Obsidian founder Chris Avellone departs

Chris Avellone has left Obsidian Entertainment, a studio he helped set up back in 2003.

He announced his departure via Twitter, initially joking about his next venture. He has since told Eurogamer that he is “off to pursue new projects”, but refused to divulge more beacause “life is short and the ideas keep growing”.

I have officially left Obsidian Entertainment to accept a sudden opening as the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts.

— Chris Avellone (@ChrisAvellone) June 9, 2015

(The first part is serious, but much love and well wishes to my fellow devs, good folks one and all.)

— Chris Avellone (@ChrisAvellone) June 9, 2015

Avellone was one of many former Black Isle staff who set up Obsidian Entertainment, best known for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Fallout: New Vegas and South Park: The Stick of Truth – projects that the departing writer and game designer contributed significantly to.

Obsidian is currently focused on its crowdfunded RPG Pillars of Eternity, a title that saved the popular studio from closure.