Summary
After four years following its initial reveal,Avowednow has a firm release date. While originally it was thought to be releasing in the Fall of this year, developer Obsidian Entertainment recently pushed this window back a bit, and currently fans can expectAvowedto drop onFebruary 18, 2025. Well before this, though, speculation was widespread as to precisely howAvowedwould relate to the events and revelations contained in the studio’s prior epic CRPG fantasy franchise,Pillars of Eternity, asAvowedis heavily based on it.
One of the bigger unknowns leading up to it waswhenAvowedwould be set relative toPillars of Eternity. This is especially pertinent as the second entry,Pillars of Eternity 2:Deadfire, saw a significant plot development that had major implications for the entire setting of Eora. At Gamescom 2024, developers provided an in-depth walkthrough of one ofAvowed’s early game quests, “Dawntreader.” And within this presentation, it appeared as if an answer to the timeline question had been given. Based on dialogue and interactions seen in the footage, an NPC specifically mentions and confirmsAvowed’s connection toDeadfire’s events, finally settling the matter while opening up a number of interesting possibilities.
Major Spoilers Ahead.
Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire Loomed Large Over Avowed
Obsidian has a longstanding reputation for building interesting and intricate settings, with narrative threads to match. As mentioned, the studio’s work on the twoPillars of Eternityentries laid much of the groundwork forAvowed. Over the course of both titles, players are presented with a darker fantasy world populated by a range of diverse characters and cultures, all with complex motivations, and an often morally gray approach to dealing with their various machinations. This was true in the first, but for the sequel, the studio pulled out all the stops for its dramatic conclusion.
After discovering the secret behind the nature of Eora’s gods and the mystical “wheel of souls” that acts as its reincarnation cycle, fans were tasked with tracking down one of the major deities, Eothas, as he embarked on breaking this cycle. It was a daunting mission, but regardless of various decisions made throughout, in thefinale ofPillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire, Eothas achieves his goal and upends the process that had existed for centuries. This act affected the very core of the setting, and while it was previously unclear whether, and to what extent,Avowedwould take it into account, it looks like it will indeed directly address it and the changes that have occurred in Eora in the aftermath.
Avowed’s Gamescom 2024 Showcase Cements its Place in the Pillars of Eternity Timeline
The studio has previously stated it won’t be required for players to be familiar withPillars of Eternityto enjoyAvowed, as it is set in a new region previously mentioned but never seen. Still, it was assumed that there would be important connections to some degree. The latest information that explicitly outlineshowAvowedfits within establishedPoEelementscomes from a character named Sargamis.
In the Dawntreader deep dive, the player character encounters Sargamis, one ofEora’s Godlikes. Sargamis explains that his patron is Eothas, and the quest is centered around finding a sacred relic related to him. Sargamis has constructed a crude effigy of Eothas and is seeking to power it via the relic in the hopes of reawakening Eothas to answer for his actions. While this conversation is brief, it does clearly state thatAvowed’s plot is in the wake ofDeadfire’s ending. Though few other details regarding this aspect were shown, the fact that the preview definitively anchorsAvowed’s place in the overall timeline sets up further intrigues about howDeadfire’s events will be incorporated into the greater tale, and what the future might hold for both series.
The player’s character inAvowedis also a Godlike, though of an unknown or as yet unrevealed deity.
