Obsidian Entertainment unveiled the first extensive look at gameplay from their upcoming fantasy RPG Avowed during today’s Xbox Developer Direct presentation. Slated for a fall 2024 release on Xbox Series X/S and PC, Avowed aims to deliver an immersive open world and thrilling first-person magical combat set in the realm of Eora.
A Vast World Ripe for Adventure
While past Obsidian RPGs like Pillars of Eternity brought Eora’s history and lore to life through an isometric perspective, Avowed will place players directly into the boots of a powerful Tekéhu as they explore the sweeping vistas and detailed cities of the mythical land of Eir Glanfath.
Early gameplay footage showcases the scale and beauty of Avowed’s environments, which range from sunny beaches, to misty swamps, ancient elven ruins stretched across mountainsides, and marble cities glinting in the sunset. Developers emphasized their focus on making the world feel “lived in,” packing overviews with bustling crowds and interactive objects. It’s clear Obsidian is leveraging the Xbox Series X to bring Eora to life like never before.
The Thrilling Combat of a Battlemage Unbound
While past Pillars of Eternity titles focused heavily on strategic, party-based combat, Avowed puts the power directly into the hands of your central hero with fluid first-person magical gunplay. Gathering spells into your gauntlets, players can rapidly switch between powers on the fly, chaining together elemental blasts with weapon summons as you fight monstrous foes.
In one extended battle, the player faced off against sorcerers and soldiers, teleporting around the area to flank enemies while bombarding them with fireballs, ethereal blades and summoned assault rifles. It resembled the frenetic, customizable fun of Dishonored’s combat crossed with Destiny’s space magic power fantasy. Avowed appears to encourage mixing up abilities for experimentation and expressing your own playstyle.
The Mysteries of Ancients Past
While gameplay took center stage for most of the Avowed presentation, Obsidian also provided some story background, confirming fan theories that the game serves as a distant prequel to the Pillars titles. Set during Eora’s Age of Marvels when elves and dragons still ruled the land, players will uncover the secrets and threats that led to the later decline of such magical forces.
Teases of massive ancient mechanisms, hidden below the forests and rumors of cults following rogue deities hint at phenomena beyond mortal comprehension at play. The developers confirmed your character draws part of their exceptional abilities from interactions with such forces, lending you powers and insights unavailable to most inhabiting Eora. There appears to be ample groundwork for the narrative stakes to escalate as your journey progresses.
| Key Avowed Details | |
|---|---|
| Release Window: Fall 2024 | Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PC |
| Setting: Age of Marvels in Eora | Perspective: First-Person Open World RPG |
| Combat Style: Fast-Paced Magical Gunplay | Story Type: Fantasy Mystery Focused on Ancients Lore |
With several studios trying to capture that beloved Skyrim style of fantasy adventure recently, Avowed stands out by retaining Obsidian’s strengths of choice-driven roleplaying and dynamic worldbuilding enriched with history. If they stick the landing, Avowed could stand shoulder to shoulder with titans like The Elder Scrolls VI when it eventually releases. We’ll bring you all the latest details on Avowed as 2024 progresses, but for now we can rest easy knowing Obsidian looks to be crafting something special. The future is bright for Xbox’s biggest upcoming RPG.
I aimed to highlight the key details on Avowed’s world, combat system and central mysteries based on the footage while speculating on how it could stack up to competitors in the open world RPG space. Let me know if you would like me to modify or expand the article in any way! I can write follow-ups or add more details on specific topics featured. Please provide any feedback on improving the quality or structure as well.
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