Although the surprise delays ofStarfieldandRedfallhave thrown expectations up in the air, the upcoming Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is bound to be exciting. Lots of Microsoft’s subsidiary studios likeObsidian Entertainmenthave big games in development, so there’s a lot of potential for reveals, announcements, and surprises. Obsidian itself may be able to supply a worthwhile surprise for the showcase with the help ofPentiment, a new RPG that it reportedly has in development. Rumors aboutPentimentfirst surfaced in late 2021, meaning enough time may have passed for Obsidian to present the game at the showcase.
Obsidian hasn’t confirmedPentiment’s existence just yet, but supposedly the RPG takes heavy inspiration fromDisco Elysium,prioritizing character dialogue and personality mechanics over combat. It’s also seemingly being led by Josh Sawyer, who has earned a place as an Obsidian mainstay for directingFallout: New VegasandthePillars of Eternitygames. While it’s largely a mystery,Pentimentwould be an excellent game to include in the showcase. As long as Obsidian Entertainment’s other projects aren’t keeping it too busy to reveal something new,Pentimentwould be an excellent candidate for shaking up the variety of games that might appear at the upcoming showcase.
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Why Pentiment Should Join the Showcase
Pentimentwould be a great candidate for the showcase because of its reported relationship with action. Xbox Game Studios affiliates have no shortage of action-heavy games in development. Whether it’sThe Initiative’s reboot ofPerfect Dark,Playground Games’Fablerevival, or even Obsidian’s ownOuter Worldssequel, there are plenty of combat-driven games that could populate the Xbox and Bethesda showcase. While it’s great for the Xbox Series X to offer fans lots of ways to leap into battle, the console ought to have some more contemplative exclusives as well.
If the reports aboutPentimentare true, then that’s exactly what it could supply.In the vein ofDisco Elysium,players will interact with the world by investigating their surroundings and conversing with other characters, rather than resolving their problems with violence.Pentimentcould help expand the range of the Xbox Series X with its sleuthing design while also showcasing Obsidian Entertainment’s historic strength in the RPG field. Additionally, the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase would generally be better off if it features some new game announcements, rather than merely updating Xbox fans on known projects.Pentimentcould help satisfy that need.
Why Obsidian’s Pentiment May Not Appear
AlthoughPentimentwould be a great game to feature at the upcoming showcase, its odds of appearing may be low. Obsidian Entertainment has a lot on its plate right now. It’s still working on major updates forGrounded,and it also hasAvowedandThe Outer Worlds 2to worry about.Pentimentmay be too far off to discuss at the upcoming showcase; Obsidian’s priorities may lie with more pressing games. What’s more, fans also have to remember thatPentimentmay not exist at all. Until Obsidian Entertainment reveals it properly,Pentiment’s existence remains in doubt.
Regardless ofPentiment’s chances of making an appearance, the Xbox-Bethesda showcase would be a great time to reveal it. The Xbox Series X needs more games likePentiment,andthe delay ofStarfieldandRedfallcreates a distinct possibility for other games to steal the show. Whether it takes the spotlight or not, though, aPentimentreveal would be great simply as confirmation that the game exists. Obsidian Entertainment has already been pushing its boundaries extensively with new ventures in the RPG genre, andPentimentwould serve as an excellent source of assurance that Obsidian isn’t done pushing its own boundaries. Experimentation with new ideas will keep both Obsidian’s work and the Xbox Series X as a whole fresh, so hopefullyPentimentwill rear its head.
