As the release of Avowed draws nearer, Obsidian Entertainment is sharing more insights into their design philosophy. In an interview with GamesRadar, Berto Ritger, Region Director and Senior Area Designer, highlighted the importance of missable content in RPGs, hinting at its presence in Avowed.
Ritger believes that missable content contributes to a more personal and engaging RPG experience:
I think the core of RPGs that makes them special is missable content...it makes the experience feel so much more personal to how you play the game...it creates a very interesting dialogue about the game.
He also discussed how Obsidian encourages exploration:
We want to draw your attention to things that we want you to engage with...And so we try to draw your attention that way.
While a recent hands-on preview of Avowed's starting area, Dawnshore, didn't reveal much missable content, it's possible that such content is reserved for later areas. The preview left a positive impression, suggesting another engaging RPG from Obsidian, building upon the world of their previous Pillars of Eternity games.
Avowed launches on February 18, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X.