All articles tagged with #avowed
After Microsoft’s mass layoffs hit Obsidian, studio director Brandon Adler pushes back on critics, saying the studio’s DNA remains intact and that Avowed is still in development while leadership pivots toward a new Fallout project.
Brandon Adler defends Obsidian’s identity amid Xbox layoffs, a shift to a Fallout project, and the cancellation of Avowed’s sequel, arguing the core DNA and leadership remain intact despite external criticism and organizational changes.
Amid Xbox’s ~3,200 layoffs, Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly moved onto a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer, with a canceled Avowed sequel and a planned reveal around 2027, as Bethesda concentrates on the Elder Scrolls and other major franchises.
Obsidian Entertainment is reportedly developing a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer as part of an Xbox-wide restructuring that has affected 60–70 Obsidian employees. A small team will continue work on an Avowed sequel, with other staff focusing on DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2; Bethesda is expected to collaborate on the Fallout project. The broader layoffs hit Id Software and Bethesda Game Studios in Austin, among others, as Microsoft says it will support independent studios rather than owning every studio.
As part of Microsoft's Xbox reset, Obsidian Entertainment is pivoting to develop a new Fallout title led by Josh Sawyer after layoffs and studio changes; multiple projects including a sequel to Avowed have been canceled, though Grounded 2 and DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 remain in the works.
Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind The Outer Worlds and Avowed, is reportedly cutting about 60–70 jobs—roughly a quarter of its staff—as part of Microsoft's broader Xbox layoffs that total around 3,200 roles. The first wave hit Obsidian, with more cuts expected later this year, affecting roles across disciplines and even senior staff like the art director and the studio’s recruiter. Grounded 2 will continue, and Obsidian is slated to deliver more The Outer Worlds 2 DLC, though future projects remain uncertain. Obsidian was acquired by Microsoft in 2018 and has since released several titles.
Rumors swirl that Obsidian Entertainment is negotiating to avoid closure as Microsoft’s sweeping Xbox restructuring unfolds; a Game Business report suggested internal teams fear Punishing for Call of Duty’s performance could spur offloading or shuttering studios, including Obsidian, Undead Labs, or Ninja Theory, while Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier later claimed Obsidian is not in danger and will be kept by Xbox. The situation underscores broader internal chaos during a company-wide “reset” led by new Xbox leadership, with analysts suggesting up to ~1,000 jobs could be cut across the division, though specifics and timing remain uncertain and conflicting reports may reflect different moments in a fluid process.
Obsidian says it didn’t anticipate the broad backlash to Avowed’s crafting system, expressing surprise at player criticism while standing by the RPG’s core design for Xbox.”
The PS5 version of Avowed adds meaningful tweaks to its gear system in response to launch criticisms, including clearer upgrade tutorials, more generous resource gains, and new gameplay settings that let players adjust overall equipment scaling, making progression less binary and the open-world grind more approachable.
Digital Foundry compares Avowed on PS5 to Xbox Series X|S, noting PS5’s VRR helps unlocked modes run smoothly and can edge ahead in performance, while Series X visuals are broadly on par with PS5 Pro. Both platforms offer 30fps quality, 40fps balanced, and 60fps performance modes, with quality mode targeting 1440p and other modes at lower resolutions; the differences are subtle, and DF recommends watching the video or reading the full written review for the complete analysis.
Avowed's 2.0 Anniversary Patch is live, adding New Game Plus with progression carryovers, three new playable species (Dwarves, Orlans, Aumaua), a configurable custom difficulty system, a new quarterstaff weapon, stun finishers, respawning encounters, and numerous QoL, UI, graphics, and bug fixes; it's also playable on Xbox Game Pass Premium and Ultimate.
Eurogamer argues Avowed, though overlooked after its release, is a solid double-A RPG whose PS5 version shines with updates (new abilities, races, weapon types, game plus, photo mode) and a satisfying, accessible combat loop, making it worth trying on PS5.
Three new games join Xbox Game Pass today: Aerial_Knight’s DropShot (Series X|S, PC, Cloud) and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora (Series X|S, PC, Cloud) are added for Ultimate/PC, while Avowed lands on XGP Premium (already available in Ultimate/PC).
Obsidian's Avowed marks its first anniversary with a sweeping update adding three new playable races (Dwarves, Orlans, Aumauan), a Magic Mirror to switch races, a New Game+ mode with tougher enemies and expanded stat caps, a Photo Mode, a new quarterstaff weapon, and various QoL tweaks, plus a PS5 launch bringing the latest content to more players.
Push Square's PS5 review praises Avowed's engaging, weighty combat and gorgeous Living Lands, with a player-choice driven flow and a generous Anniversary Update that adds New Game+, new playable races, a photo mode, and fully customizable difficulty. While the story and dialogue can feel dull and the animations occasionally janky, the polished combat and exploration make Avowed one of Obsidian's strongest recent releases, earning an 8/10.