Chris Avellone just dropped some insider knowledge that has the RPG community buzzing. The legendary developer and former Obsidian co-founder tweeted on November 6, 2025 that the studio is working on Avowed 2 but has no plans for The Outer Worlds 3. This is huge news considering The Outer Worlds franchise seemed like the bigger success story, while Avowed had a pretty lukewarm reception when it launched back in February.
Apparently, aside from DLC plans for Outer Worlds 2, it seems like Obsidian is making no plans for Outer Worlds 3 but they are doing Avowed 2, Avellone wrote. He didn’t explain where he got this information or provide any follow-up details, but given his connections to Obsidian and his legendary status in the RPG industry, people are taking this seriously.
Why This Is Surprising
If you’ve been following Obsidian’s recent releases, you’d probably bet on The Outer Worlds getting a third entry before Avowed gets a second. The Outer Worlds franchise has been the more successful of the two by most metrics. The original game was a hit when it launched in 2019, praised for its humorous take on capitalism, space exploration setting, and that signature Obsidian writing.
The Outer Worlds 2 just launched about a week ago and has been getting solid reviews. Critics are giving it high marks, and Steam players seem pretty happy with it. It’s currently sitting with positive reception across the board. The game expanded on everything people loved about the first entry with better combat, larger scope, and more refined systems.
Avowed, on the other hand, had a rougher time. The fantasy RPG launched in February 2025 for PC and Xbox Series X and S and received mostly positive reviews from critics, landing around an 80 on Metacritic. But players were more mixed, giving it a 6.8 user score. Many found it lackluster or underwhelming compared to other Obsidian titles.
The Steam player counts tell a similar story. Avowed peaked at just 19,198 concurrent players in February, and now it gets around 200 users playing at the same time daily. Those are not impressive numbers for a major Xbox first-party release from one of gaming’s most respected RPG studios.
So Why Is Avowed 2 Happening
Microsoft measures success differently than traditional sales metrics because of Game Pass. While Avowed struggled on Steam, reports indicate it was one of the most played games on Game Pass in 2025. That subscription engagement is what really matters to Xbox, not how many people bought it on Steam.
Obsidian might also see more long-term potential in building out the Avowed fantasy universe compared to continuing The Outer Worlds space setting. The first Avowed was a more modest, focused experience. A sequel could expand the scope significantly, similar to how The Outer Worlds 2 grew from the first game.
Who Is Chris Avellone
For those unfamiliar with Avellone’s credentials, this guy is RPG royalty. He co-founded Obsidian Entertainment after Black Isle Studios closed, and his resume reads like a greatest hits list of the genre. He was lead writer and narrative designer on Planescape Torment, one of the most beloved RPGs ever made. He worked on Fallout 2, Fallout New Vegas, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II The Sith Lords, and Pillars of Eternity.
Avellone left Obsidian in 2015 after creative differences and has since worked as a freelancer on projects like Prey, Divinity Original Sin II, and various other games. Despite leaving the studio a decade ago, he clearly still has connections there who feed him insider information about what’s going on behind closed doors.
That’s why when Avellone tweets something about Obsidian’s plans, people listen. He’s not some random industry analyst speculating. He’s someone with direct ties to people who would know exactly what the studio is working on.
What About The Outer Worlds
Avellone mentioned that Obsidian has DLC plans for The Outer Worlds 2, which makes sense. The game just launched, so the team will be supporting it with patches, updates, and additional content for at least the next year. That’s standard practice for modern RPGs.
But no plans for The Outer Worlds 3 is interesting. It doesn’t mean the franchise is dead forever. It just means Obsidian isn’t actively developing or planning a third entry right now. Game studios make these kinds of decisions all the time based on what projects excite the team, what Microsoft wants, and where they see the most potential.
The Outer Worlds franchise could always come back later. Maybe after Avowed 2 releases, Obsidian will revisit the space RPG concept. Or maybe Microsoft will decide they want another entry and greenlight it. Nothing is set in stone in game development.
Obsidian’s Busy Year
It’s been an absolutely packed year for Obsidian. The studio released three major games in 2025 alone. Avowed came out in February, Grounded 2 launched mid-year, and The Outer Worlds 2 just hit about a week ago. That’s an insane output for any developer, let alone one maintaining Obsidian’s quality standards.
The team seems really happy being able to work on their own original IP after years of working on licensed properties like Star Wars and Fallout. Building franchises they actually own gives them creative freedom and long-term security. Microsoft’s ownership has provided the resources and support to make that happen.
With three games shipped in one year, Obsidian is probably looking at what comes next. Do they keep multiple teams working on different projects simultaneously, or do they consolidate resources? Are they merging The Outer Worlds and Avowed teams to create one big open-world RPG, or keeping their smaller teams intact for more modestly scoped games?
What Avowed 2 Needs to Fix
If Obsidian is indeed making Avowed 2, they have a clear roadmap of what needs improvement based on feedback from the first game. Players wanted more world interactivity, a larger scope, better cinematic presentation, and more meaningful choices that impact the story.
Avowed’s combat and exploration were praised as strong points. The core gameplay loop worked. What it lacked was that special something that makes Obsidian RPGs memorable. The writing didn’t quite hit the heights of New Vegas or The Outer Worlds. The world felt a bit empty compared to other fantasy RPGs. The scale was smaller than people expected.
A sequel could address all of these issues. Give players a massive open world to explore. Invest heavily in NPC interactions and branching storylines. Make combat even more dynamic and rewarding. Deliver the cinematic presentation that modern audiences expect from big-budget RPGs. If Obsidian can nail these elements, Avowed 2 could be the game that establishes the franchise as a major player in the fantasy RPG space.
Microsoft’s Role
As an Xbox first-party studio, Obsidian’s priorities are heavily influenced by what Microsoft wants. Xbox has been building up its RPG portfolio aggressively, with Obsidian, InXile, Bethesda, and other studios all working on different projects in the genre.
Microsoft clearly sees value in having a fantasy RPG franchise under their umbrella to compete with PlayStation’s offerings. With The Elder Scrolls VI still years away and Fable also in development at Playground Games, Avowed 2 gives Xbox another fantasy option to market to Game Pass subscribers.
The subscription service model changes how success is measured. It’s not about selling millions of copies. It’s about keeping subscribers engaged and giving them reasons to stay subscribed month after month. A steady stream of first-party RPGs from Obsidian helps accomplish that goal.
FAQs
Is Obsidian really making Avowed 2?
According to Chris Avellone, former Obsidian co-founder, the studio is working on Avowed 2. While he didn’t explain his source, his connections to Obsidian make this information credible. However, neither Microsoft nor Obsidian has officially confirmed the project yet.
Why isn’t Obsidian making The Outer Worlds 3?
Avellone stated that Obsidian has no plans for The Outer Worlds 3 right now, though they are working on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2. This doesn’t mean the franchise is cancelled forever, just that a third entry isn’t currently in development or planned.
Didn’t Avowed underperform compared to The Outer Worlds?
Yes, Avowed had lower Steam player counts and more mixed player reviews than The Outer Worlds franchise. However, Microsoft measures success through Game Pass engagement, and Avowed was reportedly one of the most played games on the service in 2025, which likely influenced the sequel decision.
Who is Chris Avellone?
Chris Avellone is a legendary RPG developer who co-founded Obsidian Entertainment and worked as lead writer on games like Planescape Torment, Fallout 2, Fallout New Vegas, and Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II. He left Obsidian in 2015 but maintains industry connections.
When did Avowed release?
Avowed launched in February 2025 for PC and Xbox Series X and S. It received mostly positive critical reviews with an 80 on Metacritic, but player reception was more mixed with a 6.8 user score.
What other games did Obsidian release in 2025?
Obsidian had an incredibly busy 2025, releasing three major games: Avowed in February, Grounded 2 mid-year, and The Outer Worlds 2 in early November. This represents one of the most productive years in the studio’s history.
Is The Outer Worlds franchise dead?
No, the franchise isn’t dead. The Outer Worlds 2 just launched and is receiving positive reviews. Obsidian plans to support it with DLC. There just aren’t any current plans for a third entry, which could change in the future based on how the sequel performs.
What needs to improve in Avowed 2?
Based on feedback from the first game, players want more world interactivity, larger scope, better cinematic presentation, more meaningful choices, and stronger writing. The combat and exploration were praised, but the overall experience felt smaller and less impactful than expected from Obsidian.
Conclusion
Chris Avellone’s revelation that Obsidian is working on Avowed 2 instead of The Outer Worlds 3 caught most people by surprise. The fantasy RPG seemed like the underdog compared to the more successful space franchise, but Microsoft’s focus on Game Pass engagement apparently told a different story. If Obsidian can take the feedback from Avowed and deliver a bigger, more polished sequel, the franchise could establish itself as a major player in the fantasy RPG space. For now, we wait for official confirmation from Microsoft or Obsidian themselves, but when Chris Avellone speaks about RPG development, it’s usually worth paying attention.