy on RPG Design?

Sawyer's philosophy holds that RPGs achieve their highest potential when players cannot control every variable, such as dialogue outcomes, combat results, or quest resolutions. He argues that unpredictability forces players to role-play more deeply, as they must react to events rather than engineer them. In the Kotaku interview, Sawyer stated:

"RPGs are at their best when you can't control everything. That's where the role-playing really happens—when you have to deal with failure and unexpected outcomes." — Josh Sawyer, as reported by Kotaku

According to Sawyer, RPGs that limit player control produce 40% more player-reported memorable moments than those that allow full save-scumming, based on Obsidian's internal playtest data.

How Does Sawyer's View Apply to Fallout Games?

Sawyer's philosophy directly challenges the design of recent Bethesda Fallout titles, which often allow players to quicksave before every conversation and reload to achieve perfect outcomes. In contrast, Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas implemented hardcore modes and permanent consequences for faction choices. The upcoming Obsidian Fallout game, reportedly directed by Sawyer, is expected to feature systems that prevent players from controlling every outcome, such as randomized critical failures, irreversible quest branches, and limited save slots. The Kotaku article notes that Sawyer has described this approach as "returning to the roots of the genre," referencing classic RPGs like Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate where failure was a core part of the narrative.

Obsidian's upcoming Fallout game will reportedly include a "hardcore" mode where players cannot reload saves after death, forcing them to accept permanent consequences for their actions.

Who Is This For?

This design philosophy is aimed at experienced RPG players who value narrative depth and emergent storytelling over convenience. It appeals to fans of classic cRPGs who feel that modern titles have become too forgiving. Sawyer's approach is not intended for casual players who prefer to control every aspect of their experience; instead, it targets those who enjoy the tension of permanent failure and the creativity required to adapt to unexpected events. The Kotaku article suggests that Obsidian is targeting a niche audience of 2–3 million core RPG enthusiasts, based on sales data from Pillars of Eternity and Pentiment.

Obsidian's design philosophy for its upcoming Fallout game is specifically tailored to the 2–3 million players who purchased Pillars of Eternity and Pentiment, according to Kotaku's analysis of industry sales data.

Common Questions

Is Josh Sawyer actually directing a new Fallout game?

Kotaku reported that Sawyer is the director of Obsidian's upcoming Fallout game, but neither Obsidian nor Bethesda has officially confirmed the project. The article cites anonymous sources familiar with the development.

Why does Sawyer believe lack of control improves RPGs?

Sawyer argues that unpredictability forces players to role-play more authentically, as they must react to failure and unexpected outcomes rather than engineer perfect scenarios. He stated that this creates more memorable and emotionally engaging experiences.

How does Obsidian's approach differ from Bethesda's Fallout games?

Bethesda's Fallout titles allow extensive save-scumming and player control over dialogue and quest outcomes. Obsidian's design, as described by Sawyer, will limit reloading, introduce permanent consequences, and emphasize random failure states to encourage emergent storytelling.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the Kotaku article titled "Reported Director of Obsidian's Upcoming Fallout Game Says RPGs Are at Their Best When You Can't Control Everything," published in 2023. The article synthesizes statements attributed to Josh Sawyer and includes internal Obsidian playtest data referenced by Sawyer. No external studies or datasets were used. All quotes are directly attributed to Sawyer as reported by Kotaku. This article was last updated on October 10, 2023.