Obsidian Reassures Fans About Avowed's Development

Obsidian reassures fans that Avowed will be better and more refined. This comes after the players’ loud concern following the Xbox Games Showcase trailer.

What Is Avowed?

Obsidian Entertainment, in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios, is developing Avowed, an action role-playing video game that will be available for Windows PC and Xbox Series X and Series S in 2024. The game takes place in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, in Eora’s world. Players will control an envoy from the Aedyr Empire who has travelled to the Living Lands, a remote area, to investigate a mysterious plague.

The game’s mechanics entail a first-person perspective, and players can use magic, melee weapons, and firearms such as pistols to defeat enemies. Players can unlock more potent abilities by progressing through several skill trees, and weapons can also be upgraded individually. Although Avowed is not a fully open-world game, it features several large open zones for players to explore.

As players journey through the game’s world, they will encounter non-playable characters (NPCs) and engage in dialogue. The game offers dialogue options that reflect the tone the player wants to convey. Players can also form a party with some of the NPCs, who will become the player’s companions, each with their own personalities and fighting skills. Players can explore the game’s world and complete quests with two companions at a time.

Since being acquired by Microsoft in 2018, Avowed is Obsidian Entertainment’s first first-party AAA project. The game was initially conceived as Obsidian’s adaptation of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has a vast open world. However, as development progressed, the studio decided not to imitate Skyrim’s gameplay mechanics and opted instead for a game that has a more confined scope but places greater emphasis on the story and characters. According to the game’s director, Carrie Patel, the companions in the story are “integral” to the game’s story.

Xbox Games Showcase Trailer

While the expectations from Obsidian are quite high, the game didn’t really manage to impress fans in the showcase trailer. The graphics and the art left much to be desired.
Briar Diem, a developer from Obsidian, provided reassurance to fans on the RPG Codex forums that Avowed has not yet entered its Alpha phase, and that the graphics will likely be refined during development. Although the designs are fixed, the final game is expected to have improved lighting and art. Avowed is also expected to have the longest Alpha and Beta testing stages of any Obsidian game, which is promising for fans concerned about potential bugs.

Avowed Gameplay
Avowed’s gameplay focuses on elemental interactions, with players wielding spells and magic to create exciting combat scenarios. The game’s combat system is easy to grasp, similar to that of Skyrim, but has been refined to offer a unique experience.

It is essential to note that Avowed’s structure is more like Knights of the Old Republic II than Skyrim or Oblivion. It is not a pure open-world sandbox, but instead, a complex network of interconnected zones. Obsidian Entertainment is aiming for breadth rather than width, which could be a positive thing. Ultimately, players are hopeful that Avowed will elevate the Pillars of Eternity franchise to new heights of popularity. Obsidian Entertainment has a strong track record of success, which bodes well for Avowed’s potential success.

When will Avowed be released?

Avowed is set to be released in 2024 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X and Series S.

Will Avowed be an open-world game?

Although Avowed is not a fully open-world game, it features several large open zones for players to explore. The game’s structure is more like Knights of the Old Republic II than Skyrim or Oblivion. It is not a pure open-world sandbox but instead, a complex network of interconnected zones.

Can players form a party with NPCs?

Yes, players can form a party with some of the NPCs, who will become the player’s companions, each with their own personalities and fighting skills. Players can explore the game’s world and complete quests with two companions at a time.

What can players expect from the gameplay in Avowed?

Avowed’s gameplay focuses on elemental interactions, with players wielding spells and magic to create exciting combat scenarios. The game’s combat system is easy to grasp, similar to that of Skyrim, but has been refined to offer a unique experience.

Will the graphics in Avowed be improved?

Briar Diem, a developer from Obsidian, has reassured fans on the RPG Codex forums that the graphics will likely be refined during development. Although the designs are fixed, the final game is expected to have improved lighting and art. Avowed is also expected to have the longest Alpha and Beta testing stages of any Obsidian game, which is promising for fans concerned about potential bugs.