Understanding Avowed’s Development Cycle
Avowed, the anticipated RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, has had a tumultuous journey towards its release. Initially conceived as a grand vision reminiscent of Skyrim, with elements of cooperative multiplayer gameplay akin to Destiny, the game faced significant hurdles throughout its six-year development cycle. According to a recent Bloomberg interview with director Carrie Patel, the project’s trajectory shifted dramatically due to these challenges.
Initial Plans and Strategic Revisions
In the early stages of development, Avowed was intended to feature a seamless open world combined with live-service multiplayer components. However, these ambitious plans were scrapped after two years of preproduction, forcing the team to reboot the project. The drastic change highlights the inherent difficulties in game development, especially for titles with lofty ambitions. Following the reboot, Obsidian redefined Avowed to fit a more feasible ‘open zone’ structure, a decision that helped to stabilize the project’s outcome.
Key Learnings and Future Prospects
Despite the struggles, Avowed’s final product promises to be worth the wait. With the leadership of Patel—who is known for her work on Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds—the team was able to reinvigorate the project. Moving forward from an overwhelming production phase without a solid preproduction foundation was likened to ‘building the tracks while the train was moving forward.’ Now, discussions of potential DLCs or even a sequel indicate that Avowed’s journey might be just the beginning of a larger saga in the RPG domain.
