Before Baldur's Gate 3 appeared and consumed my entire world, Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire was the CRPG I pointed to as the best example of how a modern game in this venerable genre should look.
It was deeply connected to the legacy of the Infinity Engine games, but boasted a setting that allowed Obsidian to explore meatier subjects, like colonialism, while still conjuring up a riveting pirate romp.
It was a delicious collision of old and new. Unfortunately, it sold less than expected, and the whole experience seemed to leave a sour taste in game director Josh Sawyer's mouth, leading to him experiencing burnout and bemoaning the crowdfunding model which had inspired Obsidian to take a more conservative approach to please backers.
It wasn't until Pentiment, the historical detective romp, that Sawyer would lead a game's development again, and while it's a game I adore, it's a million miles away from the RPGs that he's best known for.
Although we are getting another game in the Pillars universe, Avowed is a distinctly different kind of RPG, and one that Sawyer isn't leading.