Obsidian's Avowed Director Joins Netflix's Oxenfree Studio

Avowed game director Carrie Patel has departed Obsidian Entertainment, the renowned RPG studio, shortly after the release of their latest title.

In a LinkedIn profile update, Patel announced her move to Night School Studio, the Netflix-owned developer responsible for the narrative-driven Oxenfree series.

"Excited to share I'm joining Night School: A Netflix Game Studio as Game Director!" Patel's post revealed. While her new project remains undisclosed, she will again lead development as director.

Night School gained recognition for its Oxenfree franchise, including 2023's Oxenfree 2: Lost Signals. Earlier this year, the studio released Black Mirror: Bandersnatch while facing undisclosed staff reductions - months after Netflix shuttered another game studio working on a AAA title led by Halo's Joseph Staten.

During her 11-year tenure at Obsidian, Patel held key roles on critically acclaimed projects including The Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity series.

Patel assumed creative leadership on Avowed following its early development reboot, transitioning from the initial dark fantasy concept with multiplayer to delivering a distinctive single-player experience featuring multiple expansive zones.

Avowed Screenshots from Xbox Developer Direct

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While Avowed received generally favorable reviews and Patel had outlined expansion plans, her departure means she won't contribute to the franchise's future.

Recent updates confirmed six months of free post-launch content featuring Photo Mode and New Game Plus functionality.

IGN's review stated: "Avowed's exceptional worldbuilding and character writing showcase Obsidian's RPG mastery, though it remains conventional rather than groundbreaking in its fantasy approach."

Obsidian's upcoming release The Outer Worlds 2 will receive detailed coverage during June's Xbox Games Showcase.