Obsidian’s (Fallout New Vegas) Xbox Series exclusive Avowed makes some tantalizing reveals like its connection to a cult franchise beloved by RPG gamers.
Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPG (Fallout New Vegas), took the time to show up at the Xbox Showcase and announce its release date. It will be in 2024, without further details, exclusively for Xbox Series and PC. An outcast who has more than one trick up her sleeve.
Pillars of Eternity X Avowed = a great Xbox Series game?
Obsidian CEO and co-founder Feargus Urquhart hinted that ultimately, Avowed wouldn’t be as expansive as Skyrim. Information that has since been fully confirmed by Carrie Patel, game director of the game.
“It’s comparable to Knights of the Old Republic 2 or The Outer Worlds. Avowed’s world-building is based on a series of interconnected open areas that players can explore at their own pace. You can choose to explore every nook and cranny of the world, secrets. Find all the side quests or meet the characters. Or conversely, have an experience more centered on the essentials. It’s really up to players how much time they want to spend exploring the Living Lands. But I hope they spend a lot of time with us after Avowed comes out” she said during Microsoft’s Xbox Game Showcase.
To travel the Living Lands of the game, players will be able to count on traveling companions, but also on themselves. In order to defend against hostile creatures, the title will offer a wide range of combat options, which will make it possible to shape builds as desired. But the app has another big surprise in store. Obsidian’s new RPG is indeed set in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity games. There will be no need to have made the productions of this cult license, but connoisseurs will take more pleasure when they come across well-known characters from the franchise. Some of them will travel to the Living Lands of Avowed.
A touch of The Outer Worlds and promises
Apart from the scale of the game, comparable to The Outer Worlds, Avowed also takes on the aspect of the companions of the latter. According to Carrie Patel, the studio has done everything possible to integrate them better into the story.
“One of the things we wanted to do with Avowed was to make sure the companions were an integral part of the story. In some games, they can be recruited as an option. But in our game, they’re very much tied to the story, to your party… We really wanted to create that feeling that you’re in this big wilderness. That you go on an adventure having this close-knit team by your side, and having the feeling of going on an adventure together. To share the discovery and the danger. These people are just as much a part of your story as the events you are about to encounter. (via PCGamer).
Two companions can be with the player at the same time. In the river interview with the developers, PCGamer also learned that players will be able to embody a human or an elf, but that’s it. On the other hand, it will be more free in terms of skills in order to avoid being locked into a specific class. The hero’s personality, appearance or philosophy can also be modified. Although levels are present, the idea is “to unlock skills rather than accumulate points to become stronger”. Finally, the world of the Land of the Living will be “slightly systemic for interactions with water et lightning ».
Avowed will release as Xbox Series and PC exclusives in 2024, like Hellblade 2.