Sinan Kubba writes, "I have no personal experience of it, but a cursory assessment of the critical reaction to KOTOR II gives the impression of a decent but rushed sequel that suffered with bugs and glitches possibly because of publisher pressure. After all, Obsidian was a new development team hastily assembled from the creaking foundations of Black Isle Studios, and it was only given a year to produce something that could follow on from what many regards as the best Star Wars game of all time (and space). Players and critics alike were forgiving."
In a new live stream, Josh Sawyer discussed the possibility of a Pillars of Eternity Tactics game and the challenges it could pose.
Video game development is extremely hard. So much can go wrong. With that in mind, Obsidian Entertainment is the gold standard that nails the RPGs it's known for while also delivering experimental games that people love. They may be one of the most underrated teams in gaming right now.
I dunno i might give that to insomniac honestly. Their output quantity and quality are insane, and all with no crunch!
You can't just make the claim that a studio is the 'gold standard for game development' without providing evidence to support such a claim. Is it judged on the quality of the recent output measured by metacritic scores, or is judged on the output frequency, or is judged by sales?
Recent titles are The Outer Worlds, Grounded, Pentiment and soon to be released Avowed. Are they grounds for calling Obsidian 'the gold standard of game development'?
Not even close. There are much better studios, like Insomniac, Fromsoftware, and Capcom in general ( If i'm allowed to mention a publisher).
I'd delve more into the legacy of the studio, since this is a PS-centric site afterall and anything no-PS is written off, without much thought. (They are well revered within the PC RPG fan base {some of the PC folks here might agree}, but 'gold-standard' might be a stretch ... but the studio's legendary in its own rights)
TBH, they are the former Black Isle Studio nearly as a whole. Just the name changed after Interplay's financial troubles.
They were responsible for the OG Fallout(s) and published BioWare's Baldur's Gate(s) plus developed famous RPG series like Icewind Dale and Planescape.
Later they'd go on to develop the best 3D Fallout i.e New Vegas (within a crushingly short dev time period), sequel to BioWare's famous RPGs i.e KOTOR and Neverwinter Nights.
As well as the Pillars of Eternity series (Avowed being its part).
The games, imho, that dents the gold-standard of Obsidian is the experimental Alpha Protocol, which needed more dev time and Dungeon Siege III.
So, yeah ... Insomniac's better at being at the Gold standard podium or even MachineGames from the rival camp but Insomniac has its own niche. And if you gotta praise Larian just for Baldur's Gate 3, you gotta know where it started it all.
Peace.
The proof is in the games, they literally exist. We play them every year or so. Why are you acting like that's some information we have to dig up?
They're all bangers and there are statements from a few developers saying that they do not have crunch time at insomnia games.
So it seems that they are not only highly productive, but they're able to do that with an insanely high production quality, lots of creativity, very quickly and the developers are crunch free
Obsidian is damn good. Amazing! Even but I wouldn't put them on the same tier as insomniac production quality just isn't there
Lol! Obsidian Entertainment aren't even on my top 10 list of greatest game developers! Plus nevered even played or had interest in any of their games, So how can they even be considered the golden standard??
Idk if I'd call Obsidian the gold standard, but I do appreciate that while they work on large projects they still give their devs freedom to experiment with smaller stuff like Pentiment. I feel like a lot of AAA studios would benefit from using smaller projects like a breather between huge releases. It would probably help cut down on industry-wide burnout which has caused so many devs to leave AAA for the indie/AA scenes.
I don't know how someone arrived at this claim.
Obisidian is just about above average.
IMO insomniac are the best studio in the world alongside from software. Look at how much sony paid for Insomniac and the games they have released so far generating billions. Spiderman, Ratchet and clank, Spiderman MM, spiderman 2 and soon wolverine along with spiderman 3 in development
Spiderman generate billions not ratchet & clank, not resistance, lol defintely not sunset over drive.
From are critical darlings, but pretty much everything they release is a mess technically.
I would go with Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio (yakuza games) or Atlus. RGG relases 1 to 3 quality games a year and last year atlus released P3R, SMTVengence and Metaphor. And most of these games are polished at launch.
SEGA and Capcom been throwing bangers for a while. I'm on Metaphor right now and can't wait to play Mai Shiranui in Feb
RGG is top tier for sure. Incredible games and good output. They've also figured out how to more effectively use open worlds by reusing their cities and building on them, really utilizing every nook and cranny across the games.
Obsidian Entertainment has confirmed that Avowed targets 30FPS on consoles, making it yet another first-party release to follow the trend.
Another hit piece all AAA makers are going for this low fps do too lack of optimization.
That's just a lie. Sony and many other devs go for performance modes and are nearly always really really good. The majority of players, according to Sony's numbers, prefer Performance modes over standard modes by a large margin. You only need common sense to realise that's true. People like higher frame rates overwhelmingly.
That's why there was a big uproar when Starfield was targeting 30 fps. It was out of the ordinary. And they lied and said it wasn't really possible OR that it was a creative choice (take your pick), but we found out later it was all BS and that a 60 fps mode would be coming later. They just weren't good enough to do it for launch.
This game looks mid and they can't even get a 60fps version it seems like. If they don't launch with a 60fps performance mode or close to it, then that's truly pathetic imo.
Both star wars games dragons dogma 2 starfield foamstars redfall gotham knights to name a few only have 30fps modes.
There is no reason beyond bad optimization to only have 30fps but it's still a thing there is more out there even alot that got patched later.
Bloodborn can also be tossed on here such a shame that never got a 60fps patch
Its not a xbox problem but a AAA problem on all front's but like i said they do get patched for the most part quick edit i just looked jedi survivor did get the patch treatment so its a decent fps now.
"This game looks mid and they can't even get a 60fps version it seems like. If they don't launch with a 60fps performance mode or close to it, then that's truly pathetic imo."
What´s is truly pathetic is your entitled and ignorant remarks.
Avowed is a freaking true current gen open world action RPG game powered by UE5 5.3. By the time of its release, there won´t be a most technically advanced RPG in the market!
I though you folks would learn something about true current UE5 games and how hard they´re on consoles (even on PC) after the sh!t performance of Black Myth Wukong on PS5 which runs natively at 30fps and have to resort to third party FSR3 solution to achieve 60fps turning image quality in blurry mess!
No wonder why Game Science had to hide their game and did not sent any PS5 review copies for gaming media.
Most developers don´t want that sh!t for their games. Period!
Star Wars Jedi Survivor has a 60fps mode. Starfield even has one now.
Ha, and now even SW Outlaws has 30, 40, and 60fps modes.
Not having 60fps in Avowed is also worse due to the fact that Microsoft has been showing this game as 60fps every trailer they've put out.
Add to that - STALKER 2 is 60fps and only 60fps on Series X. How can a not-first party studio make a UE5 60fps open world title but an actual first party studio with all these internal resources, can't achieve the same *with the same freaking engine*
What? This just isn't true.
***dragons dogma 2 starfield foamstars redfall gotham knights***
One isn't AAA, one is also Xbox only, one does have a performance mode (Survivor), and one actually fits your argument but isn't representative of most AAA games.
Let's look at some other ones: Spider-Man all of them, Ragnarok, Forbidden West, Stellar Blade, FFXVI, NFS Unlimited, Returnal, all RE Remakes, every Sport Game, Hogwart's Legacy, Dead Space, and tons more.
Yes survivor has a 60fps mode. And in fairness, most games have 60fps modes which begs the question why Avowed -which is not that good looking-, does not have a performance mode.
On the other hand you could have used so many other games for this argument and you went for Cross gen games (Ragnarok, Forbidden West, RE Remakes) and sports games.
Demon Souls, Rachet & Clank, GT 7, A Plague Tale Requiem would have been better examples I believe.
But still I cant believe first party games are stuck at 30fps on Xbox
"Let's look at some other ones: Spider-Man all of them, Ragnarok, Forbidden West, Stellar Blade, FFXVI, NFS Unlimited, Returnal, all RE Remakes, every Sport Game, Hogwart's Legacy, Dead Space, and tons more."
How many true current gen UE5 powered games have you listed? I´ll tell you: Zero!
The vast majority are cross-gen games and the others are either AA or games powered by old gen tech.
It´s baffling that after 4 years, some of you guys still don´t get it that those consoles aren´t made to handle 60fps for all current gen games!
Avowed is an open world RPG running on one of UE5´s latest builds 5.3. So at least you have something *equal* to compare in terms of technology you´re really talking about apples and oranges here.
***How many true current gen UE5 powered games have you listed? I´ll tell you: Zero! ***
Need help moving that goal post?
But since you asked: Immortals of Aveum, Remnant 2, The Lords of the Fallen, Robocop: Rogue City just off the top of my head.
You good now? Want to move that goal post again?
***On the other hand you could have used so many other games for this argument ***
I used recent games (some being current gen only) when the argument was just that no one is doing it anymore because 60fps isn't worth it. That's just not true. End of argument unless you want to move a goal post, but that means you admit your original argument was bad to begin with.
@Christopher
"I used recent games (some being current gen only) when the argument was just that no one is doing it anymore because 60fps isn't worth it. That's just not true."
I said people are wrongly mistaken when they expect ALL current gen games to run at 60fps on consoles, especially those UE5 ones.
You might have forgot but that impressive PS5 real-time UE5 demo was running at 30fps. Heck, even The Matrix Awakens demo runs at 30fps on both SX and PS5. It was all written on the wall and yet entitled gamers will act all shocked and surprised when 30fps for those UE5 games on console is the rule, not the exception.
Go ahead check tech reviews for UE5 games that you mentioned and will find out how "smooth" are the 60fps performance modes for those. Some dropping all the way to 20´s.
So yes, in some cases it´s simply no worth it. Too many compromises. Developers wants their games to look amazing and run smooth. Especially first party developers which pressure and demands for quality are even higher.
Game Science which is a third party developer tried and they couldn´t achieve 60fps on PS5 and Black Myth Wukong is a 30fps UE5 game. Brute force shenanigans to achieve 60fps did nothing but turn performance mode in a sub 720p blurry mess. Game developers don´t want that for their games. Fact.
What I´m saying here is that ALL developers wants their games to look amazing with flawless smooth performance, but when it comes to consoles and their vision for their games, it will simply won´t work in most cases when comes to UE5 games development, especially if they want their game to have all of the UE5´s feature sets available.
Most entitled gamers will simply label them as lazy and call it a day, when they have absolute not clue what they´re talking about and/or what current gen game development challenges entails.
*** I said people are wrongly mistaken when they expect ALL current gen games to run at 60fps on consoles, especially those UE5 ones. ***
No no no.
What you replied to what someone saying no one was doing it anymore. My reply, proving that wrong, is what you replied to. And what did you say?
*** How many true current gen UE5 powered games have you listed? I´ll tell you: Zero! ***
You are wrong.
*** The vast majority are cross-gen games and the others are either AA or games powered by old gen tech. ***
Doesn't matter! Wasn't a part of the argument and why I said you're moving goal posts from just_looken's original comment. Perhaps you want to address that since that's what my comment was addressing? Maybe?
*** It´s baffling that after 4 years, some of you guys still don´t get it that those consoles aren´t made to handle 60fps for all current gen games! ***
Again, I literally proved you wrong in my original comment (Returnal, FFXVI) and to my previous comment (all games mentioned).
---
So, to reiterate: *** I said people are wrongly mistaken when they expect ALL current gen games to run at 60fps on consoles, especially those UE5 ones.***
No, that's not what you said. Stop changing your argument. Start by making better ones to begin with.
And, let me clarify, "built to handle 60fps" is a dumb dumb thing. Do you know how you build it to handle 60fps? You tone things down. You reduce or disable RTX. Boom, more frames. You use dynamic resolution/scaling. Boom, set a frame limit and adjust it to meet it.
Supporting 60fps is possible. Now, do you want to move this argument to "consoles aren't made to support 4k 60fps w/RTX?" Is that what you want to talk about? I mean, most PCs aren't made to handle that either, but it would be a better argument than "not built to handle 60fps" when that's something that the PC market knows very well can be adjusted by... adjusting those things I mentioned. It's normal. Why wouldn't it be on consoles?
The problem with Xbox? Microsoft 100% doesn't want to show people how much it would take to play a game on Series S at 60fps for these games we're talking about. They don't want that visual criticism. It's not an issue for the Series X or the PS5. It's an issue for the Series S. Microsoft can't have their games shown playing at 60fps on that machine, because it would look noticeably bad.
Obscure, who gives a shiny shite about games being on UE5 if they don't look any better? Stop making excuses for them.
@Christopher
"Again, I literally proved you wrong in my original comment (Returnal, FFXVI) and to my previous comment (all games mentioned)."
I mentioned those games. AA and old gen tech won´t stress those consoles like an UE5 powered game will do. Facts!
"Again, I literally proved you wrong in my original comment (Returnal, FFXVI) and to my previous comment (all games mentioned)."
I said *ALL* games and those games that you mentioned aren´t nearly as demanding as an UE5 feature rich game like Hellblade II, you can´t spin facts.
"And, let me clarify, "built to handle 60fps" is a dumb dumb thing. Do you know how you build it to handle 60fps? You tone things down. You reduce or disable RTX. Boom, more frames. You use dynamic resolution/scaling. Boom, set a frame limit and adjust it to meet it."
Easier said than done. I think you missed my point where I said:
"Brute force shenanigans to achieve 60fps did nothing but turn performance mode in a sub 720p blurry mess. Game developers don´t want that for their games. Fact."
This is not PC gaming where you simply disable shadows among other features and go on without it. In console development when the compromises becomes greater than gains, developers will simply drop the performance mode because "it´s not worth it".
"I mean, most PCs aren't made to handle that either, but it would be a better argument than "not built to handle 60fps" when that's something that the PC market knows very well can be adjusted by... adjusting those things I mentioned. It's normal. Why wouldn't it be on consoles?"
Because console development is a completely different beast. In Black Myth Wukong tech review by DF, Alex mentioned that Game Science has no experience with console development. Reason why the PS5 version turn out into a mess, in comparison with the PC version.
Like I said, easier said than done.
"The problem with Xbox? Microsoft 100% doesn't want to show people how much it would take to play a game on Series S at 60fps for these games we're talking about."
Dude, nor MS or Sony or even Nintendo has a *say* on how a game developed by its studios is supposed to run and/or look. That´s totally on the developers description. That´s what they call "hands free approach". Look it up!
"Microsoft can't have their games shown playing at 60fps on that machine, because it would look noticeably bad."
Your claims are false. Proof that they are false is the fact that Bethesda just released a 60fps performance mode on Starfield for the Series S, just like Redfall last year.
If MS really didn´t want to show the S running games at 60fps due poor image quality, they would never allow its developers to work on a 60fps mode for that console in the first place.
You can´t dispute facts with FUD.
Gotham Knights? Wasn’t that game universally panned for its empty open world etc? Like Suicide Squad? Except Suicide Squad actually DOES 60fps. 😇
Obscure, you can't scream facts while rambling while you move goal posts just to try and make some sort of point no one but you is discussing, let alone proving you false on your own arguments, and expect us to take you seriously.
You're just wrong. UE5 or not, there are current generation AAA games that prove your claims to be false. About the only thing we'll agree on is that some developers are more familiar with consoles than others, but the argument isn't about the capabilities of developers but their focus, and I've more than showed 60fps is being supported and can be supported.
is frame rate a parity requirement? I didnt think it was. There are games that run at 60 or higher on X but only 30 on S.
Not likely. If it were, then there would be more games that the X would have to run at 30 because the S does.
That and shit optimization
But on this site we burn the xbox praise the P
the admin even defending it everyone knows redfall launched at 30fps not till few months back got 60fps patch
Hogwarts is now a ps 60fps game like really? that unoptimized dumpster fire nvm walking away
No it's just Microsoft stuck at 30 fps, all of Sony's first party, second party and major third party (timed) exclusives offer a 60 FPS mode.
“all AAA makers are going for this low fps do too lack of optimization”
This is 100% not true.
I’m sorry is everyone just gliding over the shitty excuse they’ve given here
"It’s a first-person, single-player game. You don’t necessarily need that 60 frames[...]that allows us to get a lot juicier with VFX & lighting & all this other stuff".
They are telling us what we don’t need…
Its like oblivion and Skyrim... both of which were fine as they were. For me, 60 is required for fast paced games, shooters and action games are generally fast paced. Adventure and RPG... not so much.
This generation is probably the first generation since the ps2 that's had predominantly 60fps games
https://www.howtogeek.com/t...
I posted this a while ago but it got diss-allowed
I thought it interesting personally. Exactly what you said
@purple you should repost that it's absolutely a valid opinion article id approve it
wasnt the series console marketed as a 60fps standard and eats monsters for breakfast, the worlds most powerful console ?
Sony apologists are all over you Just_lookin! Yikes! Pay them no kind... They're just gonna bash the game until Microsoft announces it on PS5 and then it'll be number one on their charts...
@just: “Another hit piece all AAA makers are going for this low fps do too lack of optimization.”
Nah don’t worry they’ll fix it for the PS5 release 6months later 🤷🏿
@obscured: “What´s is truly pathetic is your entitled and ignorant remarks.”
If you’re entitled to your pathetic, ignorant and idiotic remarks why should you complain about other people choices.
Xbox SS is the problem developers have always create for the lowest console then upgrade graphics for the others otherwise all games on SX would run flawlessly.
exactly all games launch 30fps with a broken or no performance mode then later patch it this is not a xbox issue its a AAA issue.
True that has become the wii u of the bunch or the wii they need to just admit that then cut support.
You can't cut support of a console that the overwhelming majority of the Xbox Series players use. Series S accounts for 70 % of the Series S/X console sales.
That makes no sense... performance is not a required parity feature. The game will likely work on steam deck and that is below the SS in terms of performance.
starfield did not get 60fps patch till later because they were trying to get it to run on series s look at dev interviews.
The steam deck is like a pc you can change anything to make it run you can not do that on a series s it requires alot more workers to tinker to get it too run or cutback the scope of the game that is the difference.
Better have that much more impressive physics ai or w/e to make up for it. Not even having the option should mean there is something impressive baked in that can't be scaled.
"Get it on PC or PS5 pro."
Nice try, but PS5 Pro will do no better than the Series X ou even the PS5, my guy.
Do your homework
"I did, It'll be better on PC and PS5 pro."
You did not. Actually you have no idea what you´re talking about.
Otherwise you would know that both base PS5 and PS5 Pro has the same damn processor, which wouldn´t do sh!t for higher framerate performances.
Again, do you homework. You´re spreading false information here.
Stop getting your fanboy panties in a twist.
PC>PS5 Pro>PS5>then the xbox's
It'll run better on PC PS5 Pro and going by this entire generation standard PS5 will perform better then both Xboxes.
You'll get over your denial one day.
34TF vs 11 and PSSR. Yeah it'll do no better at all. That'll only be true on CPU based gamed and those are very minimal
"PC>PS5 Pro>PS5>then the xbox's"
I knew you couldn´t refute valid arguments without resort to some typical fanboy card sh!t. We´re done here.
LMAO!! You calling someone a fanboy is just like the pot calling the kettle black.You're the poster child & the epitome of a XB fanboy.
@Elda
"LMAO!! You calling someone a fanboy is just like the pot calling the kettle black.You're the poster child & the epitome of a XB fanboy."
It´s a known fact around here, so no offence taken. Thanks for your feedback though.
Like I said, stop living in denial
"We're done here"
I was done after my first statement, the fact you can't handle or disprove anything I said is even more more telling.
Just calm down and disconnect for the evening.
Dudes like a pantomime villain, just here to drive traffic n traction because these hot takes are so fake it can't be real
He has a point he didn't dispute with facts. He just lashed out. Obscure is correct again
Tired of obsidian's excuses too , even if i somehow can enjoy some of their current games .
After bethesda , sega , atari , square , etc , they'll only have ubisoft , capcom , namco , activision and EA left to blame for their possible future failures .
New Vegas turning out as buggy as it did never surprised me. Obsidian, get your act together.