The game director of Avowed, Carrie Patel, has provided an in-depth preview of the game's complexities ahead of its much-anticipated launch in 2025. Avowed promises a rich and multifaceted gameplay experience, centered around meaningful roleplay and multiple endings.
Vying For Political Control in The Living Lands Is As Complex As It Gets
Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming fantasy adventure, Avowed, is designed to offer players "moment-to-moment opportunities to express and explore where they're leaning," with its intricate multi-ending gameplay. In a detailed discussion with Game Developer, game director Carrie Patel emphasized that every choice players make in Avowed, whether significant or minor, contributes to a comprehensive and immersive experience.
"It's about giving the player moment-to-moment opportunities to express and explore where they're leaning," Patel explained. "You slow down and try to notice each moment of your experience," she added, highlighting the game's focus on player engagement and curiosity. Patel further elaborated on the game's design, encouraging players to reflect on their emotional responses: "When am I excited? When am I curious? When is my attention starting to wane? What's drawing me from moment to moment?"
Patel also discussed the impact of choices and outcomes in Avowed, which are intricately tied to the exploration of Eora, specifically in the region known as The Living Lands, where players will vie for political control. "I've enjoyed finding the stories that thread both of those worlds together," she noted, underscoring the narrative depth players can expect.
In Avowed, players assume the role of an envoy from the Aedyran Empire tasked with unraveling the mysteries of a spiritual plague while advancing their political agenda. "Giving players things to dig into—that's what makes it meaningful roleplay," Patel stated. "It's about who you want to be in this world, and how these situations prepare you to express that."
Beyond its deep RPG mechanics, Avowed offers strategic combat that seamlessly integrates magic, swords, and guns. "The abilities you can scope into and the weapon loadouts you can choose give you a very different experience each time you play," Patel remarked, highlighting the game's replayability.
In an interview with IGN, Patel confirmed the presence of multiple endings, which could feature "a lot of different combinations." She explained, "I can tell you our ending slides number in the double digits, and you can end up with a lot of different combinations of them." Patel emphasized that in true Obsidian fashion, the game's ending is a direct result of the player's choices throughout the game, influenced by the various pieces of content encountered and the actions taken.
