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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesAvowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG set in the Living Lands of Eora, where an envoy of Aedyr investigates a plague called the Dreamscourge. Engadget’s November 21, 2024 preview offers an early look at its opening, not a full-game verdict: writer Jessica Conditt played roughly the first two hours, from character creation through the initial main missions, and said that slice was too short to establish the game’s full scope. The preview’s “AAA budget” phrasing is an editorial characterization; it does not report a budget figure or a production-cost comparison.
What the opening preview establishes
Conditt’s preview describes a story where political intrigue, colonial violence, spiritual visions, insanity and religious fervor meet around the Dreamscourge. That is a reading of the opening portion she played, not a complete account of the game’s narrative. The premise connects Avowed to Eora, the setting associated with Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series, while placing the player in the role of an Aedyran envoy sent to investigate events in the Living Lands. Engadget’s preview
That limited play window is important when weighing claims about the game. The preview can convey the opening’s tone and setup, but it does not settle how the full campaign develops, how far-reaching its choices prove to be, or whether its systems remain engaging over a complete playthrough.
How Avowed’s combat is designed
In a January 2024 Xbox Wire interview, Gameplay Director Gabe Paramo described a system built around mixing weapons and abilities rather than committing to one fixed class. The examples included sword and shield, sword and gun, and dual-wielded wands; players could also change their loadout and respec. These are developer descriptions of the intended design, not independent measurements of combat performance. Xbox Wire’s gameplay interview
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#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.
The practical appeal is flexibility: a player can try different combinations instead of treating an early build choice as permanent. Whether those combinations feel balanced or satisfying is a matter for playing the released game; the cited interview establishes the stated design approach, not a comparative judgment.
How much choice does Avowed offer?
Developer interviews describe consequences operating at several scales, from dialogue and individual quests to companions and settlements. In January 2025, Xbox Wire reported that quest outcomes can vary by approach and that decisions may affect individuals, groups and entire settlements over short, medium and long time horizons. The developer’s description signals an effort to make choices consequential, but it does not guarantee that every decision produces a visible or predictable result.
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.
“There are choices you can make and consequences of actions you can take or not take, whether they are forecasted to you or not, that will impact the future of entire settlements, individual people, groups of people — the whole spectrum basically.”
Berto Ritger, Region Director, quoted by Xbox Wire
The same interview explains a deliberate balance between clarity and ambiguity: quests should be legible enough to follow, without making the correct answer obvious every time. Game Director Carrie Patel also said that fully predictable consequences can reduce the novelty of a choice. That suggests a role-playing approach where some outcomes may only become clear later, rather than a constant checklist of immediately signposted rewards and penalties. Xbox Wire’s discussion of quest choices
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.
Earlier developer coverage adds two routes for expressing character: backgrounds and attributes can unlock dialogue options, sometimes changing the tone or outcome of a conversation. Companions have their own stories and upgrades, with Party Camp described as a hub for engaging with them. Xbox Wire’s quests and companions interview
Where and when you can play Avowed
Avowed launched on February 18, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, Battle.net, Steam, cloud and Game Pass, according to Xbox’s launch announcement. That announcement also described Xbox Play Anywhere and linked Xbox/Battle.net account play under the specific account and membership conditions stated there; these are not universal cross-platform guarantees. Check the announcement and the relevant storefront for eligibility and current access terms. Xbox’s launch details
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
Obsidian announced a PlayStation 5 version for February 17, 2026. Its January 8, 2026 announcement listed US announcement prices of $49.99 for the standard edition and $59.99 for the premium edition, and said those prices would be reflected across other storefronts. Those are dated announcement prices, not confirmation of current local pricing or availability; check the PlayStation Store or your regional retailer for live offers. Obsidian’s PS5 announcement
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Can your PC run Avowed?
Obsidian Support lists the following PC requirements on a page last updated February 28, 2025. Both tiers specify 16 GB of RAM, DirectX 12 and 75 GB of free storage. The recommended tier calls for substantially stronger processor and graphics hardware than the minimum tier. Obsidian Support’s requirements page
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i7-10700K |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon RX 5700, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, or Intel Arc A580 | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
| Storage | 75 GB free space | 75 GB free space |
These are published requirements, not a guarantee of a particular frame rate, resolution or graphics preset on a given PC. Compare your components with the listed tier, allow for the required free storage, and consult the support page for any later changes.
Who the preview will help most
The early look is most useful to players deciding whether Avowed’s basic direction appeals: first-person fantasy combat with changeable weapon and ability combinations, a setting rooted in Eora, and quests framed around choices that can affect people and communities. The opening’s subject matter also points toward a story engaging with political and spiritual conflict. The preview alone cannot answer how fully those ideas develop across the campaign or how the combat and choices hold up over time.
Quick Recap
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