Summary
Obsidian Entertainment’s next title,Avowed, is poised to be one of the biggest releases of the year, especially for fans of dark fantasy RPGs. Based upon the world and lore of the studio’s prior CRPG outings,Pillars of Eternity,Avowedwill send players to a never-before-seen area of its setting of Eora, embarking on a journey to investigate a mysterious disease overtaking the Living Lands.Avowedthus holds a lot of promise in its intriguing framework and striking visuals displayed so far.
Due to its general design and genre,Avowedhas been compared toSkyrimand other games in a similar vein ever since its announcement in 2020. However, as the developer showed off more of its gameplay and clarified a number of its features and how they will function, some major differences have been noted. One of these is that Obsidian has describedAvowed’s overall map and exploration within it as more akin to an “open-zone” style versus being completely accessible from the start. This approach comes with some possible drawbacks but may have upsides as well.
Avowed’s release date may have been accidentally leaked. While the supposed June 08, 2025, date is not confirmed, it does have a Fall window and will be available on day one via Game Pass.
The Pros and Cons of Avowed’s ‘Open-Zone’ Map Design
Avowed Not Being Exactly ‘Open-World’ Might Seem Like a Step Back
According to designers, each major region ofAvowed’s map will unlock through story progression, along the lines ofObsidian’s 2019 sci-fi title,The Outer Worlds. At the outset, this might seem discouraging for players who want to freely explore a massive map from the very beginning. It certainly is a bit outside what has largely become the normal expectation for a title like it. This thus could end up feeling like a step back from current standards, seeming restrictive and not as organically integrated.
Avowed’s more limited scopein this area might make it seem artificially limited, particularly if, fair or not,Avowedwill still likely be compared to contemporary games of an adjacent nature. Additionally, there will presumably have to be a believable narrative justification for why this is the case. Players and their characters would need to be provided valid reasons in-game for being prevented from traveling freely as they wish. This could also stretch plausibility if not handled well, making it feel awkward when being halted from advancing until certain plot points or requirements have been met.
How Avowed’s ‘Open-Zone’ Approach Could Work in its Favor
On the other side of the equation, some open-world games are so massive that they can sometimes feel almost overwhelmingly large, packed with items that serve only to distract from the core narrative, or having the sensation of being a mile wide but an inch deep. ThoughAvowed’s regions will be gated to some degree, this could serve to highlight their curated designs, incentivizing fans to spend more time in each scouring for theoptional and secret content thatAvowedwill contain, making it more akin toSkyrimet al., at least in this regard.
It could also offer opportunities to bring Obsidian’s strengths andAvowed’s narrativeand gameplay elements to the fore. Preventing players from accessing the entire map at once might make progression feel more substantial if the reward for advancing the story is new areas to explore, complete with their own unique sets of quests, NPCs, and mysteries. The potential for each distinct locale to be given its time in the spotlight, and making them feel special and earned upon being given access may positively distinguishAvowed’s map design from the usual fare, and thus create a more memorably engaging experience in the end.
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?
