Summary
Xbox and Obsidian Entertainment have revealed extended gameplay footage ofAvowed, spilling new details about the aquatic Shatterscarp region as well as other key combat features. After its debut gameplay trailer went live as part of Xbox’s summer showcase last June,Avowedappeared again at Xbox’s recent Developer Direct alongside other big Xbox games like MachineGames’Indiana Jones and the Great Circleand Ninja Theory’sSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2.
Avowedkicked off Xbox’s Developer Direct with nearly 10 minutes of all-new gameplay footage showcasing one of the game’s regions, Shatterscarp, an aquatic coral reef-inspired area home to territorial lizard creatures. A majorhighlight of the gameplay shown off wasAvowed’s combat, which can include a traditional sword and board setup, flintlock pistols, magic wands, and more. Impressively, the player character was shown dual-wielding wands, and it’s since been confirmed that players can swap between different weapons on the fly. Obsidian’s signature writing and dialogue choices took a moment of spotlight as well, highlighting one of the missable side quests within the Shatterscarp region.
Just a few days after the Developer Direct, Obsidian Entertainment’s Carrie Patel and Gabe Paramo sat down with the official Xbox Podcast to talk through 25 minutes ofextendedAvowedgameplay footage. During the show, Patel and Paramo revealed that Shatterscarp is the third area in the game, and that the slice of Shatterscarp being shown off in the gameplay is entirely missable, as it’s directly connected to one of the optional side quests. Patel also revealed that Shatterscarp is a mid-game area. With that math in mind, this means thatAvowedmay likely feature around six or seven major regions, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed.
Part of the extendedAvowedgameplay showed the player character swimming underwater to get to a cave area, though it doesn’t seem like underwater mechanics or combat is at play. Gabe Paramo,Avowed’s gameplay director, went into further detail about the game’s combat, confirming a skill tree and revealing that players will be able to swap between two set loadouts at any given time. Additionally, Paramo gave a few examples of how some of the game’s spells and abilities can be used in conjunction, like using an AOE fire ability on the ground before pulling an enemy into it. Patel also provided details abouttwo ofAvowed’s companions, Kai and Giatta, and how they can serve different roles with their abilities in combat as a tank and healer respectively.
When Can Fans Expect To Learn More About Avowed?
RPG fans on Xbox canexpectAvowedlater this year, as it’s currently aiming for a Fall 2024 release window. There’s a very good chance that Obsidian Entertainment will show up again at Xbox’s expected Summer Game Fest showcase in June with a solid release date forAvowed.It’ll be interesting to see when in the FallAvowedmay land, as Xbox also hasIndiana Jones and the Great Circleeyeing the second half of 2024 as well.
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?
