Avowed is Obsidian’s first-person fantasy action RPG, set in the Living Lands of Eora. You play an envoy investigating a spreading plague, with exploration, companions, dialogue choices, and combat built around mixing melee, ranged weapons, and magic. The PS5 release arrived with the February 2026 anniversary update; whether the game is for you comes down to how well its combat, writing, and region-based exploration work together.
What kind of RPG is Avowed?
Avowed takes place in the world of Pillars of Eternity, but it introduces a new setting and a new protagonist: the Living Lands and an envoy sent to investigate a spreading plague. The premise is understandable without prior knowledge of Pillars of Eternity. Obsidian describes the Living Lands as an island made up of regions; the official material cited here does not establish a map-size figure or classify the game as fully open world.
Its central design combination is a first-person action format with the dialogue, companions, and consequential decisions associated with a party RPG. A useful review should make clear how those elements balance in play: how often exploration gives way to conversation or combat, and whether the story and party make the journey compelling.
How does combat and build flexibility work?
Official descriptions present combat as a mix of melee, ranged attacks, and magic, with weapons and abilities players can combine. That supports a review focused on feel and flexibility rather than treating one weapon type as the whole combat system. The important questions are whether switching approaches feels satisfying, whether different loadouts meaningfully change encounters, and how well the game communicates its options.
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- 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.
Those are judgments that need to come from the reviewer’s own play and footage. The available official descriptions establish the intended range of combat options, but not how responsive, balanced, or varied they feel in practice.
How much do choices and companions matter?
Obsidian describes consequences at several scales, from individual people to settlements. In a January 24, 2025 Xbox Wire article, Region Director Berto Ritger said choices could affect “the future of entire settlements, individual people, groups of people — the whole spectrum basically.” That is a statement of design intent, not by itself proof of how often consequences occur or how much they change the story. A strong video review should pair it with a concrete, spoiler-light example the reviewer has verified.
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.
Companions and dialogue are also central review axes. Viewers will want to know whether party members are engaging, whether conversations help define the world and characters, and whether the game gives choices enough context to feel meaningful. Keep examples spoiler-conscious: explain the kind of decision and its local stakes without revealing a major outcome.
What changed in the February 2026 update?
The February 2026 anniversary update added a substantial set of features and options:
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.
- New Game+.
- Three playable races.
- Custom difficulty settings.
- Photo Mode.
- Quarterstaffs.
- Quality-of-life changes.
The PS5 version launched with the previous year’s updates included, according to Xbox Wire’s anniversary announcement. For a current review, distinguish what is available in the present game from what was there at its original 2025 launch.
What is different about the PS5 version?
The PlayStation Store listing confirms support for DualSense vibration and trigger effects. Those features make a compatible controller a platform-specific part of the experience, not a requirement to play. TechRadar’s March 6, 2026 review covered the PS5 Pro version and praised its adaptive triggers and haptics, calling that version the best way to experience the game. That is the reviewer’s conclusion, not a controlled comparison establishing that the PS5 Pro—or PS5 generally—performs better than every other platform.
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
Avowed originally launched on February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S and PC storefronts including the Xbox app, Battle.net, and Steam, with cloud and Game Pass availability announced. Obsidian announced the PS5 release for February 17, 2026. Current official Xbox material lists Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, Xbox Cloud, PS5, Battle.net, and Steam. Availability and subscription terms can vary by country and change over time.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Avowed well reviewed?
Metacritic’s Xbox Series X critic page showed an 80 Metascore and “Generally Favorable” rating from 86 critic reviews when checked in 2026. Its displayed breakdown was 62 positive, 17 mixed, and 1 negative. This is a platform-specific snapshot from a changing aggregate, not a universal or permanent score. It can give viewers a sense of broad critical reception, but it cannot replace a review’s own assessment of combat, writing, exploration, and choices.
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Who is likely to enjoy Avowed?
Avowed is most likely to appeal to players who want a first-person fantasy RPG with flexible combat approaches, companion conversations, and decisions that can affect people and places. Its region-based setting is worth discussing on its own terms rather than promising a fully open-world game. A video review should focus on what the reviewer actually experienced: combat feel and loadouts, writing and companions, exploration density, and the consequences of local choices.
For anyone deciding which version to play, the practical comparison is the platform’s current feature set and availability—not an assumed performance ranking. Prices and subscription access can change, so check the relevant storefront for your country before buying or recording a price.
Quick Recap
Sources
- Obsidian: Avowed
- Xbox Wire: Avowed Developer Direct interview
- Xbox Wire: Avowed anniversary update and PS5 announcement
- PlayStation Store: Avowed
- TechRadar: Avowed PS5 Pro review
- Metacritic: Avowed
- Xbox: Avowed
- Xbox Wire: Avowed Premium Edition announcement
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.
