After the outbreak of World War I, Gobyato was made commander of 32nd Artillery Brigade, followed by the 35th Artillery Brigade. He was promoted to major general on August 14, 1914. However, while leading an infantry counter-attack at the Siege of Przemyśl in what is now part of Poland, he was killed in combat on May 21, 1915. His grave is at the Gobyato family estate outside of Ryazan.