Obsidian Entertainment Game Designer Shares His Vision for Pillars of Eternity 3

Josh Sawyer, a game designer at Obsidian Entertainment, recently shared his thoughts on what a hypothetical Pillars of Eternity 3 could look like in a new interview. According to him, the game would most likely make the leap to full 3D, similar to Baldur's Gate 3.

Sawyer explained that the style used in Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire limits the game’s environmental dynamics: there’s no real sense of verticality, and the surroundings remain static. Switching to 3D could change that—allowing for height mechanics, multi-level traps, destructible objects, and a more “alive” world. Sawyer believes these elements would greatly enhance the gameplay.

He also pointed out that Pillars of Eternity’s mechanical foundation (unlike the streamlined D&D 5th Edition system used in BG3) is actually better suited for these more complex interactions, such as bonuses and penalties for positioning and cover.

Ultimately, Sawyer says: “I think that a third game should be an isometric 3D with an environment more like Baldur's Gate 3. It would work.”

While there’s no official announcement for Pillars of Eternity 3 yet, Obsidian continues to consider the possible future of the series.