Avowed director Carrie Patel has recently left Obsidian Entertainment, a renowned RPG developer, shortly after the launch of their latest game. Patel announced her departure on LinkedIn, revealing she has taken up a new position as Game Director at Night School, a studio owned by Netflix known for the Oxenfree series.
"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Game Director at Night School: A Netflix Game Studio!" Patel stated in her LinkedIn update. Although the specifics of her new project at Night School remain undisclosed, her role will continue to be that of a game director.
Night School gained fame through its Oxenfree series, with the latest release being Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals in 2023. The studio also launched a Black Mirror spin-off titled Thronglets earlier this year, amidst an unspecified number of layoffs. Previously, Netflix shut down another of its studios, which was developing a AAA game led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten.
Carrie Patel, a long-time member of Obsidian, contributed to several acclaimed titles over her 11-year tenure, including The Outer Worlds and the Pillars of Eternity series. She assumed the directorial role for Avowed after its early development reboot, steering the game away from its original darker fantasy setting, akin to The Elder Scrolls, with a single open world and multiplayer co-op. Under Patel's direction, Avowed evolved into a more vibrant and distinctive experience, featuring multiple large maps and a focus on single-player gameplay.
Avowed - Xbox Developer Direct Screenshots
View 39 Images
The reception to Avowed has been generally positive, with Patel expressing intentions to expand the franchise through expansions or a sequel. However, she will not be involved in these future endeavors. A recent development roadmap for Avowed outlined minor, free updates over the next six months, including a Photo Mode and New Game Plus.
IGN's review praised Avowed for its worldbuilding and character writing, though it noted the game as a safe, familiar fantasy adventure rather than a groundbreaking evolution in the genre.
Obsidian's next project, The Outer Worlds 2, is set to be showcased in detail at the Xbox Games Showcase in June this year.
