Avowed

Avowed is an upcoming action role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Avowed takes place in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, in the world of Eora. The game is scheduled to be released in the second half of 2024 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.

Gameplay
Avowed is an action role-playing game that can be played from both first-person and third-person perspectives. Players can use magic, melee weapons, and firearms to defeat enemies. The game features a variety of spells, allowing players to perform feats such as freezing enemies in ice, or ensnaring them in an Entangle spell. Spells can be used in conjunction with other weapons to create combos, such as using sword to crush through a frozen enemy. Players can quickly switch between multiple setups, including dual pistols, dual wands, a two-handed axe, or a sword (or wand, gun, or shield) and shield combination. The game features several skill trees, which allow players to unlock more powerful abilities as they progress in the game. Weapons can also be individually upgraded. While Avowed is not a full open world game, the game features several large open zones for players to explore.

As the player explores the game's world, they will interact with other non-playable characters (NPCs). Similar to Obsidian's previous game, The Outer Worlds, the game features dialogue options which reflect the tone the player wants to convey. Some NPCs will join the player's party and become their companions, each of whom has their own personalities and combat skills. Romancing companions is not a feature in Avowed. Players can explore the game's world and complete quests with two companions at a time.

Plot
Avowed takes place in the Living Lands, a part of the world of Eora. The Living Lands within the game boast of a diverse array of locations, ranging from vibrant lush forests to arid rocky deserts to large caves and valleys. Players assume control of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, who is assigned to the Living Lands to investigate a mysterious plague.

Development
Avowed is the first first-party AAA project by Obsidian since Microsoft bought the studio in 2018. The game was initially pitched as Obsidian's take on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, which has a massive open world. However, as development progressed, the studio chose not to imitate Skyrim's style of gameplay, and chose to work on a game that is more akin to Obsidian's previous RPGs, one that has a more confined scope but a heavier focus emphasis on story and characters. According to the game's director Carrie Patel, the companions in the story are "integral" to the game's story.

Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios announced Avowed during the Xbox Games showcase in July 2020. The game is set to be released in the second half of 2024 for Windows and Xbox Series X/S, and will be available at launch for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.