Avowed Director Leaves Obsidian for Netflix's Oxenfree Studio After 13 Years

Carrie Patel, the director of the acclaimed RPG Avowed, has left Obsidian Entertainment shortly after the game's launch. Patel, who spent over a decade at Obsidian, recently updated her LinkedIn profile to announce her new role as Game Director at Night School, a Netflix-owned studio known for the Oxenfree series of narrative adventures.

"I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Game Director at Night School: A Netflix Game Studio!" Patel wrote. Although details about her new project at Night School remain under wraps, her move marks a significant shift from her long tenure at Obsidian.

Night School gained recognition with the Oxenfree series, the latest installment being Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals in 2023. The studio also launched the Black Mirror spin-off Thronglets earlier this year, amidst an unspecified number of layoffs. This comes after Netflix shut down another of its studios, which was working on a AAA game led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten.

During her time at Obsidian, Patel contributed to notable titles such as The Outer Worlds and the Pillars of Eternity series. She took the helm of Avowed after its early development reboot, steering it away from a darker, Elder Scrolls-like fantasy setting with multiplayer co-op, to a brighter, unique experience with multiple large individual maps and a single-player focus.

Avowed - Xbox Developer Direct Screenshots

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The response to Avowed has been largely positive, with Patel initially discussing plans for the franchise's future, including potential expansions and sequels. However, she will not be involved in these developments. Last week, Obsidian released a roadmap for Avowed, promising minor free updates over the next six months, including a Photo Mode and New Game Plus.

IGN's review of Avowed praised its worldbuilding and character writing, but noted that the game plays it safe, offering a familiar fantasy adventure rather than pushing boundaries. Looking ahead, Obsidian's next major release, The Outer Worlds 2, is set to be showcased in detail at the Xbox Games Showcase in June.