Obsidian Entertainment and Microsoft announced that Pentiment will release on November 15 and will be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
What Pentiment is and where it’s set
First revealed at the Xbox + Bethesda Games Showcase in June 2022, Pentiment is a narrative-driven adventure with role-playing elements. Its 2D art direction deliberately evokes illuminated manuscripts from the medieval era and modern woodcut aesthetics.
The story takes place in 16th-century Upper Bavaria during the era of the Holy Roman Empire. Players assume the role of Andreas Maler, a perceptive artist who becomes entangled in a series of crimes and murders spanning 25 years across the fictional towns of Kiersau Abbey and Tarsing.
Gameplay: choices, consequences and community impact
Pentiment follows a choices-and-consequences structure. Players make decisions for Andreas that shape his personality according to his lifestyle and education, and those choices affect how he investigates events. The game features an integrated community of NPCs whose responses and long-term consequences change based on the player’s actions.
Design goals and accessibility
Director Josh Sawyer said Pentiment is intended to be broadly accessible, with minimal controls. He described the in-story minigames as tools for immersion rather than difficult challenges and discussed the difficulties of creating a historically grounded title.
Sawyer explained that his experience with other narrative games such as Night in the Woods and Oxenfree influenced the project’s direction. He added that Microsoft’s support—especially platforms like Game Pass—made developing Pentiment more feasible than it would have been five to ten years ago.
Art direction and historical research
Art director Hannah Kennedy said the game’s visual approach is informed by the perspectives of artists from the historical period. The team conducted research into historical references from the era, which played a major role in defining Pentiment’s art style.
Public demos and platforms
During Microsoft’s Gamescom 2022 presentation on Thursday, August 25, the Xbox Booth Live may provide additional details about Pentiment. The game will be playable at the event, allowing attendees to view and experience it firsthand.
Availability and pricing
Pentiment will be available on its first day for Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass. It will run on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PCs, and will also be offered on Steam for R$ 99,95.
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