Avowed's Big Delay: Obsidian's Conjuring a Proper Anniversary Feast, Not Just a Snack!
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Obsidian's delayed Avowed's autumn update, initially featuring Photo Mode and New Game Plus, but it's not all bad news! They're cooking up a massive 'biggest update yet' for the game's anniversary in February 2026, bundling in all the planned features plus new weapons, customisation options, and more, as they juggle multiple big releases.
Right, so you know that feeling when you're trying to cast a simple charm, but then you get a brilliant idea and decide to throw in a few extra reagents, hoping for something *spectacular*? That's kinda what Obsidian Entertainment seems to be doing with Avowed, delaying a planned autumn update only to promise something much, much bigger for its anniversary next year.
Initially, my digital tea leaves were swirling with the usual 'oh no, another delay' narrative. Because, let's be fair, in the gaming world, a delay can sometimes feel like a wizard accidentally teleported your spellbook into another dimension. But, mate, the message from Obsidian, originally spotted and reported by Robert Purchese over at Eurogamer, has sharpened into something far more intriguing: this isn't just a delay; it's a *supersize* delay, apparently leading to a monster update.
According to Obsidian's announcement on X (formerly Twitter), the update we were all expecting this autumn – which was meant to bring us a Photo mode and New Game Plus, among other goodies – won't be landing as planned. To break the bad news first: yes, no fall update for Avowed. *But*, and this is the important bit, they're shifting all their magical development energy towards a significantly larger update, timed perfectly with the game's first anniversary on February 18th, 2026. A 'biggest update yet,' they're calling it. Well, I'm certainly curious what enchanted goodies they've been conjuring in the background.
So, what's brewing in this bigger cauldron? Everything originally planned for the autumn drop is still in there, obviously – that much-desired New Game Plus mode, so we can all dive back into the Living Lands with our maxed-out characters and wreak delightful havoc. And, of course, the Photo mode, because if you're exploring a vibrant, exaggerated fantasy world like Avowed's, you absolutely need to capture those 'accidentally blew up a goblin camp with a fire spell' moments in glorious detail. Who doesn't love a good virtual selfie after a hard day's questing, eh?
But wait, there's more! This anniversary update is also set to include a brand-spanking-new weapon type – which, let's be honest, always gets the gears turning for us combat tinkerers. Plus, the ability to 'change appearance in the world' (which, my observations tell me, likely means character customisation beyond the initial setup, hurrah!), new character presets, and more Godlike feature presets. Essentially, more options to make your Avowed adventurer truly *yours*, and 'many more' things Obsidian is keeping under wraps for now. It’s like they’re saying, 'Nah, we don't just want to hand you a photo album; we want to hand you a whole bloody enchanted camera, a magic mirror, *and* a new weapon to boot!'
Now, for a bit of context. Avowed, when it burst onto the scene earlier this year, was quite the pleasant surprise. Robert Purchese, the same chap who broke the news, was rather complimentary of it in his Eurogamer review, describing it as a 'carefree action-adventure which delighted in exaggerated fantasy.' And I reckon he's spot on. It really did hit a sweet spot, with its smaller, more focused open-world areas offering a solid sandbox for exploration, married to a delightfully tactile and experimental combat system. It was good, plain and simple, and the earlier updates this year (spring and summer) brought in new abilities, items, better NPC behaviours, and even an arachnophobia-safe mode – a genuinely thoughtful touch for those of us who prefer our fantasy without eight-legged nightmares.
But let's be cleverly observant here, mate. Obsidian, bless their cotton socks, seems to be trying to cast three major spells at once this year. Avowed wasn't their *only* big RPG released. They also dropped the sci-fi sequel The Outer Worlds 2 in October (which Alex also reviewed and liked, for Eurogamer, mind you), and then there's Grounded 2, an early access collaboration with Eidos Montreal. That's a serious workload for any studio! So, a delay for Avowed, especially one promising more polish and features, makes a bit more sense when you see just how much they've been juggling. It points to a studio prioritising quality and scope, rather than rushing out half-baked content, which, let's be frank, is always welcome.
While some studios drop minor patches like confetti, Obsidian's cooking up a full-blown anniversary feast. It's a calculated move: hold back a smaller update to bundle it with even more goodness, making the anniversary not just a date on the calendar, but a proper celebration of the game with a hefty chunk of new content. This gives them more development time, sure, but it also builds anticipation and promises a bigger 'come back and play' moment for us gamers. It's cautiously optimistic chaos, and frankly, I'm here for it.
So, while we'll have to wait a little longer to snap those perfect in-game photos or tackle the Living Lands again on New Game Plus, the prospect of a genuinely *bigger* update makes the delay feel less like a setback and more like a clever re-prioritisation. Here's hoping Obsidian's extra brewing time means they're not just adding more ingredients, but truly enchanting the whole damn stew. We'll be keeping a keen eye on their spellbooks as February 2026 approaches!
Tags: Avowed, Obsidian Entertainment, Game Updates, RPG, New Game Plus
Original article: Eurogamer