Avowedis Obsidian Entertainment’s anticipated upcoming high fantasy FPS RPG based on the world ofPillars of Eternity, the CRPG series that the studio successfully Kickstarted and released in 2015. It then received a sequel,Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire, andAvowedis expected to beinformed byPoE’s established elements and previous narrative beats.
Pillars of Eternityalready contains a wealth of loreand major events that have occurred in its world. And whileAvowedis not technically a direct follow-up to either game, at least from what has been revealed so far, it can still be reasonably assumed that some of the prior events and designs will possibly be reflected in some way.Deadfirewas heavily pirate-themed in several aspects, and one notable inclusion within this is its suite of sea shanties that fans can enjoy while cruising the high seas of the open world. It was a standout detail and one thatAvowedcould be a bit behind the line in matching.
Avowedis set for a Fall 2024 release, possibly in November.
Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire’s Pirate-Flavored Setting and Sea Shanties
Deadfire’s titular archipelago was impressive, as players could sail the expansive seas and comb each group of island landmasses for quests, random encounters, and secrets while being serenaded by their crew. Adjacent titles have done the same, likeAssassin’s Creed: Black Flag, set during the historical Golden Age of Piracy, and featured a range of recognizable/real-life sea shanties sung by professionals to give it an authentic vibe.
These can impart a sense of true exploration in such games, adding a great layer and feeling of freedom on the open water.Deadfire’s shanties also have the sound and cadence of classic ones, but with many of the lyrics shifted to reference in-universe places and history. Such an element can raise immersion even further and is often just plain fun.
How Avowed’s Soundscape and Music Could Match Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire’s
From what has been shown so far,Avowed’s story setup points to a strange disease slowly overtaking its Living Lands area. And though it won’t be necessary forplayers to be familiar withPillars of Eternityto enjoyAvowed’s offerings, it will likely contain nods and callbacks to some degree for those who have.
At the same time, given the known information, it looks unlikely players will be doing much sailing versusDeadfire, simply due to the change in geographic locale. But this doesn’t meanAvowedwon’t or shouldn’t have something similar in this area that highlights the studio’s attention to detail and skill in crafting convincing worlds, especially in the case of one that is already so richly built and has a clear jumping-off point.
Avowedwill additionally follow design elements fromThe Outer Worlds, Obsidian’s previous sci-fi RPG. Like it,Avowedwill include companions and impactful NPCs. One ofDeadfire’s recruitable companions, Serafen, was a former pirate and had all the trappings and behaviors of a charming rogue. ThoughAvowedwill also be smaller in scopeoverall, this could open the door to it having more touches like the sea shanties. A companion or two who provides knowledge of songs (and maybe sings them too) could be an organic way of continuing this aspect.
Perhaps Obsidian has a few other tricks up its sleeve to refer back toDeadfire’s raucous shanties in some way as well. It would be another excellent opportunity for it to showcase stellar sound design, and hopefully the developer has kept this in mind forAvowedto impress in this area too.
Avowed
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
