Summary
- Xbox unveils extended gameplay footage of Avowed, highlighting the impressive combat system with various weapon options and the ability to dual-wield wands.
- The game features the Shatterscarp region, a missable area connected to an optional side quest, and Obsidian's signature writing and dialogue choices.
- Avowed is aiming for a Fall 2024 release.
Xbox and Obsidian Entertainment have revealed extended gameplay footage of Avowed, spilling new details about the aquatic Shatterscarp region as well as other key combat features. After its debut gameplay trailer went live as part of Xbox's summer showcase last June, Avowed appeared again at Xbox's recent Developer Direct alongside other big Xbox games like MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Ninja Theory's Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2.
Avowed kicked off Xbox's Developer Direct with nearly 10 minutes of all-new gameplay footage showcasing one of the game's regions, Shatterscarp, an aquatic coral reef-inspired area home to territorial lizard creatures. A major highlight of the gameplay shown off was Avowed's combat, which can include a traditional sword and board setup, flintlock pistols, magic wands, and more. Impressively, the player character was shown dual-wielding wands, and it's since been confirmed that players can swap between different weapons on the fly. Obsidian's signature writing and dialogue choices took a moment of spotlight as well, highlighting one of the missable side quests within the Shatterscarp region.
Avowed May Not be Another Skyrim, But it Could Be Another New Vegas
Although Avowed may not possess the same scale as Skyrim, Obsidian Entertainment has proven itself with smaller releases like Fallout: New Vegas.
Just a few days after the Developer Direct, Obsidian Entertainment's Carrie Patel and Gabe Paramo sat down with the official Xbox Podcast to talk through 25 minutes of extended Avowed gameplay footage. During the show, Patel and Paramo revealed that Shatterscarp is the third area in the game, and that the slice of Shatterscarp being shown off in the gameplay is entirely missable, as it's directly connected to one of the optional side quests. Patel also revealed that Shatterscarp is a mid-game area. With that math in mind, this means that Avowed may likely feature around six or seven major regions, though this hasn't been officially confirmed.
Part of the extended Avowed gameplay showed the player character swimming underwater to get to a cave area, though it doesn't seem like underwater mechanics or combat is at play. Gabe Paramo, Avowed's gameplay director, went into further detail about the game's combat, confirming a skill tree and revealing that players will be able to swap between two set loadouts at any given time. Additionally, Paramo gave a few examples of how some of the game's spells and abilities can be used in conjunction, like using an AOE fire ability on the ground before pulling an enemy into it. Patel also provided details about two of Avowed's companions, Kai and Giatta, and how they can serve different roles with their abilities in combat as a tank and healer respectively.
When Can Fans Expect To Learn More About Avowed?
RPG fans on Xbox can expect Avowed later this year, as it's currently aiming for a Fall 2024 release window. There's a very good chance that Obsidian Entertainment will show up again at Xbox's expected Summer Game Fest showcase in June with a solid release date for Avowed. It'll be interesting to see when in the Fall Avowed may land, as Xbox also has Indiana Jones and the Great Circle eyeing the second half of 2024 as well.
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?
- Platform(s)
- Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
