Microsoft’s spending spree doesn’t seem to have been restricted to the run up to E3, as reports suggest that they’re close to penning a deal to acquire Obsidian Entertainment.
Following up on their sources, Kotaku asked both parties for comment getting a straightforward “We do not comment on rumours or speculation,” from Microsoft and a much more playful “Unfortunately, we don’t comment on rumours or speculation other than to say that the Rumors album by Fleetwood Mac still holds up,” from an Obsidian spokesperson who probably deserves a pay rise.
A lot of people have a fondness for Obsidian for their work on Knights of the Old Republic II and Fallout: New Vegas, while the Pillars of Eternity games have seen a successful and critically acclaimed return to a cRPG style in the vein of Baldur’s Gate. However, they’re a large studio, with around 170 staff and went through some financial struggles a few years ago.
Pillars’ successful Kickstarter campaign went a long way to help secure the company’s future at the time, but a running theme of Microsoft’s acquisitions has been that they’re helping to provide financial security for studios, as well as allowing them to try and fulfil their full potential. Obsidian do have a mixed history with a number of publishers that they’ve worked with in the past, but hopefully this proves to be a more stable and lasting partnership if it does come to fruition.
Source: Kotaku
