Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming first-person RPG, Avowed, is shaping up to be one of the most exciting releases for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Recent gameplay footage and technical details have impressed both fans and critics, with the game’s graphics, performance, and RPG mechanics receiving widespread praise.
So, what makes Avowed’s visuals and performance so impressive? Could this be Xbox’s answer to The Elder Scrolls? Let’s dive into all the latest details and reactions from the gaming community.
Avowed is a first-person action RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment and set in the world of Pillars of Eternity. The game features a mix of magic, melee combat, and exploration in an open-ended fantasy setting.
Developer: Obsidian Entertainment
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC
Release Date: Expected in the second half of 2024
Genre: Open-world, action RPG
Obsidian is best known for The Outer Worlds and Fallout: New Vegas, two beloved RPGs that excel in storytelling and player choice. Avowed aims to combine Obsidian’s narrative expertise with immersive first-person RPG gameplay.
Avowed’s latest showcase has revealed significant improvements in visual fidelity and performance, sparking excitement among RPG fans. Here’s what makes the game stand out:
Vibrant and Lush Open World – The fantasy environments are beautifully crafted, featuring dense forests, glowing caverns, and mysterious ruins, making exploration feel rewarding.
High-Resolution Graphics with Crisp Details – 4K visuals with HDR enhancements ensure that the game looks sharp and immersive, creating a richly detailed fantasy world.
Smooth Animations and Combat Mechanics – Compared to previous Obsidian games, Avowed’s animations look much more fluid, whether you’re casting spells, swinging a sword, or dodging enemy attacks.
Optimized Performance with Stable FPS – Xbox Series X|S and PC versions of the game are reported to run at a smooth 60 FPS, making for a seamless gameplay experience.
For an Obsidian RPG, which typically focuses more on narrative depth than graphical polish, Avowed’s impressive visual and technical improvements are a welcome surprise.
Many fans have drawn comparisons between Avowed and The Elder Scrolls series, particularly Skyrim. While both games offer first-person RPG exploration, magic, and combat, there are key differences:
Players can wield magic, swords, bows, and shields, offering a wide range of combat styles.
The dual-wielding system allows for combining spells and melee attacks, much like Skyrim’s two-handed combat mechanics.
Avowed’s world is expected to be semi-open, with large interconnected areas rather than one massive open world.
This structured approach may offer more focused storytelling and world-building, similar to The Outer Worlds.
Dialogue choices and player decisions will have significant consequences, a signature feature of Obsidian’s RPGs.
The game’s factions, quests, and character development could set it apart from typical open-world RPGs.
While Avowed may not directly compete with Skyrim in scale, it has the potential to be one of the best RPGs on Xbox, thanks to Obsidian’s storytelling expertise and refined gameplay mechanics.
Avowed is expected to be one of the most important RPG exclusives for Xbox and PC.
Avowed will be available on Game Pass at launch, making it accessible to millions of players on Xbox and PC.
Microsoft has invested heavily in RPG development (Starfield, Fable, The Outer Worlds 2), and Avowed could become a key title in their growing RPG lineup.
So far, Avowed has:
Impressive graphics, smooth animations, and strong optimization.
Exciting RPG combat mechanics, featuring magic, melee, and ranged combat.
A compelling fantasy world with deep storytelling and player choices.
A Game Pass day-one launch, making it widely accessible.
However, some key questions remain:
How open will the world be? – Will it be a true open world like Skyrim or a structured semi-open design?
How refined will the combat feel? – Will it avoid the clunky melee combat issues seen in some RPGs?
How much impact will player choices have? – Will decisions shape the world in meaningful ways?