Avowed on Steam: Release Date, Gameplay, Trailer Breakdown, and System Requirements
Obsidian Entertainment, the masters behind titles like Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity, and The Outer Worlds, are back with a new first-person fantasy RPG: Avowed. Set in the vibrant and perilous world of Eora (the same world as Pillars of Eternity), Avowed promises a deep, engaging experience with a focus on player choice and impactful combat. While a concrete release date remains elusive, we’ve gathered everything we know so far about its arrival on Steam, gameplay details, the revealed trailers, and anticipated system requirements.
Release Date: The Big Question Mark
Unfortunately, a firm release date for Avowed on Steam (or any platform) has not yet been announced. The initial gameplay reveal trailer from 2020 indicated a broad “coming soon,” and subsequent updates have been sparse. The most recent information, from the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase in June 2023, provided a slightly more concrete window: 2024. It is likely that the game will receive a solid release date sometime in the first half of 2024.
Keep an eye on the official Avowed website, Obsidian Entertainment’s social media channels, and Steam’s “Upcoming Releases” section for the latest news. You can also add Avowed to your Steam wishlist to receive notifications when it becomes available for pre-order or purchase.
Gameplay Trailer Breakdown: Magic, Swords, and Monster Mayhem
We have been given two significant trailers: the initial reveal trailer in 2020 and the gameplay trailer from the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase in 2023. Let’s break down what we’ve learned:
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Initial Reveal Trailer (2020): This cinematic trailer set the tone and introduced the world. We saw a first-person perspective of a warrior wielding a sword and casting spells. The trailer showcased the Living Lands, a region in Eora known for its untamed wilderness and dangerous creatures. The overall atmosphere was dark and foreboding, hinting at a world on the brink of conflict. The trailer ended with the line, “We have always lived with war. Now, we must face what’s coming.”
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Gameplay Trailer (June 2023): This trailer gave us our first real look at Avowed’s gameplay. Key takeaways include:
- First-Person Combat: The game is played entirely from a first-person perspective.
- Dual-Wielding and Spellcasting: Players can freely combine weapons and magic. We saw examples of wielding a sword and shield, dual-wielding swords, and using a wand in one hand and a sword in the other. Spells ranged from fireballs and ice blasts to more tactical abilities like conjuring shields.
- Varied Enemies: The trailer showcased a variety of foes, from skeletal warriors and giant spiders to more fantastical creatures.
- Companion Characters: We saw brief glimpses of potential companion characters fighting alongside the player, suggesting a party-based system, although the extent of party control is unclear. The companion, Kai, featured prominently, hinting at a significant role in the narrative.
- Dialogue Choices: The trailer showed a dialogue sequence with multiple choice options, indicating that player decisions will impact the story and potentially relationships with other characters. This is a staple of Obsidian RPGs.
- Vibrant Environments: The Living Lands are depicted as a diverse and visually stunning region, with lush forests, glowing caves, and ancient ruins.
- Guns: The trailer also included guns as a usable weapon, demonstrating a degree of techonological diversity within the setting.
Gameplay: Obsidian’s Signature RPG Formula
While specifics are still emerging, Avowed is shaping up to be a classic Obsidian RPG. Here’s what we can expect based on the trailers and Obsidian’s track record:
- Deep Character Customization: Expect extensive options for creating and developing your character, including choosing your race, background, and skills.
- Choice-Driven Narrative: Your decisions will matter. Obsidian is renowned for creating branching storylines and consequences that genuinely impact the game world.
- Flexible Combat System: The ability to mix and match weapons, spells, and potentially even combat styles suggests a high degree of player agency in how they approach encounters.
- Exploration and Discovery: The Living Lands are a vast and dangerous region ripe for exploration. Expect hidden locations, side quests, and lore to uncover.
- World-Building and Lore: Set in the established world of Eora, Avowed will likely draw heavily on the rich lore and history of the Pillars of Eternity universe. However, prior knowledge of Pillars of Eternity is not expected to be required.
System Requirements (Speculative):
Official system requirements have not been released. However, based on the visuals showcased in the gameplay trailer and the typical requirements for modern AAA RPGs, we can make some educated guesses:
Minimum (Speculative):
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 580
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 75 GB available space
Recommended (Speculative):
- OS: Windows 10/11 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT
- DirectX: Version 12
- Storage: 75 GB available space (SSD recommended)
Important Note: These are speculative requirements. The final requirements may be higher or lower. Check the official Avowed Steam page closer to the release date for the confirmed specifications.
Conclusion: A Promising Adventure Awaits
Avowed is shaping up to be a significant addition to the RPG genre. With its stunning visuals, flexible combat system, and promise of a deep, choice-driven narrative, it’s a game that fans of Obsidian and fantasy RPGs, in general, should be eagerly anticipating. While the wait for a firm release date continues, the glimpses we’ve had so far are more than enough to fuel the hype. Keep your eyes peeled for further updates as we approach the 2024 release window.