“Avowed,” the highly anticipated action RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, has taken the gaming world by storm since its official announcement. Set in the rich and intricate universe of Eora, the same world where the Pillars of Eternity series takes place, Avowed has garnered attention not only for its expansive world-building and deep lore but also for the gameplay mechanics, which combine fantasy RPG elements with modern innovations.
What is Avowed?
Avowed is an action role-playing game set in the world of Eora, a world that has previously been explored in Obsidian Entertainment’s critically acclaimed Pillars of Eternity games. Avowed marks a significant evolution in Obsidian’s development process as it explores a more expansive, open-world approach to its fantasy RPG roots. With dynamic combat, spellcasting, and rich storytelling, Avowed promises to be a true test of Obsidian’s capability to deliver a multi-faceted and immersive experience.
The game follows the story of a character known as the Watcher. As with Pillars of Eternity, the Watcher will be able to view the past lives of others, giving them an almost godlike ability to peer into the souls of those around them. In Avowed, the player will traverse a vast landscape filled with dark secrets, treacherous dungeons, and a world on the brink of chaos due to an ancient curse that plagues the land.
The Official Release Date of Avowed
Avowed is officially scheduled for release on February 18, 2025. This is a highly anticipated date for RPG fans as it marks the culmination of years of development. Players can expect the game to be available on Windows PC and Xbox Series X/S, ensuring that the experience will be optimized for next-gen consoles. This release will be significant not only for Obsidian Entertainment but also for the gaming community as a whole, as the company is known for its outstanding narrative-driven games that are rich in choice and consequence.
The official announcement of the game’s release was made during The Game Awards 2024. While there was no clear release window before this, fans had speculated for months, and the sudden announcement excited the community. Avowed marks a major shift for the studio, moving away from the tactical, party-based combat of the Pillars of Eternity series and toward a more open, real-time combat system. This change has piqued the interest of many gamers who are eager to experience the next evolution in Obsidian’s RPG storytelling.
Why is Avowed Trending?
Avowed is trending due to a combination of factors that include its pedigree, genre, and the anticipation of its release. Obsidian Entertainment has long been a respected name in the RPG world, and the announcement of a new game in the Pillars of Eternity universe naturally drew attention. Fans who enjoyed the intricate world-building, character development, and deep lore of Pillars of Eternity are now eager to see how these elements evolve in a more expansive, action-oriented setting.
Moreover, Avowed offers a unique twist on traditional RPG elements. The player’s ability to interact with the world through magic, combat, and their connection to the past opens up new possibilities for storytelling. The game promises a wide range of character customization, with several different playstyles available, including spellcasting, stealth, and combat-focused approaches. Players will be able to tailor their character’s abilities, skills, and relationships with other characters, further enhancing replayability.
A Look Back: The Development of Avowed
The Concept and Announcement
The journey of Avowed began back in 2018 when Obsidian Entertainment started working on the concept for the game. While there were few details in the early stages, Avowed was originally intended to be a more traditional RPG in the vein of Pillars of Eternity. However, as development progressed, the team realized that there was an opportunity to create something much larger and more expansive—an open-world RPG with a focus on action combat, a story-driven experience, and significant player agency.
In 2020, during The Game Awards, Obsidian officially revealed Avowed to the world with a teaser trailer. The trailer featured some of the game’s spectacular visuals and hinted at a darker, more mature story set in the world of Eora. While the teaser was brief, it sparked immense interest among fans of Obsidian’s previous titles and those looking for the next great fantasy RPG.
Changes in Direction
At one point during its development, Avowed was expected to be a multiplayer RPG, but Obsidian quickly pivoted toward a single-player experience after several internal discussions. The decision to focus on a single-player narrative experience was largely driven by feedback from fans who wanted the next iteration of Pillars of Eternity to retain the core focus on storytelling that had made the earlier games so successful.
The switch to a single-player experience allowed Obsidian to fine-tune the game’s mechanics and story, ensuring that players would have a deeply personal and immersive experience. The expansive nature of the world, combined with the complexity of its lore, made Avowed a perfect fit for the type of narrative-driven, player choice-based RPG that Obsidian is known for.
Gameplay Features: What to Expect from Avowed
Combat System and Customization
Avowed introduces a unique blend of traditional RPG elements with more action-oriented combat. Unlike the Pillars of Eternity series, which relied heavily on tactical, pause-and-play combat, Avowed features a real-time combat system that allows for fluid and dynamic gameplay. Players will have the option to wield a variety of weapons, including swords, magic wands, and ranged weapons, in addition to mastering a complex system of magic that can be customized to suit different playstyles.
Combat in Avowed will focus on quick reflexes and positioning. The game’s magic system, for example, will allow players to mix and match spells in unique ways, creating a vast array of potential combinations. For those who prefer melee combat, the game will also feature intense swordplay, with a variety of combat stances and moves to choose from.
Story and World-Building
One of the biggest draws of Avowed is the story and world-building. Set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, the game takes place in the region of The Living Lands, a cold, barren land filled with ruins, dungeons, and ancient secrets. The story of Avowed revolves around a mysterious plague known as the “Dream Scourge,” which is slowly spreading across the land and threatening the people of the empire. The protagonist, a member of the Aedyr Empire, is tasked with investigating this plague and uncovering the source of the curse.
Like previous Obsidian titles, Avowed will offer players significant choices that affect the course of the story. Decisions made throughout the game will impact not only the protagonist’s journey but also the fate of the world itself. The ability to shape the narrative based on these choices has been a hallmark of Obsidian’s RPGs, and Avowed will be no exception.
The Future of Avowed
As of 2025, Avowed is expected to receive continuous updates and post-launch support. Obsidian Entertainment has a long history of supporting its games with expansions, DLCs, and major content updates. Many fans are hopeful that Avowed will see a similar post-launch strategy, introducing new regions, quests, and even more ways for players to interact with the game world.
Specifically, Avowed may expand upon its core narrative with additional story-driven content. There are hints that the game’s universe could be expanded into multiple chapters, each focusing on different aspects of the story and exploring new regions of Eora. Additionally, there’s the potential for new character classes, advanced magic systems, and new combat mechanics to be introduced in future updates.
FAQ’s
Are there any system requirements for playing “Avowed” on PC?
Yes, to ensure optimal performance, your PC should meet the following minimum requirements:
OS: Windows 10 (64-bit).
Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600.
Memory: 8 GB RAM.
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 570.
Storage: At least 50 GB of available space.
Will “Avowed” receive post-launch updates and downloadable content (DLC)?
Obsidian Entertainment has a history of supporting its games with post-launch content. While specific plans for “Avowed” have not been detailed, it’s reasonable to anticipate updates and potential DLCs that may introduce new storylines, regions, and gameplay features.
To Conclude,
Avowed represents an exciting evolution of Obsidian Entertainment’s RPG formula, blending rich storytelling, dynamic combat, and a vast open world. With its official release date of February 18, 2025, Avowed is poised to become one of the most significant RPG releases of the year. As fans eagerly await the game’s arrival, they can look forward to a deep, immersive experience that promises to push the boundaries of RPG gameplay.
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