Obsidian Announces New RPG

Obsidian Entertainment has announced it is working on a new RPG set in the modern-day world of espionage entitled Alpha Protocol.

Being developed in conjunction with Sega Europe, Alpha Protocol will tell the story of Michael Thorton, a young agent who finds himself cut off from his agency and his government as he struggles to stop an international catastrophe. Players’ actions over the course of his missions will determine what kind of agent Thorton will become, with every choice made carrying consequences for his future and the fate of the world.

“Alpha Protocol blends Obsidian’s knack for intricate stories, engrossing characters and significant character advancement with fast-paced modern combat,” said Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart. “Alpha Protocol embraces everything we enjoy about making RPGs from a fresh perspective. We are confident our talented staff at Obsidian will enable us to deliver this exciting RPG experience.”

Gary Knight, marketing director at Sega Europe, added, “Working with Obsidian Entertainment on a project of this stature is incredibly exciting for Sega. We have one of the best independent developers working on what will be one of the definitive games of 2009. With innovative RPG action and an incredibly interactive storyline to match the very best spy-thrillers, Alpha Protocol delivers a heart thumping high definition experience.”

Founded in 2003 following the collapse of famed RPG developer Black Isle Studios, Obsidian’s previous releases include Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, Neverwinter Nights 2 and its first expansion, Mask of the Betrayer. The studio is also working with Sega on an RPG based on the Aliens IP. Alpha Protocol is currently in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, and is targeted for release in 2009.