Avowed: Blending Destiny with Skyrim Adventure

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed: A Development Story Marked by a Complete Overhaul

In a recent Bloomberg interview, Avowed's second game director, Carrie Patel, revealed the tumultuous journey behind the game's creation, including the decision to scrap two years of development. Initially, Obsidian envisioned Avowed as a blend of Destiny and Skyrim, a cooperative, massively open-world experience with significant multiplayer components.

The 2020 teaser trailer, while generating considerable fan anticipation, belied the game's unfinished state. A decision was made to completely restart development shortly after. The original teaser now serves as a reminder of a discarded prototype, vastly different from the final release.

With the project rebooted, Patel took the helm, fundamentally altering Avowed's direction. The Skyrim and Destiny influences were jettisoned, along with the open-world design and multiplayer features. Instead, Obsidian returned to its established zone-based structure, focusing on a rich single-player narrative deeply rooted in the Pillars of Eternity universe.

This mid-development restart presented enormous obstacles, likened to filmmaking without a script. Teams navigated uncertainty and intense pressure as the leadership grappled with defining a unified vision. Despite these setbacks, Avowed's development continued for another four years before its eventual launch.