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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Avowed’s Anniversary Update and its PlayStation 5 version launched together on February 17, 2026, one year after the original release. The update adds three playable species, New Game+, custom difficulty options, Photo Mode, a quarterstaff weapon type, appearance changes, and quality-of-life fixes. The PS5 version ships with the earlier post-launch updates already included.
What the February 17, 2026 update adds
Obsidian Entertainment’s announcement says the Anniversary Update is the final step in the game’s post-launch roadmap. It was built for both returning players and newcomers, and it leans on features the studio describes as community-requested and quality-of-life improvements. Xbox Wire’s launch article, written by Gabriel Paramo, Gameplay Director on Avowed, lists the same headline additions in its own words.
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Playable species
Dwarves, Orlans, and Aumaua are now playable, joining Humans and Elves. That makes five species in total from the Eoran kith families that the update lists as playable.
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- Party Camp mirror: existing characters can change appearance, including species, during an ongoing adventure. You do not need to start a new character to try a different species.
- Species stat bonuses: each species now carries stat bonuses.
- Background stat bonuses: character backgrounds also add stat bonuses, so species and background choices now interact.
New Game+
New Game+ unlocks after you complete the main story. It starts a second run in which enemies are tougher and the attribute cap is higher, while part of your progress carries over. Exactly what carries over is the detail most players care about, and the sources differ in emphasis, so check Obsidian’s full transfer list before planning a build around it.
#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.
- Carries over (per Xbox Wire): unlocked abilities, except godlike abilities; unique weapons and armor; and unlocked enchantments.
- Resets (per Obsidian’s detailed notes): resources and several item categories.
- Removed at the start (per Obsidian’s detailed notes): uncommon weapons and armor. Obsidian’s list corrects an earlier note on this point, so treat its list as the authority.
Do not describe New Game+ as a full carry-over of your inventory or collected resources. The sources do not support that.
Other additions
- Custom difficulty: you can adjust enemy challenge and player capabilities, so the game is not locked to a single difficulty curve.
- Photo Mode: a new mode for capturing screenshots of the game world.
- Quarterstaffs: a new weapon type added to the roster.
- Lighting and conversations: Xbox Wire names improved lighting and the option to skip certain conversations.
- Enemy respawns: some areas have adjusted enemy respawns.
PlayStation 5 release
The PS5 version launched on February 17, 2026, the same day as the Anniversary Update. The PlayStation Store listing gives that release date, describes Avowed as a role-playing game published by Microsoft Corporation, and includes a summary of the Anniversary Update. The PS5 version includes the earlier post-launch updates.
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.
At the February 17, 2026 announcement, Xbox Wire listed Avowed as available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Xbox Cloud, PS5, Battle.net, and Steam. Those platform listings are dated to the announcement. Confirm current availability on each storefront before buying.
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Choosing an edition
| Edition | US price at the February 17, 2026 announcement | Listed contents |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $49.99 | Base game. Other contents not stated in the sources reviewed. |
| Premium | $59.99 | Base game, digital artbook and soundtrack, two player armors, and eight companion skins (per the US PlayStation Store listing). |
Xbox Wire said both editions were available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass at announcement. Subscription terms can change, so check the current Game Pass catalog before relying on that access. The PlayStation Store also showed a time-limited offer when the listing was reviewed. Do not treat that offer as the current price. Check the live storefront in your region.
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.
Performance across platforms
The announcement materials do not establish how the game performs on each platform, or whether PS5, Xbox, and PC versions match in feature set and performance. If frame rate or resolution matters to your choice, look for platform-specific testing from a reviewer you trust.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Setting and background
Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG set in Eora, the fictional world first introduced in the Pillars of Eternity franchise. You play as an envoy of Aedyr sent to investigate a plague in the Living Lands. Paramo’s Xbox Wire article closes with the line: “The fate of an island is up to you; forge it to your will.”
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
The February 2026 update does not change the premise. It mainly changes how you build a character, how you replay the story, and how you adjust the challenge.
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No sales, market, or player-count statistic was attached to the official announcements. The prices above are the only dated figures in the announcement sources, and they reflect February 17, 2026 US pricing. Storefront ratings and review counts on the PlayStation Store change over time. If you cite them, attribute them to the PlayStation Store and the date you checked.
Verify current regional prices and edition contents on the official storefront for your platform before buying.
Obsidian’s February 17, 2026 announcement is the best source for New Game+ carryover details, and Xbox Wire’s February 17, 2026 article is the best source for platform and edition information.
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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.
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