Josh Sawyer, a key figure behind the Pillars of Eternity series, recently addressed the possibility of creating a third installment in light of the success of Baldur’s Gate 3. Although Pillars of Eternity was considered a spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, Sawyer expressed doubts about his ability to direct a new game that could achieve similar success.
He acknowledged internal discussions at Obsidian about Pillars of Eternity 3 but was clear that he might not be the right person to lead such a project.
Sawyer pointed out the significant differences in funding between Baldur’s Gate 3 and the Pillars of Eternity games, noting that the former’s success was partly due to its high production values, which required substantial financial resources.
He emphasized that while money can’t solve every problem in game development, it allows for higher quality in areas like character models, cinematics, and animations—elements that require considerable time and investment.
Reflecting on the reception of Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, Sawyer noted that despite its positive reviews, it did not achieve the commercial success or critical acclaim of Baldur’s Gate 3. He admitted that the relatively low sales of Deadfire had already led to discussions about rethinking the format for a potential third game.
However, he now believes that someone else might be better suited to direct Pillars of Eternity 3, as he feels increasingly out of touch with the audience’s preferences.
Sawyer elaborated on his disconnect with current RPG trends, particularly regarding ideas like implementing a fantasy romance system in a way he finds appealing. He questioned whether his vision would resonate with the audience or if it would be poorly received. This uncertainty contributes to his reluctance to direct another Pillars of Eternity game, as he is unsure if his approach would be successful in today’s market.
Interestingly, Sawyer had previously considered making Pillars of Eternity 3 if he had a budget similar to Baldur’s Gate 3’s. However, his perspective seems to have shifted, as he no longer appears interested in pursuing the project under current conditions.
Instead, Obsidian’s focus is on their upcoming game Avowed, which is set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity. Meanwhile, Sawyer’s latest project, the critically acclaimed Pentiment, was released in 2022, and his future plans remain uncertain.
