Avowed Director CONFIRMS Whistleblower Concerns: Game Is A Buggy MESS!

Summary

The video critiques the development of Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming RPG, *Avowed*, highlighting concerns raised by insiders about its buggy and unfinished state. The game's director, Carrie Patel, acknowledged the presence of glitches, framing them as part of the charm, which sparked concern among fans. The video's creator expresses skepticism about the game's prospects, pointing to a lack of confidence within the studio and a possible reliance on Game Pass to mitigate its shortcomings. The video urges viewers to wait for reviews before deciding to purchase the game, emphasizing the risks of an underwhelming launch.

Takeaways

• 😀 Carrie Patel, director of *Avowed*, acknowledges that the game will have some glitches and bugs at launch, calling it 'a little Jank' that might enhance the experience.
• 😀 The statement about 'Jank' has sparked concern among gamers, who fear that the game may be deeply flawed upon release.
• 😀 Multiple insiders have shared concerns about the game's current state, citing internal investigations and a lack of confidence in *Avowed*.
• 😀 The game is launching with low expectations, especially from those within Obsidian Entertainment, based on the internal feedback from sources.
• 😀 Patel's comments about 'Jank' are seen as an attempt to soften the impact of inevitable issues with the game, drawing comparisons to other poorly received releases in recent years.
• 😀 Patel's media interviews are being conducted across a variety of channels, including smaller YouTube channels with under 2,000 subscribers, suggesting desperation to drum up interest for the game.
• 😀 The involvement of women in leadership roles at Obsidian is brought up, with references to previous controversies about leadership and gender in the industry.
• 😀 *Avowed* is rumored to have a toxic workplace culture at Obsidian, reportedly undermining the studio's morale, according to multiple insiders.
• 😀 The game is set to launch on Game Pass, which may suggest that Obsidian and Microsoft are banking on low expectations and broad accessibility rather than game quality.
• 😀 The recommendation is to avoid pre-ordering *Avowed* and to wait for reviews before committing to the game, as it may offer a fun experience but with significant issues that could detract from the overall experience.

Q & A

What does the director of AOW, Carrie Patel, mention about the game's development process?

Carrie Patel discusses the challenges of developing AOW, stating that it's been particularly hard due to creative pivots and constant changes mid-project. She mentions that they were building the tracks while the train was moving, which implies the game’s development was chaotic and faced numerous hurdles.

How does Carrie Patel describe the state of the game, particularly regarding bugs and glitches?

Carrie Patel openly acknowledges that AOW will launch with some degree of 'jank,' referring to the unexpected glitches and bugs that can interfere with gameplay. She suggests that these issues are almost inevitable in modern gaming and can contribute to the charm of the game.

Why does the creator of the video, Smash JT, seem concerned about AOW's development?

Smash JT expresses concern about the game's development due to multiple insiders sharing information about its troubled state. These insiders, who work directly with Obsidian, reportedly mentioned the game's failure to meet internal expectations, the toxic workplace culture, and general low morale within the studio.

What does Smash JT say about the role of Game Pass in AOW’s release strategy?

Smash JT suggests that Obsidian and Microsoft may be relying on Game Pass as a safety net for AOW. The game is being launched on Game Pass, which allows players to try it without purchasing, reducing the pressure on the studio regarding initial sales. This, however, raises concerns about the game's quality and long-term investment.

How does Smash JT feel about Carrie Patel's interviews with small YouTube channels?

Smash JT finds it odd that Carrie Patel is conducting interviews with small YouTube channels, some with under 2,000 subscribers. He believes this is indicative of the desperation to get the word out about the game, as larger channels may not be interested due to the game's troubled development.

What does the script suggest about AOW's potential future after launch?

The script suggests that AOW may not meet the expectations of both fans and critics, with many insiders expressing doubts about its future. The game might suffer from the same fate as other over-promised, under-delivered titles, requiring multiple patches after launch to fix its issues.

What are the insiders saying about the workplace culture at Obsidian Entertainment?

The insiders have described Obsidian’s workplace culture as toxic, particularly criticizing the art director Matt Hansen. This has led to low morale within the studio, which is concerning for the development of a flagship RPG like AOW.

What is the significance of the phrase 'building the tracks while the train is moving' in relation to AOW?

The phrase 'building the tracks while the train is moving' refers to the challenges of developing a game while simultaneously dealing with unforeseen issues and changes. It implies that AOW's development was highly chaotic and lacked clear direction, which could affect the final product's quality.

How does the script suggest that AOW’s launch might be impacted by its internal development issues?

Given the internal development issues, the script suggests that AOW will likely face a rough launch, with bugs and performance issues affecting the player experience. However, it may receive patches post-launch. The overall launch could fail to meet player expectations, and the game may not sell many copies initially.

Why is Smash JT hesitant to endorse AOW, especially around its launch?

Smash JT is hesitant to endorse AOW due to the concerns raised by his insider sources. These sources indicated that the game was not living up to internal expectations and that there were serious morale and workplace issues. He also advises waiting for reviews and not pre-ordering the game.