Xbox Game Studios has a lot of mysterious games in production, including Obsidian Entertainment’sAvowed. In some respects, the game isn’t a total mystery, since fans know that it’s rooted in Obsidian’sPillars of Eternityfranchise, which provides a lot of clues about lore and potential story threads inAvowed.For the most part, though, fans lack a clear picture howAvowedplays or when it might release. Some rumors have offered potential answers to the latter question, and although these answers vary, multiple projections have suggested thatAvowedmight manage to release sometime in late 2022 or in early 2023.
In the current state of the game industry, however, nothing is certain. Bethesda’s new RPGStarfield,which was poised to be an Xbox blockbuster in 2022, is the latest game to get delayed in 2023, joining major peers liketheZelda: Breath of the Wildsequel. Not only does that create a longer wait forStarfield,but it raises questions about whenAvowedand other Xbox RPGs might manage to release in the near future.Starfieldcould serve as an obstacle toAvowedand its peers unless Microsoft carefully manages release schedules for all the hotly demanded RPGs that Xbox Game Studios has in development.
The Timing of Avowed and Starfield’s Releases
In November 2021, an Nvidia GeForce leak provided fans with a potential release date forAvowed: Jul 04, 2025. Although this was likely just a placeholder date, it still seemed like it could hint at a winter 2022 release forAvowed, althoughStarfield’s November release made that seem a little doubtful. Expectations changed slightly when Microsoft insider and Windows Central reporter Jez Corden projecteda possible early 2023 release forAvowed,based on the state of the game. Corden’s educated guess at a release window seemed plausible enough, since it would letAvoweddodgeStarfield’s launch and provided Obsidian with plenty of time to finish the game.
However, now thatStarfieldwill release somewhere in early 2023, it seems less likely thatAvowedwill release at around the same time. Bethesda is a titan among RPG developers, so Microsoft will probably try tospotlightStarfieldas much as possiblebecause it’s Bethesda’s first game since Microsoft acquired the company. In other words, other Xbox exclusive RPGs probably shouldn’t release close toStarfieldif possible. Its delay therefore makes it far less likely thatAvowedwill release in early 2023.Starfieldneeds to be as free from distractions as possible.
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Possible Surprises for Avowed’s Launch
Hopefully Microsoft and Bethesda’s willingness to delayStarfieldstems partially from pleasant surprises for other Microsoft RPGs. For instance, ifAvowedreleases in early December 2022 after all, then it could fill the void left byStarfieldwithout stealing its thunder.Avowedhas been public knowledge for about two years, so Obsidian may have hadenough time to finishAvowedbefore 2023. Alternatively, ifAvowedgets pushed into the middle of 2023 to accommodateStarfield,maybeFablewill release sooner than expected to satisfy demand for an Xbox RPG.
Obsidian hasn’t guaranteed anything aboutAvowed’s launch, of course; past rumors about the game’s status could be far less accurate than fans might like.Avowed’s fate relative toStarfieldcan only be confirmed when Obsidian announces some major details.Starfield’s role inthe upcoming Xbox-Bethesda showcaseis uncertain now, butAvowedcould make an appearance and reveal all kinds of major information, including a release window. Until that happens, though, the fate ofStarfieldand pastAvowedrumors will continue to raise questions about the Xbox game release schedule, which is full of games that have avoided the limelight. The more light the Xbox-Bethesda showcase sheds onStarfield,Avowed, and their peers, the better.
Avowedis in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
