Avowed: Meaningful Gameplay with Impactful Choices

Avowed's game director provides a detailed look at the game's intricate design, promising a rich experience ahead of its anticipated 2025 release.

Avowed: A Deep Dive into Complex Gameplay and Multiple Endings

Navigating Political Intrigue in The Living Lands

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed is shaping up to be a multifaceted RPG, offering players continuous opportunities to shape their character's path and influence the game's outcome. Game director Carrie Patel highlights the game's design philosophy in a recent interview with Game Developer, emphasizing the cumulative effect of every decision.

"It's all about providing players with constant opportunities to express and explore their character's alignment," Patel explains. "The goal is to encourage players to be mindful of each moment, considering their feelings and engagement," she continues, prompting players to ask themselves, "When am I most engaged? When am I curious? When does my interest wane? What keeps me invested?"

Patel further explains that choices and consequences in Avowed are deeply intertwined with exploration of Eora's intricate world, particularly within The Living Lands, where political power is fiercely contested. "I've particularly enjoyed weaving together the narratives that connect these two worlds," she adds.

Players assume the role of an Aedyran Empire envoy tasked with investigating a spiritual plague while simultaneously pursuing their own political ambitions. "Giving players rich content to explore is what makes for meaningful roleplay," Patel states. "It's about defining who you want to be in this world and how your actions reflect that identity."

Beyond its complex RPG systems, Avowed boasts strategic combat blending magic, swords, and firearms. "The skills you develop and the weaponry you choose dramatically alter each playthrough," Patel notes.

Furthermore, Patel confirmed to IGN the existence of numerous endings, each a unique combination of choices. "We have a double-digit number of ending slides, and many different combinations are possible," she clarifies. "True to Obsidian's style, your ending is a direct reflection of your choices throughout the game, shaped by the content you've encountered and your actions within it."