Avowed took roughly six years to reach release, according to 2025 reporting that puts development’s start in 2018 and its launch in February 2025. The same reporting says the project was rebooted twice. The best-documented reset came in January 2021, when a multiplayer fantasy concept was redirected into a more focused, single-player RPG rooted in Pillars of Eternity.
What does “six years” mean?
The six-year figure is the rounded framing used in Bloomberg’s 2025 report and subsequent coverage: development reportedly began in 2018, and Avowed released in February 2025. It is not an independently published Obsidian production timeline, nor does it establish that the game was made continuously at the same scale or under one unchanging plan.
Reporting also says the game underwent two reboots. The January 2021 reboot is the one described in detail; available accounts say much less about the earlier change, so the two resets should not be treated as equally documented.
How did Avowed’s original pitch differ from the released game?
GameSpot’s summary of a Bloomberg interview with game director Carrie Patel says the original concept was a multiplayer fantasy game, likened to a cross between Destiny and Skyrim, where players would adventure together in a large world. The multiplayer component was cut before the January 2021 reset. The reporting describes two vertical slices before that reset and a third slice afterward, but does not provide a complete account of every change made in the earlier reboot.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors#1 Best Overall
- Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger.
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
| Design element | Original reported pitch | Direction after the 2021 reset |
|---|---|---|
| Play style | Multiplayer fantasy adventure | A more focused RPG; multiplayer had already been cut before the reset |
| World structure | A large, broad fantasy world | Open zones rather than one sprawling open world |
| Story and setting | A broad fantasy concept | Stronger emphasis on Pillars of Eternity story and lore |
This is a comparison between the reported early pitch and the redesigned direction, not between two fully developed or released versions.
What happened in the January 2021 reboot?
Bloomberg’s account, in an excerpt reproduced on Reddit, says the team had 80 people preparing to enter production when leadership was replaced. The redesigned game required a third vertical slice and, in effect, a fresh start. GameSpot identifies this January 2021 reset as the project’s second reboot.
Rank #2
- Requires base game, Game Pass Ultimate, or PC Game Pass Membership (Sold Separately)
- Premium Upgrade includes: Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
Carrie Patel took over as game director for the new version. Xbox Wire independently identifies Patel as Avowed’s game director, though that official interview does not verify the reboot count or chronology. The reproduced Bloomberg excerpt quotes Patel describing the challenge: “It was honestly a challenge on just about every front.”
Why did the team choose open zones?
The redesign shifted the project away from a single broad open world and toward distinct open-zone areas, alongside a closer connection to Pillars of Eternity. Patel’s explanation, quoted by GameSpot, was that open zones let the team “theme your areas more distinctly and intentionally” and give players a sense of progression as they move between environments. She also cited the team’s experience building open zones in The Outer Worlds.
Rank #3
- Premium Edition includes: Avowed base game, Premium Skin Packs: 2 sets of bonus skins for each of your companions, and access to Avowed Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack
- Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.
- Explore an island home to many different environments and landscapes, each with their own unique ecosystem.
- Mix and match swords, spells, guns, and shields to fight your way.
- Companions from a spread of species will fight alongside you, with their own unique set of abilities.
That choice reflects a change in production direction as well as map design: the game could focus on shaped environments and a more deliberate progression rather than the scale implied by its early large-world pitch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How did the reported schedule change?
The Bloomberg account reproduced on Reddit says Avowed was re-revealed in 2023, was initially scheduled for fall 2024, and then moved to February 2025. These dates are the schedule as reported in that account, not a full development timeline published by Obsidian.
Rank #4
- L'édition Premium SteelBook comprend: le jeu de base Avowed, jusqu'à 5 jours d'accès anticipé, le SteelBook Avowed, la carte des Terres Vivantes, deux packs de skins Premium et l'accès à l'Artbook numérique Avowed et à la bande-son originale
- Vous êtes l'envoyé d'Aedyr, une terre lointaine, missionné pour enquêter sur les rumeurs selon lesquelles une épidémie se propagerait dans les Terres Vivantes, une île pleine de mystères et de secrets, de dangers et d'aventures, de choix et de conséconsés. quences, et d'une nature sauvage
- Explorez une île qui abrite de nombreux environnements et paysages différents, chacun avec son propre écosystème unique
- Mélangez et associez des épées, des sorts, des armes et des boucliers pour vous frayer un chemin
- The compagnons d'un large éventail d'espèces se battront à vos côtés, avec leurs propres capacités uniques
What is established—and what is not?
- Reported: Development began in 2018; the game went through two reboots; and the January 2021 reset was the second.
- Detailed for the 2021 reset: leadership changed, Patel became game director, the redesigned project needed a third vertical slice, and its direction emphasized Pillars of Eternity lore and open zones.
- Not established by these accounts: a detailed explanation of the first reboot, a precise continuous development duration, or a development budget and sales figure.
The chronology and reboot details come from Bloomberg reporting as summarized by GameSpot and from a Bloomberg excerpt reproduced on Reddit; the original Bloomberg page was not available in the cited material. Xbox Wire independently confirms Patel’s role but does not establish the full development history.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
