# Avowed

Avowed is an action role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. The game is set in the world of Eora, the same universe as Pillars of Eternity. It was released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on February 18, 2025.

## Gameplay

Avowed is an action role-playing game that can be played from both first-person and third-person views. Players can use magic, melee weapons, and firearms to defeat enemies. A wide variety of spells—such as those that freeze or entangle foes—can be combined with physical attacks; for instance, freezing an enemy may set it up for a crushing melee strike. Players can quickly switch between several combat setups, including dual-wielding pistols or wands, wielding a two-handed axe, or using a sword or gun together with a shield. The game also features several skill trees for unlocking new abilities and permits individual weapon upgrades. Although not a fully open world game, Avowed includes several large, explorable zones.
As players explore the world, they will interact with various non-player characters (NPCs). Like in The Outer Worlds, dialogue choices allow players to shape their character’s tone and influence relationships with companions—although romance is not an option. Decisions made throughout the game affect both the storyline and how companions assist in combat and questing.

## Plot

Avowed takes place in the Living Lands, a diverse region within the world of Eora. The Living Lands features a range of environments—from lush forests and arid deserts to sprawling caves and valleys. Players assume the role of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, tasked with investigating a mysterious plague known as the "Dream Scourge".

## Development

Obsidian Entertainment started development in 2018 of an online multiplayer game. At that time, Obsidian's leadership were preparing to sell the company and pitched Avowed—then framed as a mixture of Destiny (2014) and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)—to prospective buyers, with Microsoft's Xbox division purchasing the studio in November 2018. By January 2020, the studio had cut the multiplayer elements to focus on a single-player, narrative-focused experience, managed by Carrie Patel, director of The Outer Worlds: Peril on Gorgon. Obsidian and Xbox Game Studios announced Avowed with a teaser trailer at a showcase in July 2020.
The game's reveal concerned the 80-person development team, who were starting development again. Patel's leadership led to two major overhauls: utilize the setting of the Pillars of Eternity franchise and replace the open-world setting with zones. The game was revealed again in 2023 with a scheduled 2024 release, which was later delayed to February 18, 2025. A premium edition was sold, offering access from February 13.

## Reception

Aggregate score :
| Aggregator | Score |
| Metacritic | (PC) 78/100 (XSXS) 80/100 |
Review scores :
| Publication | Score |
| Digital Trends | 4.5/5 |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 |
| GameSpot | 6/10 |
| GamesRadar+ | 4/5 |
| Hardcore Gamer | 4/5 |
| IGN | 7/10 |
| PC Gamer (US) | 82/100 |
| PCGamesN | 6/10 |
| Shacknews | 9/10 |
| The Guardian | 3/5 |
| Video Games Chronicle | 4/5 |
| VG247 | 5/5 |
| VideoGamer.com | 7/10 |
Avowed received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. Critics praised the advanced combat mechanics and the number of unique player choices but criticized the main narrative and gear/weapon scaling systems.