Summary
- Avowed follows The Outer Worlds' design; large zones improve storytelling pacing.
- Developers prioritize game design over meeting modern RPG norms for a refreshing experience.
Avowed's narrative designer, Kate Dollarhyde, has revealed why Obsidian did not go down the open-world route in the upcoming RPG. Instead, Avowed is set to follow the route of The Outer Worlds, taking place in large zones that players can explore over the course of the story.
The impending release of Avowed is an extremely exciting moment in the 2025 video game calendar. Obsidian Entertainment has developed some excellent RPGs over the years, notably Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, so it's always a big occasion when it launches a new title. However, as details about the game have started to emerge, questions have been raised about some of the design choices. For example, Avowed won't have romance options, which is surprising for a modern RPG. Another perspective is that it's refreshing to see a developer do what it feels is best for the game, rather than ticking a box for what it thinks a modern RPG should have.
Speaking to Xbox Wire, Avowed's narrative designer Kate Dollarhyde opened up on the reason the game won't be open-world. According to Dollarhyde, "Pacing is really tough in open-world games. You never know where the player is and what they’re doing at any given time. So having these zones that happen in sequence means we always know what content you’ve just come from on the critical path. Maybe not what side quests you’ve done, but we always know you’ve just had this [core] experience." It's almost a semi-open-world RPG, in the same way that The Outer Worlds was.
Avowed Isn't Open-World Because of "Pacing"
Kate Dollarhyde's take on it is definitely understandable once explained. Assuming the zones work as they did in The Outer Worlds, players should be able to return to these areas later on to finish any side quests they missed the first time around. However, the idea that it makes it easier to design late-game content based on the experience that every player definitely had is one that most wouldn't consider. Avowed is one of the most exciting games in the 2025 video game release calendar, and the experience of developers like this is exactly why.
Pacing is really tough in open-world games. You never know where the player is and what they’re doing at any given time.
2025 is set to be a massive year for Obsidian Entertainment. Kicking off the year with the release of Avowed is extremely exciting, but it isn't all the studio has planned. At The Game Awards 2024, it was revealed that The Outer Worlds 2 is currently penciled in for a late 2025 launch. This can obviously change over the year, and any unexpected delay would likely see the game slip into 2026. However, if things go as planned, then Obsidian's 2025 will be one for the history books.
Avowed
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
- Released
- February 18, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
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?
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Franchise
- Pillars of Eternity
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- February 18, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 18, 2025
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
