Pillars of Eternity Receives 2024 Update: A Strategic Move by Obsidian Ahead of Avowed and Baldur’s Gate 3 Success

Obsidian Entertainment pleasantly surprised fans by releasing an unexpected update for the beloved isometric RPG, Pillars of Eternity, almost a decade after its initial launch. The update, currently in the beta branch for Steam, focuses on fixing bugs, addressing audio issues, and resolving quest-related problems. According to studio design director Josh Sawyer, challenges with the Unity 4 game engine prevented the backporting of sought-after features from the sequel. The timing of this update raises questions about its purpose. One possible reason is the upcoming release of Avowed, Obsidian's first-person fantasy game scheduled for this year. The team might be aiming to enhance the original Pillars of Eternity for newcomers entering the Eora universe through Avowed. Another factor influencing the update could be the success of Baldur’s Gate 3, which garnered significant attention and commercial success. As the Forgotten Realms' narrative concludes in Baldur’s Gate 3, players may be on the lookout for similar top-down RPGs, making Pillars of Eternity an appealing choice. In summary, the 2024 update provides ample reasons for both returning and new players to explore the world of Eora. While it might be a proactive move by Obsidian, there's also the exciting possibility raised by Josh Sawyer's openness to developing Pillars of Eternity 3 with a budget akin to Baldur’s Gate 3. A resurgence of Pillars of Eternity could be on the horizon, and fans are hopeful for more in the future.