Avowed’s Early Reception: A Mixed Bag of Good and Not-So-Great

The wait is finally over for fans of Obsidian Entertainment’s latest RPG, Avowed. The game has launched in paid early access on Xbox and PC, and the critic embargo has lifted, allowing us to dive into the early reception. In this post, we’ll analyze the mixed bag of reviews and player feedback to see what’s in store for this highly anticipated title.

A Good, But Not Great, Metascore

Avowed’s metascore among critics has settled at an 80 on Xbox and 79 on PC, which is decent but not outstanding. To put this into perspective, Obsidian’s The Outer Worlds scored an 85, and Fallout: New Vegas scored an 84. Even the Pillars of Eternity series, which Avowed is part of, has a higher metascore, with the first game scoring an 89 and the second an 88. While an 80 metascore is still a respectable score, it’s clear that Avowed didn’t quite live up to the hype.

Player Feedback: A Different Story

However, the player feedback on Steam tells a different story. With an 82% “Very Positive” rating, players seem to be enjoying the game more than critics. This is likely due to the fact that players are more forgiving and willing to overlook minor flaws in favor of a good gaming experience. It’s also worth noting that Steam user scores are often more representative of the general gaming public, whereas critic scores can be influenced by various factors.

Xbox Game Pass and the Lack of Transparency

One thing to keep in mind is that Avowed is an Xbox Game Pass title, which means that Microsoft’s definition of success may be different from traditional publishers. With Xbox Game Pass, players can access the game without having to purchase it outright, which can skew sales figures. As a result, it’s difficult to determine whether Avowed is a success or not, at least in the short term.

A Potential Exclusive Future

Avowed is one of the few Xbox exclusives that has not been announced for PlayStation, alongside Starfield. While Microsoft has stated that all games are on the table to be shipped to competitors, it’s unclear whether Avowed will make the leap to PS5. My guess is that if it does, it won’t happen until at least a year from now, if at all.

Conclusion and Actionable Insights

In conclusion, Avowed’s early reception is a mixed bag of good and not-so-great. While critics have given the game a decent score, players seem to be enjoying it more. As the game’s “true” launch approaches, it will be interesting to see how the reception evolves. For now, it’s clear that Avowed is a good game, but not a great one. If you’re considering playing it, I recommend checking out some reviews and gameplay videos to get a better sense of what to expect.

Summary

• Avowed’s metascore is 80 on Xbox and 79 on PC, indicating a good but not great reception.
• Player feedback on Steam is more positive, with an 82% “Very Positive” rating.
• Avowed is an Xbox Game Pass title, making it difficult to determine its success.
• The game’s exclusivity status is unclear, but it may not come to PS5 anytime soon.

What do you think about Avowed’s early reception? Share your thoughts in the comments below!