Avowed wasn't delayed due to development problems

Avowed was initially set for release this November, but Obsidian Entertainment's RPG was pushed to February 18. Delays often lead players to speculate that game development wasn't done for launch, but that doesn't seem to be the case for Avowed. Apparently, it's one of the first times a game has been delayed without having to give the development team extra time to finish the job.

At least that's what Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft's gaming division, said in an interview with Game File. Spencer explained that Obsidian's RPG was delayed to place it in a more favorable launch window, as its initial release date was close to other Xbox titles like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, not to mention the then-exclusive STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl around the same time.

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In short, according to Spencer, Xbox and Game Pass releases are so packed at the end of the year that Microsoft can easily afford to push a game back a few months and give players some breathing room in their backlogs. "We didn't move it because Obsidian needed the time. They'll use the time," Spencer commented. In other words, even though the delay wasn't for development reasons, Obsidian Entertainment will still use those extra months to further polish Avowed and deliver the best possible experience.

Avowed is a new RPG from Obsidian veterans set in the same world as Pillars of Eternity, a more traditional CRPG. The player's mission will be to venture into the Living Lands to stop a plague known as the Dreamscourge. Manifesting as fungus that appears for no apparent reason, the Dreamscourge is proving to be a threat to the various factions of Aedyr, and it's up to the player to discover the true root of the problem.

Obsidian says the RPG will uphold its tradition of offering diverse choices and paths that can bring different outcomes. While some may choose to destroy the threat, others may use it a bit differently—even turning it into an advantage against their opponents.

Players are excited for Avowed, which is why the delay announcement disappointed the fanbase. Still, this delay will be used for a good purpose. Plus, it gives those interested in the RPG time to check out our comparator to find the best Avowed CD Key deals and secure their copy before the game's launch.