Avowed: "Very Successful Success" or Modest Launch?
Obsidian Entertainment's latest RPG Avowed is released. Initial reception from critics and players is positive. However, its commercial success remains a question. Unexpectedly, the developers are declaring the game a "very successful success." Is this assessment reflected in public data?
"Very Happy" Developers, Yet Numbers Remain Unclear
Avowed game director Carrie Patel recently stated she was extremely happy with the game's launch. She believes there is mutual pleasure at Xbox/Microsoft and Obsidian with Avowed's reception. Patel cited promising player numbers and play time. She did not provide exact figures, noting players access the game through Game Pass and direct sales on various platforms.
This lack of concrete official data makes it hard to independently verify the "very successful" assertion. Public Steam data offers a partial market view.
Steam Numbers: A More Modest Picture?
Looking at Steam player counts, Avowed's launch on Valve's platform appears good but not spectacular. The game peaked at just over 19,000 concurrent players. This is not terrible, but relatively low for recent "blockbuster" RPG launches. Reportedly, Steam player count decreased dramatically within weeks to around a fifth of its peak.
Steam is one platform. Many players use Xbox Game Pass on console and PC. Steam numbers do not show the complete picture. They do question the degree of "success" reported, especially compared to other major game launches.
Positive Reception and Future Updates
Despite modest Steam numbers, Avowed is well-received by gamers and gaming media. Microsoft's apparent satisfaction, as Patel expressed, supports this. A substantial patch (version 1.3.0) is already released, indicating ongoing support.
Obsidian promised a roadmap of updates through 2025. It is unclear if updates will expand content or refine mechanics and fix technical issues. Post-launch support is encouraging for Avowed's long-term success.
Conclusion: Defining "Success"
Avowed's case is curious. Developers are happy, citing internal metrics. Public Steam numbers are less clearly victory-claiming. "Success" is quantified in various ways: sales, player engagement, critical reception, or long-term retention. Avowed may be a "very successful success" based on Microsoft and Obsidian's metrics. Launch Steam numbers do not indicate a record-breaking debut. As the game evolves with patches and more data emerges, a clearer picture of its true performance will be achieved.
You can read Our Avowed Review here
