Avowed Director Leaves Obsidian for Netflix's Oxenfree Studio After 13 Years

Avowed director Carrie Patel has departed Obsidian Entertainment, marking the end of an 11-year tenure at the renowned RPG studio. Her exit comes just months after the release of Avowed, Obsidian’s latest fantasy RPG that launched to generally positive reviews.

According to her updated LinkedIn profile, Patel has joined Night School Studio—the Netflix-owned developer known for the narrative-driven Oxenfree series—as Game Director. In a short post, she confirmed her new role: "I'm happy to share that I'm starting a new position as Game Director at Night School: A Netflix Game Studio!" The project she’s leading remains under wraps.

Night School Studio, best known for Oxenfree and its 2023 sequel Oxenfree II: Lost Signals, recently released the Black Mirror-themed mobile title Thronglets. However, the studio also faced internal challenges earlier this year, including unconfirmed layoffs. This follows Netflix’s broader restructuring of its gaming division, which included the closure of another internal studio led by Halo veteran Joseph Staten.

During her time at Obsidian, Patel contributed to major titles such as The Outer Worlds and the Pillars of Eternity series, rising through senior development roles. She took over direction of Avowed after a significant creative reboot in its early development. Originally envisioned as a darker, Elder Scrolls-inspired experience with co-op multiplayer, Patel helped reshape it into a vibrant, single-player-focused RPG featuring distinct, expansive zones rather than one monolithic open world.

Avowed - Xbox Developer Direct Screenshots

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Avowed was praised for its rich worldbuilding and strong character writing, with IGN noting, "Avowed reminds me why I fell in love with Obsidian's RPGs in the first place." Yet, the review also highlighted its conservative design, calling it a "by-the-numbers fantasy adventure that's more familiar than evolutionary."

Despite Patel’s initial vision for a continued Avowed franchise—including potential expansions or sequels—she will not be involved in its future. Last week, Obsidian outlined a six-month post-launch roadmap featuring free updates such as Photo Mode and New Game Plus.

Looking ahead, Obsidian’s next major release is The Outer Worlds 2, set to be showcased in detail during the Xbox Games Showcase in June.