This Facebook post by Pathfinder Developer Adam Daigle is as innocent as it is ominous. All he said was “Banners!” But those banners say so much.

Pathfinder – Obsidian Entertainment – Coming Soon!

While we don’t know any details beyond a black poster with two logos on it, those logos say so much. Obsidian Entertainment, Inc is one of the biggest video game developers on the market, specializing in single player . They have a proven track record, with a decade of critically acclaimed commercial hits, such as Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, Project Eternity, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. Knights of the Old Republic II may seem like a particularly good example of what we could expect from a Pathfinder video game, the KofORII engine being based on the d20 system. However, it is important to remember that the Open Game License that allows Paizo to release games based on the d20 System prohibits the adaptation of the system into video games. Specifically:

“Derivative Material” means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages)

But that does not restrict Pathfinder from adapting their intellectual properties into video games that run on other systems. Remember, Pathfinder is not just a Roleplaying Game but also a game setting, inhabited by people, organizations, gods, and stories, all owned by Paizo, Inc. Just like Pathfinder Online will not be d20 based, neither will Obsidian Entertainment’s Pathfinder, and they are both perfectly legal to exist.

Stay tuned to Know Direction’s GenCon coverage, specifically our recording of the Pathfinder’s Expanding Universe seminar, for more information. This is an exciting time to be a Pathfinder enthusiast.

UPDATE

Lisa Stevens, CEO of Paizo Publishing, posted on the Paizo Boards:

All will be revealed this weekend. Well, maybe not all. 🙂 Press release tomorrow. More details throughout the weekend. We are talking about more than one type of game. I think you guys will be happy. 🙂 Btw, they are NOT taking over Pathfinder Online. Let’s squash that right now. -Lisa

This is quite interesting turn of events! We’ll keep you updated as we learn more!