Working at Obsidian: A Real-World RPG Experience
We spoke with Obsidian's Marcus Morgan and Justin Britch about the studio's long-term mission to endure for the next 100 years. Listen now on Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.
Inside Obsidian's Unique Company Culture
At Obsidian, every employee chooses a class upon hiring: Warrior, Wizard, or Rogue. Over a 20-year span, they level up and earn class-related 'gifts.'
“They’re just a lot of fun and speaks to the fact we want people to be here forever.” – Marcus Morgan, VP of Operations
New hires start with D&D dice, then receive items tied to their class, such as shields, axes, or helms for Warriors, and cloaks for Wizards. This RPG-inspired system adds complexity but also fosters long-term engagement.
Long-Term Growth and Multi-Classing
Justin Britch, VP of Development with 12 years at the studio, highlights team members demonstrating their progress through this system.
“If you want to stay more than 20 years, like Justin and I plan to do, you can multi-class and collect items from other classes.” – Marcus Morgan
Collecting all class items would require a 60-year career at Obsidian.
“It’s a reasonable amount of time.” – Justin Britch
Key Themes
- An iterative approach to game development
- Releasing three games in one year
- Thriving in the competitive RPG genre
Obsidian’s RPG-style employee progression system underlines their dedication to long-term commitment and passion.
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