Role-Playing Video Game Built with Lawrence Expertise Wins 2024 Peabody Award

Edmund Kern is an associate professor of history at Lawrence University. (Lawrence University photo)
“Pentiment,” a historical role-playing video game with Lawrence University influences all over its development, has won a 2024 Peabody Award. The Lawrence contributions included consulting work by Edmund Kern, associate professor of history, who was brought in as a consultant to help the developers stay historically accurate in the world-building of the 16th century Bavaria. The annual Peabody Awards, celebrating the most compelling and empowering stories in broadcasting and streaming media, were announced in May.
It is the latest accolade for Obsidian Entertainment’s “Pentiment,” developed by a team led by Lawrence alumnus Josh Sawyer, a 1998 graduate, with consulting work from Kern and 1999 Lawrence graduate Winston Black. Sawyer brought Kern and Black into the process because he wanted to get the details right. That commitment to historical accuracy was praised by the Peabody Awards Board of Jurors as it announced the winners.
Kern called the video game “an absolute marvel,” deserving of all the attention it’s getting.
“I remember meeting with Josh at a restaurant in Appleton early on to discuss planning and how eager he was to develop a game that would emphasize fidelity to the 16th century,” Kern said. “As history geeks, we both thought it could work and find an audience, but not in my wildest dreams did I imagine it would result in a Peabody.
“That the award committee hailed the game’s historical accuracy is especially gratifying. In both emails and conversations, we discussed getting both the context and details right, and I think it shows in what Josh and his team produced.”
“Pentiment” is one of thirty-four winners announced by the Peabody Awards across entertainment, documentaries, news programming, radio and podcasts, and public service. It won in the Interactive & Immersive category.