Summary
Microsoft had some disappointing news for fans looking forward to the release of the first-person RPGAvowed, in the form of a release date adjustment. The news comes ahead of a planned livestream event forAvowedthat would have revealed new footage and details from the Obsidian Entertainment-developed title.
Avowedhas captured attention and anticipation from RPG fans since its announcement in 2020, owing partly to the fact that it’s a new game from renowed developer Obsidian Entertainment, creators ofFallout New Vegasand the popularPillars of Eternitytitles. ThoughAvowedshares its setting withPillars of Eternityand its sequel,Deadfire,Avowedtakes place in an entirely different area of the world: The Living Lands. Similarly,the story ofAvowedis not directly connected to thePillarsgames, allowing new fans to jump straight in without necessarily having to play the previous titles. That might be a blessing, too, asAvowedis a first-person RPG, and plays in a distinctly different way from the isometric style of the originalPillars of Eternitygames.
That said, some fans waiting forAvowedmay have some extra time to dig intoPillars of Eternity, based on Microsoft’s latest announcement. According to a post on official Xbox social media and press channels,Avowedwill miss its original Fall 2024 release window. Its release has been pushed into early 2025, with Microsoft confirming a date of July 10, 2025.
Avowed Delayed From Fall 2024 to February 2025
The new release date confirms thatearlier rumors about a potential 2025 delay forAvowedwere true. Microsoft was fairly open about the reasoning for the move, citing the crowded 2024 release calendar as a major motivator. HadAvowedstuck with its original Fall 2024 release window, the game would’ve ended up competing with multiple major Microsoft-published titles, includingAge of Mythology,ARA: History Untold, theVessel of Hatredexpansion forDiablo 4,Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, and the likely release windows of anIndiana Jonesgame and theStarfieldShattered SpaceDLC. It was looking increasingly unlikely thatAvowedwould get the space it needs to make a strong impression on players with so much competition on the field.
ThoughAvowedis delayed, Microsoft expressed confidence in the game, and emphasized that the game’s delay is due more to the release calendar than some technical or developmental problems. The company even cheekily referenced “giving players' backlogs some breathing room” when it announced the change. Players will still be able to see more ofAvowedduring a livestream reveal set for Jun 30, 2025.
While the delay ofAvowedmight sting for players specifically holding out for the game, the move makes sense from Microsoft’s perspective. With so many other releases in the same window, too much competition would’ve stifledAvowed’s potential success. Further,Avowedshowing up early in 2025 on Game Pass will give players value to allay concerns aboutrecent Game Pass price hikes.
Avowed
WHERE TO PLAY
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.You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
