Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind the hit RPGsFallout: New VegasandThe Outer Worlds, is reportedly working on a new murder-mystery RPG codenamedProject Missouri. This information comes from the latest episode of GrubbSnax, where the beans were spilled by Josh Sawyer, a 16-year veteran ofObsidian Entertainment.
Sawyer has worked in many roles for numerous Obsidian titles, with his most impactful work coming when he functioned as a director and lead designer onFallout: New VegasandPillars of Eternity. According to this news, Sawyer has been working with a small batch of employees on a murder-mystery RPG that is slated to release somewhere in 2022.
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The game is going to have no combat, with players having the ability to confirm their suspicious and blame other people during the title. It’s possible for the player to accuse the wrong person and witness the consequences of the same firsthand. Given the nature of its setting, it’s fitting that this game is set in Europe during the 16th-century Renaissance. However,unlikePillars of Eternityand other isometric Obsidian titles,Project Missouriwill be a first or third-person title. This decision could be based on the fact that the studio is burnt out from working on isometric titles or simply feels that a more accessible perspective will get more people interested in this ambitious project.
The most exciting thing aboutProject Missouriis that it will feature a ton of experimental mechanics and organic interactions, which can either be the game’s biggest draw or its worst shortcoming, depending on how things pan out. Obsidian Entertainment’s titles featurestrong narratives and engaging characters— something that should ideally combine seamlessly with the mechanics involved in a murder-mystery title that places an emphasis on investigations, witness testimonies, interrogations, and deductions.
It’s the RPG half ofProject Missourithat seems more experimental, and it’ll be fascinating to witness how Sawyer and his team manage to combine these mechanics with the hallmarks of a murder-mystery game. Parallels can be drawn between this project andDisco Elysium, the critically-acclaimed ZA/UM title that managed to combine the facets of investigative gameplay and RPG elements to great effect. It’s a possibility thatDisco Elysiumcould be a source of inspiration forProject Missouri, but no concrete statements can be provided without more information surrounding this mysterious and exciting title.
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