Summary
Obsidian Entertainment’s forthcoming fantasy RPGAvowedhas been in the works for some time, but still has a little left to go. Having spent at least four years in development, fans have been looking forward toAvowedsince 2020, and until recently, it seemed as if the title would finally drop this Fall season. However, earlier this summer, the studio announced it would be delayed into early next year, with a new date ofFebruary 18, 2025,at present.
One of thenotable elements aboutAvowedis that it traces its roots to Obsidian’s prior CRPG series,Pillars of Eternity. Set within a darker, politically and socially volatile fantasy land with a complicated history,PoE’s established world of Eora bears many hallmarks of the developer’s strengths in creating original and memorable worlds. Being built upon the solid foundations of the twoPoEtitles,Avowedwill be adding to them via sending players to a previously unseen region of Eora. And though it will expand on the already elaborate setting,Avowedcould set Obsidian up to take further advantage of Eora’s great potential by filling out even more of it in future games.
Avowed Should be Just the Tip of the Iceberg for the Greater Setting of Eora
Eora is One of the Most Fascinating and Robust Fantasy Lands In Recent Memory
Obsidian has often earned its touted reputation by displaying its talent for designing rich and arresting worlds in its titles, and Eora stands as some of its best work in that area to date. In the firstPillars of Eternity, players were introduced to what seemed like a fairly recognizable fantasy world at the outset, but which quickly revealed itself to be meticulously designed and envisioned, much more than a stock setting.Pillars of Eternity’s depiction of Eora’s past and present was absorbing, with a story of moral uncertainties and heavy philosophical musings to match. Even so, it was still localized to the area known as the Eastern Reach and the handful of provinces that comprise it; overall, a fairly small region of Eora.
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, saw fans journey to the titular archipelago that lies to the south of the Reach.Deadfiredid a lot to flesh out Eoraeven more deeply, introducing a host of new facts and factions into the wider mix. The nature of its layout made for a compelling way to present another side of the world, as the jagged collection of islands were replete with numerous interesting and mysterious locations for players to uncover and learn more about, andDeadfirewas a satisfying followup for gameplay and lore equally. But although both titles covered some excellent ground, there remains vast swaths of Eora that are beckoning to be explored.
Why Avowed Should Only Mark the Start of Expanding Eora
Avowedwill whisk players to a part of Eora that was only briefly mentioned and described previously inPillars of Eternity. Shifting to the far north of the known world,Avowedwill let fans explore the Living Lands, a mystical tropical jungle with its own secrets and factions vying for control of it. Gamers will thus get to see yet another intriguing section of Eora, and the developments in its world building thatAvowedwill bring to the table hold great promise.
AfterAvowed,Obsidian will turn its attention toThe Outer Worlds 2, likely meaning another game set in Eora may not immediately be in the cards.
As exciting a prospect asAvowedmoving to the Living Lands is, and taking into account everything seen inPoE, there is still so much more to Eora that could be contained in future titles. And if Obsidian decides to follow its pattern of focusing on a new region each time, the potential is high if there is indeed more to come. As just one example, as prominent a part as theAedyr Empireplays in lore, it has yet to be seen firsthand. While perhaps a more obvious choice of locale to feature next, it highlights the fact that Obsidian has still really only scratched the surface of Eora so far. If the studio plans to do more with it, there are multiple options at its disposal for continuing to craft and show off Eora in any possible followups.
