Developer confirms Avowed will not be open-world game
Open worlds may conjure images of fantasy RPG games, but as we’ve learned today we should never make assumptions based on these associations alone.
Obsidian Entertainment, best known for the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds and Pillars of Eternity series has an ambitious back catalog; Avowed has much to live up to!
Avowed was first revealed during an Xbox Showcase event back in 2020, leaving its many fans waiting patiently for updates as well as some gameplay footage to appear at this month’s Xbox Showcase event and it didn’t disappoint at any point! Luckily we finally did see some at this month’s showcase event!
“Explore the Living Lands, an island rich with adventure and danger. As an emissary for Aedyr, you are sent on an important mission involving reports of an emerging illness with unknown origins threatening everything,” according to its official synopsis. Can you save both Aedyr’s kingdom as well as yourself from forces set on breaking them apart?
Given Avowed is often compared to The Elder Scrolls, one might assume an open world adventure is what to be found within its pages – however that appears not be the case! Game director Carrie Patel revealed during Xbox Extended Showcase that rather than an open world adventure there will instead be open zones similar to what you would find within The Outer Worlds; so multiple sandbox maps exist throughout Avowed where players can travel between.
“This game features interlinked open zones that players can explore at their own pace,” explained Patel. “You have the choice between immersing yourself completely into this vast environment – discovering every nook and cranny, uncovering all secrets, finding every side quest or meeting all characters – or having an experience focused around one area only.”
“Ultimately it’s up to players and how much time they want to invest in The Living Lands; however, I hope they spend considerable time here once Avowed arrives on Steam.
Avowed will be released some time in 2024 on PC and Xbox Series X|S, plus as Obsidian Entertainment is one of Microsoft’s first-party studios it will also launch day one on Xbox Game Pass.
