Obsidian Entertainment’s highly anticipated action-RPG, Avowed, has recently faced a delay in its release date. Originally set to launch in late 2024, the game is now scheduled to hit PC and current-gen Xbox consoles on February 18, 2025. One of the key details that has emerged about the game is its projected performance on Xbox Series X and Series S – with both consoles expected to run the game at 30fps. This decision has sparked discussions among gamers, with many questioning the trade-off between frame rate and graphical fidelity in a single-player RPG.
Artistic Direction and Gameplay
During the ongoing Gamescom 2024 event, Obsidian revealed further details about Avowed, shedding light on its artistic direction and gameplay mechanics. The game’s art director, Matt Hansen, emphasized the studio’s commitment to delivering a visually dense experience while maintaining a smooth performance. Hansen explained that the decision to lock the game at 30fps was a deliberate choice aimed at enhancing graphical fidelity and lighting effects. He justified this choice by stating that the nature of a first-person single-player game did not necessitate a higher frame rate and that the studio was satisfied with the current output.
One of the standout features of Avowed is its emphasis on player choice and the impact of decisions on the game’s narrative. Game director Carrie Patel revealed in an interview with IGN that Avowed would offer multiple possible endings, with the ending slides numbering in the double digits. This commitment to narrative branching underscores the studio’s pedigree in crafting compelling stories and providing players with meaningful choices throughout their gameplay experience. Patel emphasized that each player’s ending would be a reflection of their choices and interactions within the game world, highlighting the depth and complexity of Avowed’s narrative design.
Avowed is not the first Xbox first-party title to launch with locked performance on consoles at 30fps. Titles like Starfield from Bethesda and Redfall from Arkane Austin followed a similar trajectory, with subsequent patches enabling a 60fps option for players. This strategy aligns with Obsidian’s approach to prioritizing visual fidelity and overall performance in the initial release, with plans to potentially enhance the frame rate based on player feedback and technological advancements. The studio’s willingness to adapt and iterate on the game’s performance post-launch showcases a commitment to delivering a polished and technically refined experience for players.
Avowed’s journey to its anticipated release date has been marked by decisions that reflect Obsidian’s dedication to crafting a visually striking and narratively rich RPG experience. The choice to lock the game at 30fps on Xbox consoles, the inclusion of multiple endings, and the studio’s approach to post-launch updates all contribute to the game’s potential as a standout title in the action-RPG genre. As players eagerly await the opportunity to explore the fantastical world of Avowed, the game’s focus on player agency, storytelling, and visual immersion sets it apart as a project worth anticipating and scrutinizing upon its release.
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