Jill Braff, the head of Bethesda, has sent a message to all employees confirming that Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind Grounded, will remain a separate team with its current leadership structure intact.
Yesterday, Xbox announced a significant reorganization of its internal studios. Obsidian was moved under Bethesda, Rare and the Halo franchise were transferred to Activision, Ninja Theory faced potential closure, and 268 jobs were confirmed to be cut. This news was shared through an Xbox Wire post following previous reports of planned layoffs.
In response to this, Braff sent out a memo to staff explaining that the shift of Obsidian was mainly a change in reporting structure. She reassured developers that Obsidian’s unique creative identity and strengths would continue to be the foundation of the studio.
Below is the full email as obtained by IGN:
Hello everyone,
Following Matt’s message, I wanted to provide more insight into the recent news and how it will impact our teams.
Over the past six years, I have had the chance to work closely with Feargus Urquhart and his team. I have a deep appreciation for the talent and expertise at Obsidian and the exceptional games they have created. I am excited to collaborate more closely with them in the future.
The announcement made today primarily involves a change in reporting structure. The essence of Obsidian’s creative identity and strengths will remain integral to their work at the studio.
The leadership team at Obsidian, led by Feargus, will continue to guide the studio, now reporting to me. Bethesda Game Studios will retain leadership of the Fallout franchise.
Both teams will continue to strengthen their existing relationship and the progress made on a new Fallout project. More updates will be shared in the coming months. This structure aligns with our franchise-led approach, ensuring clear accountability for both the studio and the franchise.
I understand that there may be questions from our employees regarding our current priorities, roadmap, and responsibilities. I want to clarify that we are not altering our plans or asking teams to shift focus. We will explore opportunities for closer collaboration to enhance the experience for our players and fans. Communication will remain open as we move forward.
I am eager to engage more with the Obsidian team and build upon the strong foundation established across our organizations.
Welcome, Feargus and team – stay tuned for more updates!
Jill
Obsidian was acquired by Microsoft in 2018.