Obsidian Entertainment made the long-awaited action RPG, Avowed, accessible for early access on February 13, 2025, along with making players step inside Living Lands days before the official one. Those who preordered the Premium Edition on PC and Xbox Series X|S, or opted for the Premium Upgrade, were lucky enough for exclusive access five days ahead of its actual release on February 18.
Characterized by the vast and intricate world of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed quickly attracted substantial attention regarding not only its storyline, but also deep character customization, and an adaptable combat system capable of combining martial prowess with magical abilities. Although not a direct sequel to Pillars of Eternity, the game is expected to share a vast lore with perhaps some of the familiar and returning characters, sparking wild speculation among fans about a highly probable future installment known as Pillars of Eternity 3.
The early access launch commenced at 10 a.m. PST on February 13th with access to the Living Lands mysteries and challenges for players with the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade. In addition, the Premium Upgrade offered Xbox Game Pass subscribers an affordable avenue for accessing the early play experience along with unlocking the premium skin packs for companions, a digital artbook showcasing the artistic vision of the game, and an evocative original soundtrack.
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Gameplay and Setting
Performance and graphical fidelity on Xbox Series X|S is one of the main fronts around which the launch of Avowed will revolve. The game features an array of graphics modes on Xbox Series X to cater to the various preferences of gamers. Performance Mode is provided for excellent frame rates, while Quality Mode is made available for optically lovely images. Balanced Mode suits televisions with 120Hz capability and aims at a compromise between performance and visual fidelity. Leaks suggest that the Xbox Series X will support 60 FPS, 40 FPS, and 30 FPS modes, while the Xbox Series S may view support for 40 FPS and 30 FPS.
The first words about the game Avowed have been almost positive, coming from some critics. Here, appreciation is directed towards the whole idea of representing player agency, a plethora of meaningful side content, and the reward earned from exploration. The combat system has been also appreciated for its fluidity and flexibility which allows the player to dynamically combine traditional weapons with powerful magical skills. Reviews focused on the value system of the game, emphasizing the charm and depth it brings along with how it almost subverted traditional RPG tropes to give players the most significant choices that lead to tangible and long-reaching consequences inside the narrative.
Indulging in a storyline about war, mystery, and political intrigue, Avowed transports players to the Living Lands, where they explore the alliances and rivalries with various factions and characters. Developers are all hyped with their promise to the player’s importance of choice, promising that actions during the entire game strictly affect the story and the world around them.
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Avowed Launch Details and Performance
The hype in the gaming community is still building up as the complete launch date draws nearer. According to the official February 18th release schedule, Avowed is expected to be available at 10 a.m. Pacific. Preloading is allowed on Xbox consoles, but PC players may have to wait until the official unlock time to start downloading the game. Avowed will be in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass but remains exclusive to those who buy the Premium Edition or Premium Upgrade during early access.
The game director of Avowed has also cautioned fans that some “jank” may be present at the launch. However, this transparency is met with an understanding spirit of the community where many say they have complete trust that Obsidian Entertainment will get things sorted out quickly enough.
