The gaming world has learned the hard way that not every account waving a studio’s flag is the real deal. Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind titles such as Avowed, has issued a public heads-up after a suspicious account began posing as a company employee. Aarik Dorobiala, senior community manager at Obsidian, didn’t mince words when he told fans and content creators to keep their guard up.

“Be on the lookout for scammers,” Dorobiala wrote. “This person does not work for us and we have no idea who they are.”

The account in question claims to be run by a “Jake Mitchell,” who describes himself as a PR agent for Obsidian and says he is “always on the lookout for amazing creators.” On the surface, that might sound like a golden opportunity for streamers, YouTubers, and other content creators hoping to partner with a big-name studio. But the whole thing has more red flags than a carnival.

At the time the warning was shared, the account had around 933 followers and was still live. There is no public record of a Jake Mitchell working for Obsidian, and the studio has made it clear that the name doesn’t ring a bell. This is a textbook case of why creators should take unsolicited partnership offers with a grain of salt.

The posting history of the account is where things get even murkier. Many of the older reposts are openly hostile toward Obsidian, slapping the “woke” label on Avowed and encouraging others to boycott the game. Some of the shared content leans into anti-DEI talking points, which arrived right around the time Avowed became the latest target of the anti-woke movement on social media. It followed a similar pattern seen with Dragon Age: The Veilguard and later The Witcher 4, both of which faced their own waves of online backlash.

At the same time, the account also shares neutral and positive posts about Obsidian. That mixed bag has left fans scratching their heads. Is this a bot simply reposting anything with the studio’s name attached? Or is it someone actively trying to stoke the flames of the culture war while also fishing for content creators to scam? It’s entirely possible the account is doing both—casting a wide net for engagement while dangling fake partnership offers in front of creators who want a foot in the door.

The whole situation is a reminder that online identity is not always what it seems. A wolf in sheep’s clothing can easily slap a studio logo on a profile and start sliding into DMs. Obsidian’s decision to call out the impersonator shows the studio is taking the issue seriously, especially as developers and publishers face a rising tide of harassment and misinformation.

Fast-forward to 2026, and the warning still hits home because Avowed is now in players’ hands, making the studio’s name an even bigger magnet for bad actors.

For fans and creators, there are a few simple rules to play it safe:

• ✅ Verify the account: Check official studio websites or verified social media pages before responding to any “employee.”

• ✅ Look for verification badges: While not perfect, they can help separate the real from the fake.

• ✅ Be wary of unsolicited offers: Legit studios rarely hand out paid partnerships through random DMs.

• ✅ Don’t share personal details: Scammers often ask for banking info, passwords, or gift cards.

• ✅ Report suspicious accounts: Let the platform and the studio know if something smells fishy.

Dorobiala’s warning is blunt and to the point. The account may still be knocking around, but at least the community now has a clear signal from Obsidian that this person is not part of the team. Whether the impersonator gets taken down or quietly deletes the account remains to be seen. Until then, the safest bet is to treat every too-good-to-be-true offer as exactly that—too good to be true.

In a climate where gaming controversies can spread like wildfire, a little skepticism goes a long way. Obsidian isn’t just telling people to be careful; they’re actively naming and shaming a fake account in public. That kind of transparency is a breath of fresh air, and it should give fans confidence that the studio is paying attention. As for the impersonator, the jig is up—or at least it should be.