Do You Need To Play Pillars of Eternity To Enjoy Avowed?

During the 2023 Xbox Games Showcase, the folks at Obsidian Entertainment revealed gameplay footage of their upcoming first-person RPG Avowed. While it does look like it’s a perfect game for those that enjoy high-fantasy adventures similar to Elder Scrolls, not many know that Avowed is set in the same universe of another famous title by Obsidian, Pillars of Eternity. And no, you don’t need to play the Pillars games to enjoy their upcoming RPG. 

Avowed may be in the same world but has an entirely separate storyline, though Obsidian developers have confirmed that known characters from the Pillars of Eternity series. (specifically Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire) So those who have played Pillars will at most enjoy some returning characters and some easter eggs. 

Avowed will not be an open-world game like Elder Scrolls

As for the game itself, Obsidian has yet to delve deeper into how the game’s gameplay systems but from what was revealed during the Xbox Games Extended Showcase, Avowed will not be an open-world game similar to Elder Scrolls but will feature multiple large zones, similar to their other RPG game The Outer Worlds, which released back in 2019.

“It is set up as a series of interconnected open zones that players can explore at their own pace,” says game director Carrie Patel during the Xbox extended showcase. “You can invest in discovering every nook and cranny in the world, discovering every secret, finding every side quest, meeting every character - or you can have a much more focused experience.”. 

Avowed doesn’t have a release date just yet but its set for a 2024 release on Xbox Series X, PC, and will be available through Game Pass on day one.

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