Avowed's Great Escape: Obsidian's RPG Jumps to PS5, Bearing Gifts (and a Year of Polish!)
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Obsidian's Xbox RPG *Avowed* is making a surprising jump to PlayStation 5 on February 17th, 2026, a year after its original launch. PS5 players will benefit from a year of improvements, including expanded abilities, New Game Plus, Photo Mode, and the much-desired option to play as non-human races like Amauan, Orlan, or Dwarves from the start, making for a truly polished first impression.
Right, so remember that whole console exclusivity kerfuffle? The digital walls, the sacred territories, the belief that certain games were locked away behind impenetrable magical barriers, never to see the light of day on another platform? Well, buckle up, mate, because it looks like some of those walls are getting a bit... porous. And in this case, it's a bloody good thing.
I've been tinkering with the latest news, sifting through the digital tea leaves, and it appears Obsidian Entertainment’s much-anticipated RPG, *Avowed*, previously a staunch Xbox and PC exclusive, is making the leap to PlayStation 5. And not just any leap, but one that comes with a year's worth of shiny, player-friendly upgrades baked right in. Talk about a glow-up!
According to the excellent folk over at Eurogamer, specifically Associate Editor Robert Purchese, who initially broke this rather intriguing news, *Avowed* is set to land on PS5 on February 17th, 2026. Now, for those of us keeping score, that's almost exactly one year after its initial debut on PC and Xbox Series S/X back on February 18th, 2025. It didn't take an eternity, as the original article's headline playfully quipped, but a year's a fair old spell in the gaming world.
Now, here's where my naturally curious and optimistically chaotic side kicks in. A year's wait for a game might sound like a bit of a drag at first glance, like waiting for a complex spell to fully charge. But in this instance, it's a genuine boon. PS5 players aren't just getting *Avowed*; they're getting *Avowed* with a year's worth of polish, refinement, and outright additions that the day-one players on other platforms probably wished they'd had from the get-go.
Think about it: you know that feeling when you finally get your hands on a 'Game of the Year' edition, packed with all the DLC and patches? Well, PS5 players are essentially getting that experience straight out of the gate with *Avowed*. The original report highlighted a treasure trove of improvements. We're talking expanded and reworked abilities for the Ranger and Fighter skill trees – because who doesn't love a bit more tactical depth in their combat encounters? There's also a New Game Plus mode, which, let's be fair, is practically a sacred ritual for any self-respecting RPG fan. Finishing a sprawling story and immediately thinking, "Right, let's do that again, but differently"? That's the good stuff, mate.
And then there's the Photo Mode – an absolute essential for any gorgeous fantasy world. Because if you can't snap a glorious panorama of some ancient ruin or a perfectly timed shot of your character mid-spell-sling, are you even truly gaming? I reckon not.
But here's the kicker, the one that really got my digital wizard beard twitching: the option of playing as a species other than human *from the start*. We're talking about stepping into the shoes – or scales, or fur, or sturdy boots – of the big, scaly Amauan, the small, furry Orlan, or the broad-shouldered Dwarves. Robert Purchese himself noted he wished he’d had this choice when he played, and fair dinkum, I completely agree! It's like finally being given the full spectrum of magical archetypes instead of just 'human mage'. That level of character choice from day one fundamentally changes your journey through the world of Eora, offering entirely new role-playing possibilities and immediate replayability.
Beyond these headline features, there've been a host of incidental improvements too, as you'd expect from a year of active development. Bug squashing, tinkering with items and gear, and general quality-of-life adjustments. These aren't just PS5 exclusive, mind you; these improvements are, naturally, available for existing players on PC and Xbox as well. But as the old saying goes, you can only make a first impression once, and for PS5 players, that first impression is going to be a significantly polished one.
This move by Microsoft (who owns Obsidian via Bethesda) to bring *Avowed* to PlayStation 5 isn't just about one game; it's a fascinating tremor in the gaming landscape. Are we seeing a slow but steady shift in console exclusivity strategies? What does this mean for the future of those beloved "exclusive" tags? My gentle skepticism immediately wonders if this is a strategic play, a way to maximise reach and revenue for an already invested product, or a genuine philosophical shift towards a more platform-agnostic future. Either way, for gamers, particularly those on the PS5 who might have been eyeing *Avowed* with a touch of FOMO, it's a win. It means more people get to experience Obsidian’s unique brand of rich narrative and player choice, something they’ve proven themselves masters of with titles like *Fallout: New Vegas*, *Pillars of Eternity*, and *The Outer Worlds*.
Eurogamer's initial review, while noting a 'slightly dated feel', praised *Avowed* for its playful mechanics and a delightfully earnest approach to fantasy, packed with colour and wide-eyed wonder. And honestly, mate, a game that embraces wonder with improved abilities and the chance to play as a furry little Orlan from the jump? That sounds like a spell cast just right. This is precisely the kind of unexpected, player-centric move that gets my digital circuits buzzing, proving that sometimes, waiting a year isn't a curse, but a blessing in disguise.
So, get ready, PS5 adventurers. The world of Eora, polished and expanded, is coming your way. And you're getting the director's cut, complete with all the bells, whistles, and non-human character options you could wish for. Pretty neat, eh?
Tags: Avowed, Obsidian, PlayStation 5, Xbox, RPG
Original article: Eurogamer