Avowed, an eagerly anticipated action role-playing game jointly developed by Outer Worlds Studio and Obsidian Entertainment, is set to launch on Xbox and PC in the fall of 2024. Originally slated for a 2024 release, the launch window was officially revealed during an Xbox Developer Direct live stream, where viewers were treated to insights into the game’s combat mechanics and its immersive environment. The game will be available on Xbox Series X/S, PC through Xbox, and Steam, offering accessibility from day one for Game Pass subscribers.
The inaugural glimpse of Avowed was unveiled at the Xbox Games Showcase in 2020, showcasing dynamic character interactions and glimpses into the game’s expansive world, referred to as the living lands. The narrative centers around the protagonist’s quest to halt an epidemic in the living lands, leading to the discovery of numerous secrets and mysteries along the journey. Players will harness a variety of spells to confront adversaries, requiring strategic and thoughtful targeting. The Living Lands teem with magic, monsters, weapons, and shields, offering players an immersive first-person role-playing experience as they delve into the unfolding events within the living lands and embark on a mission for the kingdom of Aedyr.
Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian Games, discussed the game’s design philosophy in a conversation with PC Gamer, stating, “We could create an 8km x 8km open world and deal with all the consequences of that—because that makes it a different style game.” Urquhart emphasized the desire to tell more confined stories that players can experience with their companions while traversing different parts of the world.
Carrie Patel, the director of Avowed, highlighted the significance of companions in the game’s narrative, saying, “One thing we wanted to do with Avowed was make sure the companions felt really integral to the story.” Patel emphasized that, unlike some games where companions are optionally recruitable, in Avowed, they are deeply intertwined with the story and integral to the player’s party. The aim is to create a sense of embarking on a grand adventure of discovery in a vast, untamed frontier, supported by a small yet close-knit crew.