PlayStation 5 players will soon get their first shot at Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment's 2025 action RPG set in the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series. Avowed was one of the first big day-one games to hit Xbox Game Pass last year, and it'll be arriving on PlayStation 5 on February 17 alongside a big anniversary update.

Originally released for Xbox Series X|S and PC on February 18, 2025, Avowed made a strong impression with players, presenting them with a first-person game that includes combat and magic, with a plot centered around battling a mysterious plague infecting its fantasy realm. It's received a warm reception from fans and professional critics alike, registering both a Top Critic Average and Player Rating of 80 on OpenCritic, and in response to strong sales, Obsidian has said it could pursue expansions and sequels to Avowed.

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Avowed Comes to PlayStation 5 on February 17

avowed director leaves obsidian Image via Xbox Game Studios

Now, a new announcement reveals that Avowed will be coming to PlayStation 5 in the near future. As shown during the New Game+ Showcase on January 8, the action RPG will hit PS5 on February 17, making it another in a growing line of first-party Xbox console exclusives to expand its reach to other platforms over the past several months. Though it's technically considered part of the Pillars of Eternity series, which was created by Obsidian and launched its other respective games in 2015 and 2018, Avowed takes on a much more action-oriented format, eschewing the isometric squad-based cRPG combat in favor of more intense action with smaller parties. Since Obsidian was acquired by Microsoft in late 2018, Avowed was developed under the Xbox banner, making its release on PS5 just a day shy of its one-year anniversary a bit more surprising.

But the jump to PS5 won't be the only thing fans of the game can look forward to. As announced in an interview played during the showcase, players on all platforms will be able to enjoy a free update that includes a bunch of new features. These features will include a New Game Plus mode for Avowed, which was first announced in May 2025 and was expected to arrive by the fall, but never did. Players will have the ability to start over as a new character at level 1 but keep all previously acquired equipment and abilities. Additionally, they'll have the opportunity to fight against stronger, customizable enemies with special resistances, which could provide some extra longevity for Avowed as it enters its second year.

A Key Frame From Avowed Showing A First-Person Perspective Of A Player Wielding A Bow Against An Enemy Image via Xbox Game Studios

Another big feature coming to the game is the ability to play as a wider variety of character races in Avowed. When it was first released, Avowed only allowed players to choose human or elf as their starting race, although the player character is also always considered to be a Godlike, and there are recruitable companions that have a lot more variety. Game director Gabriel Paramo revealed during the showcase that the anniversary update will add the ability to play as an Orlan, a furry and sometimes animalistic halfling-like creature; a semiaquatic Aumaua, or a more classic high fantasy dwarf. Additionally, quarterstaffs will be added to players' weapon selection choices, as part of the development team's reaction to a high amount of demand for more weapon types.

Preorders for Avowed on PlayStation 5 are now available, with the base game listed at $49.99 and the Premium Edition at $59.99. That extra $10 will get players a few in-game items, including two armor sets and eight companion skins, as well as a digital artbook and soundtrack. And while the anniversary update adds a lot of content, players may still want to keep their eyes peeled for a potential sequel, as reports suggest that Obsidian is currently working on four new games, though it's unclear if Avowed or Pillars of Eternity are in the mix.

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7 /10

Avowed

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Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 82%
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Released
February 18, 2025
ESRB
Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Violence
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher(s)
Xbox Game Studios
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Avowed Press Image 9
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
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Genre(s)
Action RPG, Adventure, RPG