Josh Sawyer's Cyberpunk Romance Crush: Why Obsidian's Boss Snubs Baldur's Gate 3 Love

For nearly twenty years, Josh Sawyer has been RPG romance's grumpiest critic—a stance as unyielding as a Bethesda glitch. From fending off Neverwinter Nights 2 fans to side-eyeing Baldur's Gate 3's thirsty companions, Sawyer’s disdain for pixelated passion is legendary. Yet in a plot twist shinier than Night City chrome, the Obsidian director recently confessed his unexpected admiration for Cyberpunk 2077's approach to love. While Baldur’s Gate 3 set new standards, Sawyer insists CD Projekt Red cracked the code on virtual intimacy. And no, this doesn’t mean you’ll be smooching aliens in The Outer Worlds 2 anytime soon.

🔍 Sawyer’s Romance Gripes: A Three-Act Tragedy

Sawyer’s beef with RPG love stories isn’t just a flimsy opinion—it’s a meticulously crafted manifesto. His core objections form a holy trinity of awkwardness:

1. The Checklist Syndrome: Romances devolve into transactional quests where "flirt" options feel like inserting tokens into a vending machine until sex pops out.

2. Pacing Disasters: Trying to kindle romance between dragon fights is like slow-dancing in a hurricane—chaotic and inevitably soggy.

3. Campfire Cringe: Heartfelt confessions while Karlach sharpens her axe three feet away? Pass the brain bleach.

Cyberpunk 2077 dodges these pitfalls like a netrunner evading ICE. Characters like Judy or Panam vanish for weeks after key moments, living lives independent of V. "You wrap it up, she says ‘I gotta do things,’ and disappears until the plot demands reunion," Sawyer notes. This autonomy creates organic rhythm—unlike Baldur’s Gate 3’s companions, who linger at camp like forgotten mannequins awaiting their next scripted sigh.

⚔️ Baldur’s Gate 3 vs. Cyberpunk 2077: The Love Thunderdome

Feature	Baldur’s Gate 3	Cyberpunk 2077
Pacing	Camp-bound dialogue drips like a leaky faucet	Time jumps & separations create tension
Character Autonomy	Companions exist only for your quest log	NPCs have lives beyond you (gasp!)
Romance Progression	Feels like completing a Steam achievement	Unfolds like a episodic Netflix drama
Awkwardness Factor	High (thanks, Lae’zel’s staring)	Low (private holocalls ftw)

Sawyer’s praise crystallizes here: Cyberpunk’s romances aren’t flawless, but they avoid making love feel like a side hustle. Baldur’s Gate 3’s "always available" companions? That’s like dating a hologram that only activates when you walk near its projector. Cyberpunk’s characters? They’re tango partners—dip away, spin back, reconnect when the music swells.

🧠 People Also Ask: Burning Questions

• Why does Sawyer hate RPG romances?

His 2006 rant nailed it: he rejects the "win everything" design. Romances shouldn’t be conquests like slaying a dragon—they’re messy human experiences.

• Will Obsidian ever add romances?

Sawyer’s stance is a firm "maybe, if it’s Cyberpunk-style." But current projects? The Outer Worlds 2 has "almost no romance," and Avowed’s companions won’t even hold your hand. Grounded 2 might let you kiss a spider, though—talk about risky chemistry!

• What’s the biggest romance dealbreaker?

Sawyer cites pacing whiplash. Imagine proposing mid-apocalypse—it’s less "romantic" and more "distractingly unhinged."

💡 Metaphor Mayhem: Sawyer’s Poetic Pet Peeves

• Traditional RPG romances are like microwaving a gourmet meal: technically functional, but emotionally lukewarm.

• Baldur’s Gate 3’s camp dynamics resemble a group therapy session where everyone knows your kinks.

• Cyberpunk’s approach? A vintage vinyl record—pauses between tracks make the music richer.

🚀 The Future: Obsidian’s Anti-Romance Frontier

Despite Sawyer’s Cyberpunk crush, don’t expect Obsidian to morph into Cupid’s studio. Their philosophy remains "romance optional, gameplay essential." The Outer Worlds 2 prioritizes corporate satire over candlelit dinners, while Avowed focuses on magical combat, not magical connections. As Sawyer quips: "If we ever do romance, it’ll borrow Cyberpunk’s homework—but we’re not copying Baldur’s Gate 3’s love letters."

🔥 CTA: Time to pick sides! Are you Team Sawyer (quality over quantity) or Team Larian (more smooching = more better)? Drop your hot take below—let’s start a comment-section romance worthy of its own RPG questline! 💌👇

The following breakdown is based on data from SteamDB, a trusted resource for tracking game statistics, player activity, and release trends. SteamDB's analytics often reveal how narrative-driven RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 maintain high engagement, with player spikes frequently aligning with major story updates or romance content patches, underscoring the impact of relationship mechanics on player retention.