Why Pillars of Eternity 3 is My Ultimate Gaming Fantasy in 2026

As I sit here in 2026, clutching my worn-out Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire collector's edition, I am consumed by a single, burning, all-encompassing desire: to see Pillars of Eternity 3 become a reality under the visionary, genre-defining direction of Josh Sawyer. I'm not just a fan; I'm a zealot, a true believer in the church of Eora. Every time Obsidian Entertainment so much as breathes in the direction of a new announcement—and they've been hyperactive, releasing a staggering six games in just five years—my heart performs a frantic, hopeful drum solo against my ribs, praying that the words "Pillars 3" will finally flash across the screen. And every single time, I am left shattered, a devoted follower staring at an empty altar (though I must begrudgingly admit, Pentiment was a masterpiece!). The disappointment is a physical ache, a phantom limb for a game that doesn't exist.

Let's be brutally, painfully honest for a moment. In the year of our lord 2026, the crown for "Greatest CRPG of All Time" is perpetually, and rightfully, being polished on the head of Baldur's Gate 3. It's a titan, a cultural phenomenon. BUT—and this is a gargantuan, earth-shattering BUT—my beloved Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire still, to this very day, outmaneuvers Larian's leviathan in specific, crucial arenas that make purists like me weep with joy. The sheer depth of its character building, the breathtakingly reactive world of the Deadfire Archipelago, the naval combat that actually felt meaningful—it was a symphony of complex mechanics that respected the player's intelligence. It wasn't just a game; it was a thesis on what the genre could be.

Now, enter the prophet himself, Josh Sawyer. He's dropped hints, tantalizing breadcrumbs that have fueled my obsession for years. He's even suggested he might prefer a Pillars: Tactics spin-off, a notion that initially felt like a betrayal of biblical proportions! Yet, in a recent interview, he dared to dream aloud about a hypothetical Pillars 3, and my world was set ablaze with possibility.

The Vision: A 3D Revolution for Purists

The cornerstone of Sawyer's dream? A seismic shift. He wants to tear down the classic isometric camera and rebuild it in the glorious, fully-realized 3D image of a Baldur's Gate 3. "I've said this before, and some people are really, really bummed about it," he confessed, speaking directly to the terrified, traditionalist part of my soul. But then he explained the why, and I was converted on the spot. The isometric view of Deadfire, for all its beauty, lacked a fundamental dimension: height. It couldn't deliver dynamic, vertical environments. Imagine the Deadfire's jungles and ancient ruins not as beautiful paintings, but as living, breathing, climbable, destructible playgrounds. Sawyer sees it clearly: "I think, at some point, I would like to see a game that used all those Deadfire mechanics, plus more environmental mechanics, elevation hazards, and dynamic terrain stuff. That could be super cool."

Let me paint you a picture of this 2026 dream game:

• The Combat: All the intricate, pause-and-play tactical brilliance of Deadfire, but now you're using elevation to your advantage. Archers raining death from crumbling temple spires. Wizards causing landslides to crush enemies below. Rogues using verticality for devastating ambushes.

• The World: Eora, finally rendered in breathtaking, explorable 3D. The bustling streets of New York, the haunted halls of Caed Nua, the glistening spires of the Vailian Republics—you could look up and truly feel their scale.

• The Freedom: This is the killer app. A game with the environmental immersion and performance capture of Baldur's Gate 3, but completely unshackled from the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rulebook. Pillars' own rich, unique lore and mechanics—the soul-based magic, the fascinating gods, the deep lore of the Engwithans—could finally be realized with a cinematic punch they've always deserved.

Sawyer's concluding thought is my personal mantra: "I think that a third game should be an isometric 3D with an environment more like Baldur's Gate 3. That would be cool." Understatement of the century! It would be a revelation! It would be the perfect synthesis: the mechanical soul and narrative depth of Pillars, wearing the breathtaking visual and interactive body of a modern blockbuster.

Yet, here I am in 2026, and the silence is deafening. Obsidian is busy, oh so busy. They've got Grounded 2 launching into early access and the highly anticipated The Outer Worlds 2 on the horizon. Worthy projects, no doubt. But my heart belongs to Eora. Every day I check the news feeds, I scour interviews, I look for any sign that the Watcher's story might continue. The wait is a special kind of agony, a mixture of desperate hope and resigned fear that this perfect game will forever remain in the realm of "what if."

To any powers that be at Obsidian or Microsoft who might be reading this: hear my plea. The world needs Pillars of Eternity 3. I need it. We have the technology. We have the visionary director. We have a fanbase that is ravenous, dedicated, and ready. Don't let this dream remain just a beautiful, painful interview quote. Make it real. Give us the game that bridges the old school and the new, the thinking person's RPG with the blockbuster's heart. Until then, I'll be here, replaying Deadfire for the twelfth time, and dreaming of the day I can finally return to the Dyrwood in glorious, fully-interactive 3D.