Avowed's Release Shift to 2025: A Bittersweet Delay with a Silver Lining

So, here we are in 2026, looking back at the rollercoaster that was the lead-up to Avowed's release. Let me tell you, as someone who was counting down the days back in 2024, that news of the delay hit like a ton of bricks. I remember it vividly. Microsoft dropped the bomb that the first-person RPG from the legendary Obsidian Entertainment, originally slated for Fall 2024, was being pushed all the way to February 18, 2025. Talk about a gut punch! The anticipation had been building since its 2020 announcement, fueled by Obsidian's stellar reputation from gems like Fallout: New Vegas and the Pillars of Eternity series. We were all geared up for a deep dive into the world of Eora, but this time through a first-person lens in the mysterious Living Lands. The delay felt like a major buzzkill.

Why the Wait? It Was a Real Traffic Jam Out There

Honestly, once the initial disappointment wore off, the reasoning made a lot of sense—even if it was a bitter pill to swallow. Microsoft was pretty transparent about it: 2024's release calendar was an absolute logjam. I mean, think about it. If Avowed had stuck to its original Fall 2024 slot, it would have been thrown into the ring with a heavyweight lineup of other Microsoft titles:

• Age of Mythology: Retold

• ARA: History Untold

• Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred (expansion)

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

• The rumored Indiana Jones game

• Starfield: Shattered Space (DLC)

That's just insane! As a player, my wallet and my free time were already screaming. Microsoft cheekily said they were "giving players' backlogs some breathing room," and you know what? They weren't wrong. Trying to stand out in that crowd would have been an uphill battle for any game, no matter how promising.

The Silver Lining: More Time to Shine

This is where my perspective started to shift. The delay wasn't due to some major developmental disaster or the game being broken. Microsoft emphasized it was purely a strategic move. This gave me a bit of hope—it meant the extra time was for polishing, not panic-fixing. It also meant that when Avowed did launch in early 2025, it wouldn't have to share the spotlight with half a dozen other blockbusters. It could have its moment in the sun. And for us Game Pass subscribers, it was a huge win. Launching day one on the service in early 2025 felt like a fantastic value proposition, especially after those price hikes. It was like, "Okay, you delayed my game, but at least I get it as part of my subscription without an extra $70 hit."

A World Worth Waiting For: The Living Lands

One of the coolest things about Avowed, which we learned more about in that August 2024 livestream they still held, was its setting. While it shares the rich, deep world of Pillars of Eternity, it takes us to a whole new frontier: The Living Lands. This wasn't a direct sequel story, which was actually a blessing. It meant I, and millions of others, could jump right in without having played the isometric CRPGs (though, let's be real, the delay gave me the perfect excuse to finally start Pillars of Eternity!). The shift from isometric to immersive first-person was a game-changer, promising a totally different way to experience the lore and conflicts of Eora.

The Final Verdict, Two Years Later

Sitting here in 2026, with the benefit of hindsight, I can say this: the delay was the right call. Avowed launched in February 2025 to a much more receptive and less crowded market. It got the attention and player base it deserved without being drowned out by the noise. The extra polish was evident, and launching into Game Pass gave it an incredible player count from day one. So, while the news in 2024 was a total bummer, it ultimately worked out for the best. Sometimes, good things come to those who wait—even if the waiting feels like an eternity.

In the end, the journey to Avowed taught me a lesson in patience. In the fast-paced world of gaming, a delay often feels like the end of the world. But if it means a better, more successful game that isn't lost in the shuffle, then it's a sacrifice worth making. Here's to the games that take their time to get it right. 🍻