Revealed at the July 2021 Xbox Games Showcase,Avowedis an upcoming first-person RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, the minds behind titles likeThe Outer WorldsandStar Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. The gameplay is said to be inspired by Bethesda’sSkyrim,and is a title that fans have dubbed, “The Outer WorldsmeetsPillars of Eternity.”
This comparison is not mere speculation. From the initial trailer, Obsidian revealed thatAvowedis set in the fantasy world of Eora - the same universe as Obsidian’sPillars of Eternityfranchise. Since the release of that trailer, many fans ofPillars of Eternityhave been speculating whether this latest title will be set before or after the original games' events, and a number of clues are hidden in the reveal that could point people in the right direction.
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The Years Between Avowed and Pillars of Eternity
Pillars of Eternityand its sequel are considered to be some of the best role-playing games ever released. The top-down RPG took clear inspiration fromclassic Infinity Engine games likeBaldur’s Gateand theIcewind Daleseries. The 2015 game was crowdfunded on Kickstarter, and was a roaring success with over 70,000 backers pledging upwards of $4 million USD. Its sequel,Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire,released five years later to a similar degree of success.
Pillars of EternityandDeadfirecreated a deep well of loresurrounding the land of Eora. Gods, wars, and a technological renaissance fill the history of the modern-day CPRG but still left plenty of gaps to be filled and explored by creators. Although no solid information has come from Obsidian Entertainment nor Microsoft since the launch of the trailer last June (aside from possible insider leaks), the Internet is rife with speculation on whenAvowedmay take place within thePillars of Eternitytimeline. A number of Reddit detectives have uncovered a few hidden details that may point to an answer.
Within the reveal trailer, a flag could be seen that may be related to the deity Woedica, who had created and shaped Eora into the land that it is duringthe events ofPillars of Eternity. However, the world’s other gods killed Woedica out of fear that she was growing too powerful. Other Reddit users deciphered the runes during a scene where one character holding a sword casts a spell before being confronted by an enemy. They discovered the runes to be Aedyran in nature, which spelled out the word “Oathbinder” - another name that Woedica was known by.
These nuggets of information, especially that of the mysterious sword- and magic-wielding character, seem to suggest thatAvowedmay be a prequel toPillars of Eternity, perhaps set in a medieval period over a thousand years prior; a time in whichswords and magic were the weapons of choicefor adventurers. By contrast, thePillars of Eternitygames were set in a time when pistols and crossbows were used all over the series, although magic was still a common skill alongside them.
Fans and media alike expected more information onAvowedto come out during this year’s E3, but got some unfortunate news after the massive video game conference wound up being canceled. Since the announcement that E3 2022 is no longer happening, Obsidian Entertainment may instead provide more information and a deeper look at the game duringGeoff Keighley’s Summer Game Fest. Only time will tell.
Avowedis currently in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
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