Summary

• Avowed is an upcoming first-person RPG set in the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, with an expansive world and deep lore that fans of the series will appreciate.
• Players who haven't played Pillars of Eternity or Deadfire have good reasons to do so before Avowed's release, as it will likely expand upon the existing lore and offer surprises and revelations for those familiar with the previous games.
• Avowed's setting in the world of Eora provides opportunities to explore new and old locations, and its placement in the timeline of Eora will have significant implications for its story, making it beneficial for fans to play the previous titles.

Avowed is an upcoming highly anticipated RPG being developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The studio has a long and respected history of producing some of the most well-realized and engaging entries in the genre. In 2015, it Kickstarted a successful campaign for Pillars of Eternity, a top-down isometric fantasy CRPG, which proved widely popular. A direct sequel, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire, was released in 2018 to a similar (if not even better) reception. Avowed promises a return to the first-person style, but will still be set in the same epic world as the PoE games.

Though officially announced in 2020, Avowed's release date is not yet confirmed at this time, as Obsidian is also working on a follow-up to its retro-futuristic space adventure, The Outer Worlds. But while waiting for it, fans who may not be familiar with or haven't experienced either Pillars of Eternity or Deadfire have a number of good reasons to play both before Avowed is released. ??????

In 2018, Microsoft acquired Obsidian as a first-party studio, and its titles are currently part of the Game Pass library.

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Avowed Fans Should Check Out Pillars of Eternity 1 & 2 Before Release

The World of Eora in Pillars of Eternity and Avowed

All three titles take place in the world of Eora. On the surface, it may appear to be yet another generic high fantasy land. Obsidian, however, is known for creating deeply rich settings, with a wealth of excellent writing, and subverting expectations within the genre. The PoE games are no exception, and showcase Obsidian's mastery of conceptualizing complex and mature world-building. Both feature fascinating depictions of fantasy cultures and mindsets with real-world analogies. The PoE titles offer players difficult moral dilemmas during the course of their adventures while addressing a range of thought-provoking philosophical and existential issues via their story and characters.

In particular, the Aedyr Empire in Pillars of Eternity is one of the more intriguing aspects of Eora. It's a large part of the overall lore, but its full history was only previously hinted at, leaving a wider mystery that Avowed is poised to answer, at least in part. This is true of many other facets of the world, all of which are ripe to be expanded on in Avowed. There are so many avenues to be explored within Eora's extensive tapestry introduced in PoE, that players may appreciate Avowed all the more for any of them that will be further fleshed out in its tale.

PoE1 and Deadfire's voice cast features members of the popular DnD series Critical Role.

Avowed's Promise of Possibilities for Expanding Eora

While firm details about its plot and other elements are still light and subject to speculation, Avowed will certainly have to be accommodating for those who haven't gotten around to the PoE games. One safe bet, though, is that Avowed will take players to locations both old and new. This provides even further opportunities to build upon its world lore. Newcomers to the series are likely to appreciate the work put into Eora, even if they aren't as familiar going into it. At the other end of the spectrum, for players who have seen Eora from the perspective of Pillars of Eternity or Deadfire, Avowed will likely hold some big surprises and revelations.

A major factor in this regard will depend on when in Eora's timeline Avowed is set. Notably, PoE Deadfire's ending left off at a point that has huge implications for the greater story. This alone makes a strong case for delving into the previous titles beforehand. If Avowed is before this event, it could set it up in a big way. If it's in the aftermath, there are even more interesting paths for it. Either way, it would be a boon for fans' experience with Avowed if they are able to play (or replay) through the fantastic PoE titles that laid the groundwork for it.