Summary
Avowedis Obsidian Entertainment’s anticipated upcoming project, a first person dark fantasy RPG set in the mysterious Living Lands, part of the greater world of Eora established in the studio’s two CPRG titles,Pillars of Eternityand its sequel, Deadfire.Avowedwill be taking much of its background and lore from the world building seen in thePoEentries, although the developer has also been quite clear that it won’t be necessary for fans to have played them to understand and enjoyAvowed.Instead,Avowedwill offer a fresh adventure and experience, using Eora as a jumping off point to spin a completely new tale in the previously unseen region.
One of themajor components ofAvowed’s storyand framework is the bizarre plague known as the Dreamscourge sweeping across the Living Lands that the player’s character has been sent to investigate. With it apparently affecting humans, animals, and nature itself, the disease’s effects on the Lands as shown in material thus far bring to mind some of the similarly unnerving elements featured in Naughty Dog’s Sony-exclusive series,The Last of Us.TLOU’s depiction of the Cordyceps infection that turns people into hideous zombie-like mushroom-covered monstrosities has made them some of gaming’s most iconic enemies. Given that it will also feature a heavily adjacent angle, it could be thatAvowedbecomes Xbox’s own version ofTLOU.
Avowedis currently set for a Fall release, as a day one Game Pass title. Previous leaks suggest its launch will be July 20, 2025, though this is not officially confirmed at present.
Avowed Playing Into its Body Horror Stylings May End Up Making it XBox’s ‘The Last of Us’
The Last of Us Reimagined and Reshaped the ‘Infected Zombie’ Enemy Type
Counted among the many reasons for its popularity,The Last of Us' Cordyceps fungal infectiontook the well-worn zombie enemies that had become ubiquitous in gaming and put a freshly horrifying spin on them via their vision and design. Though they functioned more or less the same as standard zombies mechanically in some ways, their visually striking and disturbing appearance along with the lore explanations behind them made them all the more terrifying. Once players found out exactly how the infection changed people, and were forced to face them in various forms in each entry,The Last of Usstood out as having some of the best, and most warped,body horror in modern games.
How Avowed’s Dreamscourge Disease Could Mirror The Last of Us' Cordyceps Zombies
Based on what can be seen inAvowed’s most recent gameplay traileras well as previously revealed information, the Dreamscourge’s effects upon the people and place of the Living Lands seem to highly resemble those ofThe Last of Us. Grotesque fungal growths cover the afflicted, and it looks like the plague turns them similarly uncontrollably violent, all of which is reminiscent of the Cordyceps. There is certainly more to be seen ofAvowed’s Dreamscourge-ridden enemies, and depending on how far this element is taken, will perhaps invite further comparisons toThe Last of Usin this regard.
One big difference betweenAvowedandThe Last of Usis that the latter is a mostly linear experience, with pre-existing characters who have established personalities, histories, and motivations prior to the start of the game’s plot. This is in contrast toAvowed’s semi-open world approach. In keeping within RPG traditions and the studio’s own long-standing design philosophy, Obsidian has noted thatAvowedwill offer an extensive and branching series of choices for fans. As the studio is well-known for its depth of writing, with surprising twists and morally murky dilemmas, this is another factor that could potentially add to it being compared toThe Last of Usalong with its enemy designs.
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?
