If there’s one thing Microsoft never fails to deliver, it’s… news. And between us, it’s not always the good kind. This time, the hot topic is a rumor that’s making the gaming community’s hair stand on end: Avowed 2 is allegedly in development, even after the lukewarm—not to say harsh—reception of the first game. Honestly? When I read this, I had to take a deep breath. Is Xbox really betting on a sequel for a title that, in the view of many (including my disappointed gamer side), was one of the biggest letdowns among recent RPGs? And worse: Is this a shot in the foot or a bold move that might, who knows, surprise everyone? Let’s unravel this story together—because let’s face it, the gaming universe has never been so full of plot twists.
Let’s be honest: when Avowed was announced, expectations were through the roof. Obsidian, the same folks behind classics like Fallout: New Vegas“>Fallout: New Vegas, promised a first-person, open-world RPG with magic, impactful choices, and that dark vibe we all love. But then… the game came out. And what a disappointment, right?
In my experience, Avowed came out with confidence and courage—but without the substance. Was the game pretty? Kind of, but that “colorful” and somewhat generic look fell short compared to the dark, immersive tone of the initial trailers. The gameplay, while functional, didn’t innovate at all. It felt like Skyrim with less personality and more bugs. Yes, BUGS. I myself ran into hilarious situations—like NPCs stuck in mid-air, quests that wouldn’t progress, and textures that simply refused to load. It’s no wonder the game was called a “digital cesspool” by a significant part of the community.
And the numbers don’t lie: at launch, Avowed barely reached 20,000 simultaneous players on Steam—a resounding failure for a triple-A RPG. Today, according to recent data, it doesn’t even surpass a few hundred active players. Can you believe it?
Microsoft and the “Game Pass” Strategy: How Avowed Was Affected
Then you think: “But what about Game Pass? Everyone played it there!”. And that’s where the danger lies. Microsoft loves to tout “millions of players,” but the truth is, most just took a quick look because of the subscription. Very few people actually bought the game. And when we talk about selling copies, the story changes completely.
Avowed reached about 6 million players—but how many of those were actual purchases? If it were 10%, that would be 600,000 copies. If it were 1%… well, better not even calculate. Compared to other RPGs like Hogwarts Legacy (12 million copies in two weeks) or Baldur’s Gate 3 (breaking records non-stop), Avowed fell short. And worse: it couldn’t even hold its ground as a “flagship” title for Game Pass.
The Xbox Game Pass strategy is undoubtedly one of the boldest business models in the gaming industry this generation. The idea of offering a vast catalog for an affordable price seems, in theory, the perfect solution for players who want to try out titles without breaking the bank. However, upon closer inspection, it’s clear that this model brings deep contradictions—especially for the perceived value of games. When a title like Avowed arrives day-one on the subscription service, it automatically becomes just one among many, not a must-have product that justifies an individual purchase. This phenomenon, while beneficial for the consumer, may be diluting the commercial appeal of IPs still trying to establish themselves in the market.
Moreover, the overreliance on Game Pass as the primary metric for success runs into an uncomfortable reality: the subscription alone cannot sustain the production cost of a triple-A game. Microsoft publicly celebrates “player” numbers, not “sales,” and that’s no accident. Behind the millions of accesses lies a delicate financial equation. Developing a large-scale RPG like Avowed requires massive investments in technology, staff, and marketing—something that’s hard to recoup solely through recurring subscription revenue, especially when the title fails to generate long-term engagement.
Another rarely discussed point is the psychological effect Game Pass has on player behavior. With a library full of options, many users end up adopting a “quick trial” mindset: they download the game, play for a few hours, and move on to the next, without forming any attachment or expectation for future releases in the same franchise. This cycle is great for subscriber retention but terrible for building loyalty to a brand or IP. In Avowed’s case, which needed to build a solid fanbase, being on Game Pass may have accelerated its initial access but also hastened its oblivion.
There’s also the issue of Microsoft’s internal studios, which now seem to have feeding the service’s catalog as their main mission—not necessarily innovating or taking risks. Under this logic, ambitious and risky projects might be shelved in favor of safer, more modular titles that fit well into the subscription model. This would partly explain the series of cancellations for games like Scalebound and the supposed hesitation to revive classic franchises that don’t align with a constant stream of content.
So, Does Avowed 2 Make Sense? My Honest Opinion
Look, I understand that Obsidian may have learned from its mistakes. I also believe every franchise deserves a second chance. But Avowed 2? Honestly, I think it’s an unnecessary risk. The brand was tarnished from the start. Even if the second game turns out to be amazing—and I hope it does—will fans actually trust it?
Microsoft has so many incredible IPs lying dormant—Fable, Perfect Dark (which was canceled, believe it or not!), Gears of War… Why insist on one that started off on the wrong foot? It feels like trying to shove a product down our throats that nobody asked for.
And if the budget is low and the team is small, maybe it makes sense. But if it’s another mega-project with a Hollywood-level budget… well, folks, get the popcorn ready—because the failure could be monumental.
Avowed 2 represents one of the most complex dilemmas the gaming industry faces today: is it worth investing in the sequel to a franchise that was born to a lukewarm reception? From a purely commercial standpoint, it might make sense if the first game met internal engagement metrics on Game Pass, but from a creative and public perception angle, it’s an extremely risky bet. Obsidian is a talented studio, with incredible stories like Pentiment and Grounded under its belt, and it worries me that resources are being directed toward a project that already carries the weight of unmet expectations.
The public’s memory is long, especially in the gaming world. Those who were disappointed with the final version of Avowed will hardly be excited for a sequel, unless there’s a radical change in approach—something like what CD Projekt Red did with Cyberpunk 2077 and its improved version. But even in that case, CD Projekt already had a solid track record with The Witcher, while Obsidian, although respected, hasn’t built the same unconditional trust from fans when it comes to ambitious open worlds. Avowed 2 wouldn’t just need to be good; it would need to be exceptional to win back the audience.
There’s also the issue of timing and context. The RPG market is more competitive than ever. From Baldur’s Gate 3 to Dragon’s Dogma 2, players have access to rich, polished experiences—and comparisons will be inevitable. If Avowed 2 doesn’t bring innovations in narrative, combat systems, or player-driven freedom, it risks being overshadowed by titles that have already learned from their mistakes and evolved. Obsidian can’t afford to repeat formulas; it needs to dare.
Another aspect that can’t be ignored is visual identity. One of the major criticisms of the first game was the tonal shift—from dark and mysterious to colorful and, at times, generic. Avowed 2 needs to reclaim the unique personality promised in the initial trailers; otherwise, it will always remain in the shadow of established franchises like The Elder Scrolls. The setting of Eora, the world of Pillars of Eternity, has enormous potential, but it needs to be explored with more courage and artistic coherence.
Speaking honestly, as a fan of classic RPGs and Obsidian’s history, I’d rather see the studio investing in a new IP or a sequel to better-received titles, like The Outer Worlds—which, despite its limitations, had personality and a satirical tone that captivated a loyal fanbase. Avowed 2 sounds to me like an attempt to fix something that, perhaps, should be left behind—an effort that could be redirected toward something with more soul and less baggage.
That said, I don’t doubt the team’s capability. Obsidian has talented writers and designers who understand RPGs like few others. If there’s creative freedom and enough time to polish the experience, maybe—just maybe—Avowed 2 could become the redemption the franchise needs. But in the current landscape, where Microsoft seems to push for quick results and constant presence on Game Pass, I have my doubts about whether the ideal conditions exist.
The decision to develop Avowed 2 seems to reflect a corporate culture of persisting in questionable bets, while original projects with more identity are set aside. I hope I’m wrong, but I feel that Microsoft and Obsidian might be wasting immense creative potential on an endeavor whose ship has already sailed under unfavorable winds. If Avowed 2 does see the light of day, I hope to be surprised—but, for now, I see more risks than potential.
