Summary
Avowedis an upcoming highly anticipated RPG being developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The studio has a long and respected history of producing some of the most well-realized and engaging entries in the genre. In 2015, it Kickstarted a successful campaign forPillars of Eternity,a top-down isometric fantasy CRPG, which proved widely popular. A direct sequel,Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire,was released in 2018 to a similar (if not even better) reception.Avowedpromises a return to the first-person style, but will still be set in the same epic world as thePoEgames.
Though officially announced in 2020,Avowed’s release dateis not yet confirmed at this time, as Obsidian is also working on a follow-up to its retro-futuristic space adventure,The Outer Worlds. But while waiting for it, fans who may not be familiar with or haven’t experienced eitherPillars of EternityorDeadfirehave a number of good reasons to play both beforeAvowedis released.
In 2018,Microsoft acquired Obsidianas a first-party studio, and its titles are currently part of the Game Pass library.
Avowed Fans Should Check Out Pillars of Eternity 1 & 2 Before Release
The World of Eora in Pillars of Eternity and Avowed
All three titles take place in theworld of Eora. On the surface, it may appear to be yet another generic high fantasy land. Obsidian, however, is known for creating deeply rich settings, with a wealth of excellent writing, and subverting expectations within the genre. ThePoEgames are no exception, and showcase Obsidian’s mastery of conceptualizing complex and mature world-building. Both feature fascinating depictions of fantasy cultures and mindsets with real-world analogies. ThePoEtitles offer players difficult moral dilemmas during the course of their adventures while addressing a range of thought-provoking philosophical and existential issues via their story and characters.
In particular, theAedyr Empire inPillars of Eternityis one of the more intriguing aspects of Eora.It’s a large part of the overall lore, but its full history was only previously hinted at, leaving a wider mystery thatAvowedis poised to answer, at least in part. This is true of many other facets of the world, all of which are ripe to be expanded on inAvowed.There are so many avenues to be explored within Eora’s extensive tapestry introduced inPoE,that players may appreciateAvowedall the more for any of them that will be further fleshed out in its tale.
PoE1andDeadfire’s voice cast features members of the popular DnD series Critical Role.
Avowed’s Promise of Possibilities for Expanding Eora
While firm details about its plot and other elements are still light and subject to speculation,Avowedwill certainly have to be accommodating for those who haven’t gotten around to thePoEgames. One safe bet, though, is thatAvowedwill take players to locations both old and new. This provides even further opportunities to build upon its world lore. Newcomers to the series are likely to appreciate the work put into Eora, even if they aren’t as familiar going into it. At the other end of the spectrum, for players who have seen Eora from the perspective ofPillars of EternityorDeadfire, Avowedwill likely hold some big surprises and revelations.
A major factor in this regard will depend on when in Eora’s timelineAvowedis set. Notably,PoE Deadfire’s endingleft off at a point that has huge implications for the greater story. This alone makes a strong case for delving into the previous titles beforehand. IfAvowedis before this event, it could set it up in a big way. If it’s in the aftermath, there are even more interesting paths for it. Either way, it would be a boon for fans' experience withAvowedif they are able to play (or replay) through the fantasticPoEtitles that laid the groundwork for it.
