After the incredible success of Baldur’s Gate 3, there is speculation about a potential revival of the “CRPG”-style isometric RPGs. One of the most noteworthy modern CRPGs is Pillars of Eternity, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and led by Josh Sawyer. In a playful tweet, Sawyer joked about waiting for a call from Microsoft to create Pillars of Eternity 3 with a budget of $120 million. This is a dream for many fans of the series and the genre.
The popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3 has challenged the notion of what types of games can be successful in the gaming industry. In a time where microtransactions and service games dominate, Baldur’s Gate 3 stood out with its traditional isometric-style RPG gameplay and high production values. Microsoft and Xbox have a portfolio of franchises that align with this genre, including Wasteland 3 and Pillars of Eternity. Pillars of Eternity, in particular, is a highly underrated RPG series that successfully modernized the classic CRPG formula.
While the previous entry in the Pillars of Eternity franchise didn’t sell well, Baldur’s Gate 3’s success may have provided a blueprint for Pillars of Eternity 3 to find its own success. Josh Sawyer’s joke about a big-budget Pillars of Eternity game with Microsoft’s support is exhilarating for fans of the series and the CRPG genre. It ultimately falls on Xbox to decide whether they will fund a sequel to games like Pillars of Eternity on the same level as Baldur’s Gate 3. The freedom that Xbox provides its studios gives hope that they may indeed invest in such a project.
