Avowed's director hints at future plans for the franchise following its successful launch. Discover more about potential expansions, sequels, and upcoming projects from the studio.
Avowed Director Aims to Expand Upon the Established Universe
Potential for Expansions or Sequels
Avowed's successful release has reportedly pleased both Microsoft and Obsidian with its strong sales performance. Game Director Carrie Patel discussed the possibility of expansions or sequels during a February 22, 2025 interview with Bloomberg.
While Obsidian hasn't officially announced any franchise plans, Patel expressed her desire to continue directing games and exploring new creative opportunities. She shared her enthusiasm for potential expansions and sequels, stating, "Now that we've built this incredible world and developed our team's expertise in creating content and gameplay within it, I'd love to see us expand upon this foundation."
Avowed's Evolution During Development
Avowed underwent significant transformations and faced various challenges throughout its development journey. Patel acknowledged the process was complex but ultimately rewarding as the team found their creative direction.
Development began in 2018 as Obsidian prepared for acquisition, despite previous successes with titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. Microsoft purchased the company and announced the game in 2020, though the team had to scale back certain features, including multiplayer capabilities. In January 2021, leadership changes led to a complete project reboot.
Patel described the challenges of managing over 80 team members during this transition. "Typically, when reevaluating creative direction and developing new prototypes, you'd work with a much smaller team," she explained. Under her guidance, the team prioritized storytelling and lore from the Pillars of Eternity universe, replacing the open world concept with interconnected zones that allowed for more refined environmental design.
Reflecting on the development process, Patel noted, "I've observed this pattern on every project I've worked on or seen at the studio - things seem chaotic initially, then gradually fall into place."
Obsidian's Interest in Pillars of Eternity Tactics
With the Pillars of Eternity franchise revived through Avowed, Obsidian is considering developing a tactics-based spinoff. During a February 23, 2025 Twitch livestream, Josh Sawyer, director of both Pillars of Eternity titles, revealed the studio's interest in creating a tactical game.
"Many fans and developers would welcome a Pillars tactics game," Sawyer commented. "The challenge lies in determining the project's scope, including team size, visual quality targets, and overall scale." Previous reports indicated developer interest in a tactics game, and Avowed's success could help realize this vision.
However, Sawyer remains committed to creating Pillars of Eternity 3 with a budget comparable to Baldur's Gate 3's $100 million - significantly larger than what was available for Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire.
Avowed is currently available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. For the latest updates on Avowed, explore our related articles below!
