Okay, here’s a lengthy article diving deep into everything we know about Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming first-person fantasy RPG set in the world of Pillars of Eternity:
Avowed: Pillars of Eternity Spinoff – Everything Revealed (So Far)
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind beloved RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, and the Pillars of Eternity series, is hard at work on their next big project: Avowed. Announced in 2020, Avowed immediately captured the attention of RPG fans, promising a first-person, action-oriented experience within the richly detailed world of Eora, the setting of the Pillars of Eternity games. While a release date remains elusive (though a 2024 window is heavily rumored and looking increasingly likely), a steady stream of information, trailers, and developer insights has painted a clearer picture of what we can expect. This article will delve into every detail revealed so far, from gameplay mechanics and story hints to setting and character customization.
1. Setting: The Living Lands – A Frontier of Wild Beauty and Ancient Secrets
Avowed takes place in the Living Lands, a wild, untamed frontier region located in the far north of Eora. This area has been mentioned in Pillars of Eternity lore but never explored in the games. The Living Lands are characterized by:
- Diverse Biomes: Trailers and screenshots have showcased a wide array of environments, from lush, fungal forests and vibrant, colorful canyons to snow-capped mountains, desolate wastelands, and ancient ruins. This variety promises a visually stunning and geographically diverse world to explore. The biomes aren’t just aesthetically different; they also hint at different cultures, creatures, and challenges.
- A Frontier Society: The Living Lands are sparsely populated, with small settlements and outposts scattered throughout the wilderness. This suggests a focus on exploration, survival, and dealing with the challenges of a frontier environment. We can likely expect to encounter hardy pioneers, isolated communities, and perhaps even conflicts over resources and territory.
- Ancient Ruins and Mysteries: Eora is a world steeped in history, and the Living Lands are no exception. Trailers have shown glimpses of crumbling ruins, hinting at lost civilizations and powerful magic. These ruins are likely to be key locations for quests, exploration, and uncovering the secrets of the region. They may also hold dangers, guarded by ancient guardians or corrupted by powerful forces.
- The Influence of Animancy: Animancy, the study and manipulation of souls, is a central element of Eora’s magic system. While the specific role of animancy in the Living Lands is unclear, it’s likely to be a significant factor, either as a source of conflict, a tool for survival, or a key to understanding the region’s mysteries. We might see corrupted souls, wild spirits, or experimental animancy gone awry.
- Xaurips and Other Creatures: The trailers have shown the return of Xaurips, the reptilian race common in the Pillars of Eternity world. These often serve as fodder enemies, but variations exist, including powerful shamans and warriors. Expect a bestiary that blends familiar Eora creatures with new, unique inhabitants of the Living Lands. These may include wild animals, fantastical beasts, and creatures influenced by the region’s unique magical properties.
2. Story and Narrative: The Envoy’s Mission
While the full story remains largely under wraps, we know the basic premise:
- The Player Character: You play as an envoy from the Aedyr Empire, a powerful nation in the southern part of Eora. The Aedyr are known for their expansionist tendencies and their focus on order and civilization. This suggests that your mission may involve bringing the Living Lands under Aedyr control, establishing trade routes, or investigating a threat to the empire.
- A Mysterious Plague: A key element of the plot is a mysterious, soul-corrupting plague spreading through the Living Lands. This plague is likely to be a central driving force of the narrative, forcing you to make difficult choices and potentially confronting the ethical implications of your mission. The plague may have ties to animancy, ancient curses, or the unique magical properties of the Living Lands.
- A Personal Connection: Obsidian has hinted that the player character has a personal connection to the Living Lands, adding a layer of complexity to the story. This connection could be a past relationship, a family secret, or a hidden destiny. It suggests that your choices will have personal consequences and that you may have to choose between your duty to the Aedyr Empire and your own personal ties to the region.
- Companions and Factions: Like other Obsidian RPGs, Avowed will feature companions with their own unique personalities, backstories, and motivations. Kai, a Coastal Aumaua former soldier, was showcased in the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase trailer. Companions will likely influence the story, offer different perspectives on events, and provide assistance in combat. The presence of factions is almost guaranteed, mirroring the complex political landscape of Pillars of Eternity. These factions could be local communities, Aedyr representatives, or groups with their own agendas related to the plague or the Living Lands’ resources.
3. Gameplay: First-Person Action RPG with a Focus on Choice and Consequence
Avowed is a significant departure from the isometric, party-based gameplay of the Pillars of Eternity games. It’s a first-person, action RPG, drawing comparisons to games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and The Outer Worlds. Key gameplay features include:
- Combat: Combat is real-time and action-oriented. You’ll have access to a variety of weapons, including swords, axes, shields, bows, and firearms. Magic is also a crucial element, with spells ranging from fireballs and lightning bolts to more esoteric abilities. The ability to dual-wield weapons and magic, creating unique combat styles, is a defining feature. For example, you could wield a sword in one hand and cast fire spells with the other, or use two swords for a fast, aggressive approach.
- Magic System: The magic system is inspired by Pillars of Eternity, but adapted for first-person gameplay. Spells are likely to be drawn from the various schools of magic in Eora, such as evocation (elemental magic), conjuration (summoning creatures), and enchantment (buffing and debuffing). Runes and sigils visible in the trailers suggest a system where spells can be customized or modified.
- Character Customization: While the extent of character customization is still being revealed, it’s safe to assume a robust system, given Obsidian’s pedigree. You’ll likely be able to choose your character’s race (from the established races of Eora, such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, Aumaua, Orlan, and Godlike), appearance, and background. This background may influence your starting skills, dialogue options, and relationships with certain factions.
- Skill Trees and Progression: A skill tree or similar progression system is expected, allowing you to specialize in different combat styles, magical abilities, or non-combat skills like persuasion, stealth, or crafting. This will allow for diverse character builds and playstyles.
- Choice and Consequence: Obsidian is renowned for its emphasis on player choice and meaningful consequences. Avowed will continue this tradition, with dialogue choices, quest decisions, and actions that impact the story, the world, and your relationships with companions and factions. Expect branching narratives, multiple endings, and a world that reacts to your choices.
- Dialogue System: The dialogue system, as seen in gameplay showcases, appears similar to that of The Outer Worlds, with multiple dialogue options presented to the player, often reflecting different skills or personality traits. Expect nuanced conversations with NPCs, opportunities for persuasion, intimidation, and deception, and the ability to gather information and uncover secrets through dialogue.
- Exploration and World Interaction: The Living Lands are designed to be explored. Expect a large, open world with diverse environments, hidden locations, and secrets to discover. The level of interaction with the environment is still being revealed, but we can anticipate elements like looting, crafting, and potentially even environmental puzzles.
4. Character Races and Potential Origins
While not fully confirmed, we can expect a selection of races from the Pillars of Eternity universe, each with unique attributes and potential cultural ties to the Living Lands:
- Human: The most common race in Eora, humans are adaptable and diverse. Within the Human race, you’ll likely be able to choose a cultural background, such as Aedyr (your starting point), Vailian, or Readceran.
- Elf: Elves in Eora are divided into two subraces: Pale Elves (associated with cold, northern regions) and Wood Elves (associated with forests and nature). Pale Elves might have a natural affinity for the Living Lands.
- Dwarf: Dwarves are known for their resilience, craftsmanship, and connection to the earth. They are also divided into two subraces: Mountain Dwarves and Boreal Dwarves. Boreal Dwarves, adapted to cold climates, would be a logical fit for the Living Lands.
- Aumaua: Aumaua are a large, powerful race with a strong connection to the sea. They are divided into two subraces: Coastal Aumaua and Island Aumaua. Kai, the companion shown in the trailer, is a Coastal Aumaua.
- Orlan: Orlans are a small, furry race known for their agility and cunning. They are often marginalized and persecuted in other parts of Eora, but they might find a more welcoming environment in the frontier of the Living Lands.
- Godlike: Godlike are unique individuals blessed (or cursed) with physical manifestations of the gods. They come in various forms, such as Death Godlike, Fire Godlike, and Moon Godlike. Their unique appearances and abilities often make them outcasts, but their connection to the divine might give them a unique perspective on the Living Lands’ mysteries.
Your chosen race and origin will likely impact your starting stats, skills, dialogue options, and how NPCs react to you.
5. Technical Aspects and Visual Style
Avowed is being developed using Unreal Engine 5, promising impressive visuals and performance.
- Visual Fidelity: Trailers and screenshots have showcased stunning environments, detailed character models, and impressive lighting and particle effects. The art style is a blend of realism and fantasy, creating a world that feels both grounded and magical.
- Performance: Obsidian is aiming for a smooth and responsive experience, taking advantage of the power of current-generation consoles (Xbox Series X/S) and PCs.
- First-Person Perspective: The choice of a first-person perspective is a significant departure for the Pillars of Eternity franchise, aiming to create a more immersive and personal experience. This perspective allows for a more visceral combat experience and a closer connection to the world and its inhabitants.
- Sound Design: Sound design will play a crucial role in creating the atmosphere of the Living Lands. Expect realistic environmental sounds, impactful combat effects, and a memorable musical score that blends orchestral and folk elements.
6. Potential Connections to Pillars of Eternity Lore
While Avowed is a standalone game, it’s set in the same world as Pillars of Eternity and is likely to feature connections to the lore and events of the previous games:
- The Wheel and the Cycle of Souls: The concept of the Wheel, the cycle of souls being reborn, is a fundamental aspect of Eora’s metaphysics. This concept is likely to play a role in Avowed, particularly given the presence of a soul-corrupting plague.
- The Gods of Eora: The gods of Eora, such as Eothas, Berath, and Woedica, are powerful beings who influence the world and its inhabitants. While they may not appear directly, their influence might be felt through their followers, through ancient ruins, or through the events of the story.
- Animancy and Kith: The science and magic of soul manipulation is a huge part of the world, and it will certainly play a role in Avowed. The various races of Eora, collectively known as Kith, will all be featured to varying degrees.
- Past Events: Events from the Pillars of Eternity games, such as the Saint’s War or the awakening of Eothas, might be referenced or have indirect consequences on the Living Lands.
7. Release Window and Platforms
Avowed is slated for release on Xbox Series X/S and PC. A concrete release date hasn’t been announced, but strong rumors, industry insider information, and Obsidian’s own communications strongly suggest a 2024 release. Many are pointing towards the later half of 2024. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass on day one.
8. Remaining Mysteries and Speculation
Despite all the information revealed, many questions remain:
- The Nature of the Plague: What is the source of the soul-corrupting plague? Is it a natural phenomenon, a magical curse, or something else entirely?
- The Player Character’s Past: What is the player character’s connection to the Living Lands? What secrets are they hiding?
- The Role of the Gods: Will the gods of Eora play a direct role in the story, or will their influence be more subtle?
- The Full Extent of Character Customization: How deep will the character customization system be? Will there be classes, or will character development be entirely freeform?
- Crafting and Economy: What role will crafting play? Will there be a complex economy system in the game?
- World Scale: Just how large will the Living Lands be? Will it be a single, massive open world, or will it be divided into several large zones?
Conclusion: A Promising New Chapter in the World of Eora
Avowed represents a bold and exciting new direction for the Pillars of Eternity universe. By shifting to a first-person perspective and focusing on action-oriented gameplay, Obsidian is creating a more immersive and visceral experience while retaining the rich lore, complex characters, and meaningful choices that define their RPGs. The Living Lands, with their diverse environments, intriguing mysteries, and frontier setting, offer a compelling backdrop for a story that promises to be both epic and personal. While many questions remain, the information revealed so far paints a picture of a highly ambitious and promising RPG that has the potential to be one of the standout games of the coming years. Fans of Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, The Outer Worlds, and RPGs in general should keep a close eye on Avowed as its development progresses. The combination of Obsidian’s storytelling prowess, the rich world of Eora, and the dynamic first-person gameplay makes Avowed a title to watch with great anticipation.