The gaming world is buzzing with excitement as Obsidian brings a long-awaited feature to one of its beloved titles. Fans of the classic RPG, Pillars of Eternity, will soon have the chance to experience the game in an entirely new way. This change comes as the developers respond to player feedback, offering a fresh perspective on a well-established favorite.
Pillars of Eternity Embraces Turn-Based Combat
Obsidian has announced that Pillars of Eternity will introduce a turn-based mode, launching tomorrow in a public beta on Steam and Xbox PC app. Originally limited to real-time with pause (RTwP) gameplay, this addition follows the sequel, Deadfire, which eventually included an optional turn-based mode. Fans have eagerly awaited a similar update for the original game, and their patience has paid off.
Game Director Insights and Improvements
Josh Sawyer, the project director known for his work on Fallout: New Vegas and Pentiment, revealed insights into the changes. According to Sawyer, feedback from Deadfire’s turn-based mode was taken seriously, leading to significant improvements. Key to these changes is a more accurate action economy to match the RTwP spirit, with speed and recovery impacting the number of turns per round. Sawyer noted, “One of the major changes is that the action economy is a lot more accurate to the real time with pause game… The number of turns you get to take per round is no longer tied to the round, but to your speed and recovery.” This update is expected to offer players a more balanced and engaging experience.
Players can expect a more dynamic combat experience, with increased lethality addressing previous criticisms of slow-paced gameplay. The new mode will also allow players to switch between real-time and turn-based combat, providing flexibility in battle strategies.
A Timely Update for a Classic RPG
Though Pillars of Eternity was released a decade ago, this update breathes new life into the game, potentially drawing players back, especially following the successful launch of Avowed, set in the same universe. Josh Sawyer has also expressed interest in developing a potential Pillars of Eternity 3 with a larger budget and turn-based combat focus, indicating future possibilities for the franchise.
Meanwhile, Obsidian continues to make waves in the RPG world, with the recent release of The Outer Worlds 2 adding to their impressive portfolio.