Obsidian Entertainment's first-person fantasy RPG, Avowed, could be much larger than The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and might even release as early as 2022. Microsoft acquired Obsidian in 2018, leaving players to wonder what kind of projects the studio would work on for Microsoft's next-gen console, the Xbox Series X.
Microsoft recently wowed Obsidian fans by unveiling the first trailer for Avowed at the Xbox Games Showcase. Although the trailer revealed very little about gameplay, it showcased a potentially massive open-world fantasy-based RPG set in the world of Pillars of Eternity. Obsidian already has a proven track record with RPGs, including its work on Pillars Of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas, and the more recent The Outer Worlds. The Avowed trailer showcased the fascinating world of Eora, a place that feels similar enough to Skyrim to warrant comparisons between the two games.
However, a post on ResetEra suggests that Avowed will go above and beyond, allegedly sporting a much larger world than Skyrim that is "denser" and "more contrasted." Avowed will also behave and look better thanks to "next-gen AI systems and physics," as well as real-time weather. The supposed leaker also suggests that the character creation system will be more robust and advanced than Skyrim's and that players can also expect mod support. As far as the game's story goes, the protagonist will supposedly have companions, and the game will feature a "dynamic presentation of dialogue." Avowed's main theme will be about an epic fight against the threat of tyranny.
According to the rumor, the world of Eora will also apparently offer a variety of settings: large cities, small villages, and landscapes with forests, rivers and mountains. Of course, no fantasy world is complete without enemies, and the alleged leak says Avowed will include plenty of those, potentially including creatures much like those in Pillars of Eternity, as well as some large bosses. Perhaps the most interesting piece of information suggested here is the release date: Avowed could arrive by late 2022 or early 2023, much earlier than most would expect for such a large project. It is important to note, though, that many of these details could change during the development process, and this rumor should be taken with a healthily large grain of salt.
Meanwhile, Obsidian will release survival adventure game Grounded on July 28, along with the first of two new expansions coming soon for The Outer Worlds. However, it seems Obsidian has started to focus most of its efforts on Avowed, which should please hardcore fantasy RPG fans. Perhaps Avowed will fill the gap left by the excruciatingly long wait for the next game in The Elder Scrolls saga.
Source: ResetEra