
On the CRPG-developer-romance scale, Obsidian is typically against romance, whereas BioWare, Larian, and Owlcat are positioned at the opposite end. Owlcat’s Rogue Trader and Pathfinder titles include romanceable companions. The rationale for this and the details of how romance functions in Pathfinder are elaborated upon in the studio’s most recent developer blog.
Owlcat emphasizes the importance of steering clear of creating dull, universally attractive romantic interests, although they acknowledge having overcorrected on occasion. For instance, during the initial stages of Wrath of the Righteous development, all three female romanceable characters were cannibals. This prompted adjustments, such as incorporating dialogue for Arueshalae, a succubus seeking redemption, expressing her aversion to human flesh.
Wenduag continued as a cannibal, appealing to players who lean towards more unconventional romances. Another character option is kept under wraps due to spoilers. The rewrite adjusted Arueshalae towards a more typical character type, while still retaining her distinctive qualities.
Some players viewed Arueshalae’s narrative as unremarkable, proposing it might have gained from retaining some level of edginess. Conversely, characters like Daeran benefit from well-crafted romance arcs, incorporating unique scenic moments such as a waterfall scene.
Kingmaker presented a variety of romantic options, including a polyamorous couple, which the player could either separate or join. However, Owlcat remarks that implementing polyamory in games is intricate and resource-intensive, making it improbable for future projects.
Recently, Owlcat announced two new companion characters for its Warhammer 40,000 RPGs—one for Rogue Trader as downloadable content and another for Dark Heresy, which is currently in alpha. It remains uncertain whether these new characters will be romanceable or possess cannibalistic traits.