Okay, let's talk about something that's been living rent-free in my head since Avowed dropped earlier this year. The game's warm reception has been amazing, but it's also stirred up this deep, nostalgic longing in the community. Suddenly, everyone's whispering, "What about another Pillars of Eternity?" I mean, Deadfire? That game is a masterpiece, a cult classic that just... gets better with time. But here's the tea, straight from the devs and the cold, hard numbers: Pillars of Eternity 3 might just be a beautiful dream we have to let go of.
The Director's Honest Truth
Let's start with the man himself, Josh Sawyer, the game director for the Pillars series. In a pretty candid interview last year, he basically said that Avowed is where the Pillars universe is headed now. Oof, right? He even mentioned being more interested in creating new worlds rather than revisiting old ones. That's not a hard "no," but it's not the passionate "yes" we were hoping for either. It sounds like he's ready for a new creative chapter.
And honestly, can you blame him? Making Deadfire was... a lot. Sawyer has been open about how it burned him out. He once said he'd only consider doing Pillars 3 if he had a Baldur's Gate 3-sized budget. Let that sink in for a sec.
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Deadfire's Budget: ~$5 million (and it was a crowdfunded hustle!)
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Baldur's Gate 3's Rumored Budget: ~$100 MILLION 😳
That's not just a gap; it's a chasm. Even with Microsoft's deep pockets, asking for that kind of money for a CRPG—a genre that's still pretty niche, BG3's success aside—feels like a long shot. Especially when you look at Xbox's current strategy of chasing big-money moves.
The Business Side of Dreams
Here's the pragmatic, maybe a little heartbreaking, part. Deadfire didn't set the sales charts on fire when it launched. It's since become "very profitable," which is awesome, but that initial performance leaves a mark on a studio. Now, look at Avowed's success. Its peak player count on Steam alone is already matching Deadfire's—and that's without counting all the Xbox and Game Pass players!
What does that tell the suits in the boardroom? It screams, "Make more Avowed!" A direct sequel to their new, shiny first-person hit is just a safer business bet than reviving a top-down CRPG series. As one brutally honest fan put it: "Avowed being a success makes an Avowed sequel more likely, not a Pillars one." It's harsh, but it's probably true.
So... Is This The End for Eora?
Not necessarily! And this is where I try to find a silver lining. While a big, mainline Pillars of Eternity 3 seems like a distant maybe, the world of Eora isn't dead.
Josh Sawyer has hinted that there's interest at Obsidian in making a Pillars: Tactics game! You know, a turn-based, XCOM-style strategy game set in this incredible universe. How cool would that be?
| What We Might Get | What Seems Unlikely |
|---|---|
| Avowed 2 🎮 | Pillars of Eternity 3 (Big Budget) 💸 |
| Pillars: Tactics ♟️ | A direct sequel by Josh Sawyer 🧑💻 |
| More games in Eora 🌍 | A return to classic CRPG format soon ⏳ |
It's a shift, for sure. The torch is being passed from the dense, text-heavy CRPG to more action-oriented or strategic experiences. It's bittersweet. Part of me will always yearn for that classic, pause-and-play RPG magic that Deadfire perfected. But another part is excited to see this world I love evolve and reach new players in different ways.
The bottom line? Never say never in gaming, but manage those expectations, fam. Treasure Deadfire for the gem it is. Get hyped for whatever Avowed DLC or sequel comes next. And keep a little hope alive for a tactical adventure in the Deadfire Archipelago someday. The story of Eora is still being written, just... maybe not in the font we were used to. ✨