Bethesda Memo Says Obsidian Will Keep Its Creative Independence

Obsidian Entertainment will report directly to Bethesda instead of Xbox Game Studios, according to a Bethesda internal memo reported by Wccftech and shared publicly by IGN.

The change follows Xbox’s latest restructuring, which also moved Halo, Rare, and World’s Edge under Activision. That broader reorganization led to questions about what Obsidian’s new reporting line could mean for the studio and its games.

The memo was originally written by Bethesda president Jill Braff. In it, Braff described the change as more of a “reporting shift” and said Obsidian’s creative independence would remain untouched.

Braff also presented the new arrangement as a way for Bethesda and Obsidian to strengthen their close relationship. The memo does not indicate that Obsidian’s creative direction will change, while further details about the relationship are expected to be shared later.

For now, the reported change concerns Obsidian’s position within Microsoft’s studio structure: the developer will report to Bethesda rather than Xbox Game Studios, while its creative independence is expected to remain intact.