Summary
Obsidian Entertainment announcedAvowedat the 2020 Xbox showcase, and it will be the studio’s first game since Microsoft acquired it in 2018. The first-person action RPG takes place in The Living Lands, a remote region of the world ofEora from Obsidian’sPillars of Eternityseries. It was initially intended to be Obsidian’s answer toThe Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. However, the studio later decided to scale down the game’s open world in favor of a more focused experience comparable toThe Outer Worldsand other Obsidian games.
Fans have already had a few decent looks at the upcoming game, including multiple developer interviews. However, it’s been quite a while since the last time Obsidian showed it off. Fortunately, that will soon change, withAvowedbeing one of four gamesthat will be featured in the upcoming Xbox Developer Direct. Still, some fans might wonder what to expect fromAvowedwhen the show goes live on January 18.
Avowed at Xbox Developer Direct in 2024
According to Microsoft, Obsidian’s Developer Direct presentation will include the first deep dive intoAvowed’s gameplay. Fans will also learn more about how Obsidian builds its worlds and howAvowedreacts to the player’s actions. Microsoft did not indicate how much of the show will be dedicated to Obsidian’s game, but it’s unlikely thatAvowed’s segment will run for more than 10 to 15 minutes. However, last year’s extended showcase opens the possibility, but not a guarantee, that fans might see more from Obsidian shortly after the main show.
Avowed’s Gameplay Deep Dive
The gameplay deep dive is potentially the most exciting part ofAvowed’s Xbox Developer Direct presentationsince it may finally give viewers a good idea of how the game will play. Fans already know thatAvowedis a first-person action RPG, and Obsidian released a roughly two-and-a-half-minute gameplay trailer last year. However, they have yet to get an uncut look at gameplay. While Microsoft and Obsidian haven’t promised this, it’s at least something to keep an eye out for.
If nothing else, the deep dive should provide an overview ofAvowed’s gameplay mechanics. Presumably, there will be a proper explanation of the game’s combat and magic systems. Magic was displayed prominently inAvowed’s announcement and gameplay trailer, so seeing what Obsidian has done with it will be exciting. The studio will hopefully also provide an overview of the different kinds of weapons and equipment, as well as stats and leveling.
As an Obsidian game,Avowedis also expected to have branching dialogue featuring skill and reputation checks. Hopefully, the Xbox Developer Direct will demonstrate how the dialogue system works and what kind of dialogue checks players can expect. It will be interesting to see to what degree players can use the dialogue system to build a backstory for their character and whether the game will acknowledge those choices.
Worldbuilding and Reactivity
Xbox’s Developer Direct announcement also said fans will gain insight intoAvowed’s worldbuilding. The game takes place in thePillars of Eternityuniverse, butAvowed’s setting of the Living Landshas never played more than a background role until now. This gives Obsidian a nearly blank canvas to paint the region’s people, places, and concepts.
Note:Pillars of EternityandPillars of Eternity 2: Deadfireplayers can choose Living Lands as their character’s Culture, granting a +1 bonus to the Might attribute.Avowedplayer-characters are always citizens of the Aedyr Empire, though it’s unclear if NPCS will still receive different culture-based bonuses.
Xbox’s post also specifically referencedAvowed’s reactivity and how the game lets players make decisions that shape the world around them. While developers presumably don’t want to give away too many spoilers, the showcase will hopefully provide at least one example of these systems in action.
Of course,Avowedis not the only game in the spotlight next Thursday.The January 18 showcasewill also reveal MachineGame’s unnamedIndiana Jonesproject, featureAra: History Untoldgameplay, and offer a behind-the-scenes look atSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. The Elder Scrolls Online2024 Global Revealalso starts immediately after the Developer Direct.
Avowed
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
