Did Obsidian Just Cast 'Turn-Based' on Pillars of Eternity a Decade After Launch? Fair Dinkum!
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Obsidian has just dropped a surprise public beta patch for *Pillars of Eternity*, adding a brand-new turn-based combat mode over a decade after its original release, prompting speculation about the future of the series and a potential *Pillars of Eternity 3*.
Well, hello there, fellow digital adventurers! Jeff here, trying to make sense of the latest gaming sorcery, and by the gods, Obsidian has pulled a proper rabbit out of the hat this time. Just when you reckon you've seen every trick in the book, they go and drop a surprise patch for *Pillars of Eternity* – a game that first graced our screens over a decade ago – adding a full-blown turn-based combat mode!
Bloody hell, right?
Obsidian, bless their chaotic hearts, are fresh off releasing a whole slew of titles this year (*Avowed*, *Grounded 2*, *The Outer Worlds 2*... seriously, do they ever sleep?!), yet they've still found time to revisit their classic isometric, party-based fantasy RPG. It's like finding a forgotten scroll in your old wizard's tower and realising it contains a brand-new, incredibly potent spell.
Starting November 5th, players on Steam and Xbox PC can dive into a public beta for this new mode. And who better to give us the lowdown than game director Josh Sawyer himself (last seen directing the utterly brilliant *Pentiment*)? Turns out, our collective experiments with turn-based combat in *Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire* didn't go unnoticed. Obsidian says they've incorporated key improvements shaped by player feedback, which is always a good sign. They're actually listening, mates!
So, what's this new magic look like under the hood?
* **Unbound Turns:** Your character's overall speed now influences turns, making those Real-Time with Pause attributes feel even more valuable. * **Smarter Free Actions:** Swapping weapons, chugging potions, enabling modals – these are now free actions, though limited to one per type per turn for balance. No more fumbling with your inventory mid-combat like a wizard who's lost his glasses! * **Faster Pacing:** Combat lethality has been cranked up for both friend and foe. Reckon battles will be a bit more tense and impactful now. Hold onto your hats! * **Mode Flexibility:** This is the clever bit. You can pick Turn-Based Mode when you start a new game, or – and this is the real kicker – swap freely between Real-Time with Pause and Turn-Based Mode in the game options. They're even looking into a direct HUD toggle for ultimate convenience. Talk about giving players agency over their reality!
Of course, as with any experimental magic, they've warned us to expect a few bugs and ongoing adjustments during the beta. Fair enough. This ain't a finished incantation just yet.
Now, this whole thing begs the question, doesn't it? What's Obsidian truly up to here? *Pillars of Eternity* snagged a 9/10 from IGN back in 2015, hailed as one of the best RPGs since *Baldur's Gate*. They're one of Microsoft's most prolific Xbox Games Studios developers, churning out bangers left, right, and centre.
But here's the kicker: Josh Sawyer has openly stated he'd love to develop *Pillars of Eternity 3*, but only if it gets a *Baldur's Gate 3*-sized budget. And, crucially, he said he'd employ a turn-based combat structure for it.
So, is this surprise patch merely a delightful gift to long-time fans? Or is it a carefully orchestrated spell test? A subtle probe into the aether to see how a fully turn-based *Pillars* system would land? It feels a bit like Obsidian is reading the digital tea leaves for a potential *Pillars 3* down the line, doesn't it?
Whatever the reason, it's an exciting time for fans of classic RPGs. Giving an old favourite a fresh, highly requested combat mode a decade later? That's the kind of unexpected chaos I can get behind. Huge thanks to Wesley Yin-Poole over at IGN South Africa for bringing this rather delightful piece of news to our attention!
What do you reckon, mates? Ready to dive back into Eora with a whole new rhythm?
Tags: RPG, Obsidian, Pillars of Eternity, Turn-Based, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa