Breaking News: Avowed Takes an Epic Twist - From Co-op RPG to a Revolutionary Solo Experience
Obsidian Entertainment's highly anticipated RPG, Avowed, was initially conceived as a multiplayer co-op game but has since transformed into an immersive first-person single-player experience
Highlights
Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming fantasy RPG, was initially intended to be a co-op game but was later changed to a single-player experience.
The game is located in the Living Lands, a culturally diverse nation, and shares the same universe as Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity series.
In only eight months, the decision was made to transition from multiplayer to single-player, resulting in a complete revamp of the game's design philosophy to align with Obsidian's strengths.
Originally designed as a co-op RPG, Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming fantasy game, Avowed, has since transitioned into a single-player experience. This first-person action RPG serves as Obsidian's response to Bethesda's renowned The Elder Scrolls series, offering players a deep RPG system in an original fantasy world. Drawing from their expertise in the genre, Obsidian has previously developed acclaimed titles such as Fallout: New Vegas in 2010 and The Outer Worlds in 2019.
Avowed is set in the same universe as Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity CRPG series, allowing players to delve into the captivating planet of Eora. The first two entries in the Pillars of Eternity series explore different territories within Eora, namely Drywood and the Deadfire Archipelago. In Avowed, players will embark on an adventure in the Living Lands, a region situated in the northern reaches of Eora. This culturally diverse nation serves as a settlement for various races, most notably the dwarves.
Avowed was originally intended to be a multiplayer RPG, but Obsidian changed their plans after some consideration. Recently, Obsidian released a documentary series celebrating their 20th anniversary, featuring interviews with key team members who have contributed to the studio's success over the years. The final episode of the series explores Obsidian's current state, including their acquisition by Microsoft and their future plans. Towards the end of the episode, Feargus Urquhart, the founder and studio head of Obsidian, reveals that initially, he advocated for Avowed to have a co-op multiplayer feature.
However, Obsidian ultimately decided to abandon the multiplayer concept and instead focus on creating a single-player experience with a strong narrative. Urquhart explains that his desire for multiplayer was driven by the need to secure funding from potential publishers. He believed that having a multiplayer component in Avowed would increase the chances of receiving the significant amount of funding required to develop the game, as it would be more appealing to publishers.
The transition from multiplayer to single-player took place within a surprisingly brief eight-month period. During this time, the studio, fully immersed in the production of Avowed, had to completely reevaluate the game's design philosophy. This encompassed revamping the way conversations flowed and restructuring quests. As Justin Britch, the head of development at Obsidian, explained in a documentary, they came to the realization that they had diverted their focus from their strengths. Ultimately, the team recognized the need to deliver a quintessential Obsidian RPG experience and avoid creating something that strayed too far from the studio's comfort zone.
Avowed is set to be released in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
