Avowed: What We Know and What Has Us Concerned

Avowed, the upcoming RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, is set to release in February 2025 and has sparked both excitement and skepticism within the gaming community. Set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, Avowed promises high fantasy, immersive combat, and a sprawling open world. However, gameplay previews and marketing tactics have raised some eyebrows.

Here’s a breakdown of everything we know about Avowed, from its ambitious gameplay to its red flags.

1. Setting: Returning to Eora

Fans of Pillars of Eternity will feel right at home in Avowed, as the game takes place in the familiar world of Eora. This time, the story centers on a mysterious plague threatening a small island. Players assume the role of an imperial envoy sent to investigate and eliminate the source of the outbreak.

What’s Exciting: Obsidian is known for its world-building, and Eora’s deep lore provides a rich backdrop for exploration and storytelling.

2. Graphics and Visual Style

At a glance, Avowed looks vibrant, embracing a high-fantasy aesthetic with rich colors and soft textures. However, some fans have criticized the game’s graphics, calling them “cartoonish” or lacking depth.

Community Feedback:

• “The environments are beautiful, but the textures look low-res in some areas.”
• “It reminds me of Skyrim but with softer, more stylized visuals.”

While the art direction aligns with a fantastical theme, some argue it lacks the grit expected of a dark RPG. Additionally, concerns about lighting and contrast in certain areas suggest that more polish is needed.

3. Combat: Divisive Mechanics

Combat in Avowed has been one of its most polarizing features. The game showcases:

• Magic and weapon combos, allowing players to mix spells with melee attacks.
• Interactive environments, where spells and abilities can alter the world around you.
• Follower mechanics, including companions who assist in combat and exploration.

Criticism:

• “The physics during combat look stiff, and the animations lack fluidity.”
• “It feels like Skyrim combat with slightly better effects but less impact.”

However, the inclusion of flashy spell effects and potentially deep combat mechanics has kept fans hopeful that Obsidian will fine-tune the experience before launch.

4. Exploration and World Design

Obsidian promises an open world filled with dungeons, caves, and diverse biomes. Early gameplay demos highlight:

• Dynamic lighting in open caves and underwater environments.
• Interactive exploration, such as opening gates or solving puzzles to progress.
• Contrast-rich areas, where lighting and color combine to create atmospheric locales.

Standout Moment: One underwater scene with distorted lighting effects drew praise for its immersive feel. However, fans also noted that some areas felt too bright or lacked atmospheric tension.

5. Companions and Customization

As with many Obsidian RPGs, Avowed places a strong emphasis on companions and character development. The game allows:

• Companion customization, including appearances and potential abilities.
• Gear variety, with multiple armor slots and weapon loadouts for players to experiment with.
• Deep dialogue options, which shape your relationships with companions and the narrative outcome.

Community Concerns: While customization is always welcome, some feel that pushing skins as preorder incentives undermines the immersive role-playing experience.

6. Inspirations: Skyrim and Beyond

Comparisons to Skyrim have been unavoidable, given the game’s setting, combat, and exploration elements. However, Avowed aims to distinguish itself with:

• A more focused narrative, driven by Obsidian’s signature storytelling.
• Interactive magic systems, where spells directly affect the environment.
• Choices that matter, ensuring player decisions have meaningful consequences.

Fan Response: “It feels like a blend of Skyrim and Pillars of Eternity. If it nails the storytelling, it could be a true gem.”

7. Technical Expectations and Requirements

On the technical side, Avowed has relatively reasonable system requirements:

• Minimum Specs: A mid-range PC can handle the game, suggesting it’s optimized for a broader audience.
• Performance Concerns: Early previews indicate frame drops in certain scenes, raising questions about how well the game will run on older hardware.

Obsidian’s track record suggests the game will receive patches post-launch, but players are wary after experiencing performance issues in other open-world RPGs.

8. Release Timing and Competition

Releasing in February 2025, Avowed will face stiff competition from titles like Kingdom Come 2 and Monster Hunter. For fans of first-person fantasy RPGs, this crowded release window poses a dilemma: which game to prioritize?

Player Concern: “February is packed with major RPGs—why should I pick Avowed over Kingdom Come 2 or Monster Hunter?”

With so many high-profile releases, Avowed will need to deliver something truly special to stand out.

9. The Potential for Modding

As with many RPGs, Avowed could benefit greatly from a strong modding community. While this hasn’t been officially confirmed, fans are already discussing the possibility of user-created content expanding the game’s longevity.

Modding Possibility: “If Avowed supports mods, it could rival Skyrim in terms of replayability.”

10. Red Flags: What Has Fans Concerned?

While excitement for Avowed remains high, certain aspects of the game have raised red flags:

• Combat stiffness: Animations need more polish to feel impactful.
• Follower AI: Companions might become a hindrance if poorly implemented.
• Graphical consistency: Some textures and lighting effects feel unpolished.

Additionally, preorder incentives like early access and premium skins have left a bad taste in many players’ mouths.

Final Thoughts: Can Avowed Deliver?

Avowed has the potential to be a standout RPG, blending high fantasy, deep customization, and Obsidian’s narrative expertise. However, it faces challenges in terms of performance, graphical consistency, and player expectations.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Are you excited for Avowed, or do the red flags have you worried? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and let us know whether you think this could be Obsidian’s next big hit!