Avowed

Avowed is an action role-playing game played from a first-person perspective.[1] Players assumes control of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, who has arrived to a remote region named the Living Lands to investigate a mysterious plague. Players can use magic, melee weapons, and firearms such as a pistol to defeat enemies. 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.[2] While Avowed is not a full open world game, the game features several large open zones for players to explore.[3]

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. Players can explore the game's world and complete quests with two companions at a time.[2]

Development on the game started in 2018. Avowed is the first first-party AAA project by Obsidian since Microsoft bought the studio in 2018.[4] 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.[5]

Obsidian Entertainment and publisher Xbox Game Studios announced the game during its Xbox Games showcase in July 2020.[6] The game is set to be released in 2024 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X and Series S.[7]

• Official website