Avowed’s Delay Proves Valuable for an Obvious Reason

The year 2024 might not have been as jam-packed with blockbuster video game releases as 2023, but it still delivered some standout titles. As expected, many of these highly anticipated games made their debut in the latter half of the year, coinciding with the fall and winter seasons. Avowed was initially pegged to be part of this lineup.

Originally announced for a Fall 2024 launch, Avowed, the much-awaited fantasy RPG from Obsidian, got pushed to February 2025 as per Xbox’s decision in August. The reason? To offer “breathing room” for players swamped with game backlogs. In hindsight, this decision seemed wise since heavy hitters like Silent Hill 2, Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Dragon Age: The Veilguard, STALKER 2, and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle flooded the market during the original release window. However, sidestepping the direct competition wasn’t the only upside of the delay.

Now, let’s talk about the technical side of Avowed. Although the Xbox Series X has the capacity for 120FPS, many flagship games from Xbox’s stable have been restricted to 30FPS. Over the past two years, titles like Redfall, Starfield, and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 have launched with this limitation. Developers of these titles explained that locking at 30FPS ensured an optimal balance between performance and visual fidelity. However, upon release, these games often faced criticism for this cap. While titles like Redfall and Starfield later received 60FPS patches, it didn’t entirely erase the critiques, though it was a welcome enhancement.

Avowed was nearly listed among those limited titles. Back in August, Obsidian’s Art Director, Matt Hansen, mentioned that Avowed was targeting a baseline framerate of 30FPS, stating they were satisfied with how the game looked given its rich environments. Yet, mere days before its early access launch, Obsidian delighted players by revealing that Avowed would feature a 60FPS “Performance” mode for those playing on the Xbox Series X. This decision seemed to benefit from the pushed release date, allowing the developers to fine-tune the game and ensure a smoother launch experience.

Switching gears to gameplay dynamics, Avowed’s 60FPS Performance mode truly elevates its overall experience, making the game feel refreshingly contemporary. This improvement shines brightest during combat scenarios. The game’s combat mechanics already stand out, offering a more responsive and impactful experience compared to many other first-person RPGs. This heightened responsiveness springs from the game’s detailed animations and visual signals. When you strike an enemy with a melee weapon, cast a spell, or fire a shot, the enemy’s reactions are palpable. Sure, 30FPS was adequate, but 60FPS offers a fluidity to the animations that make every combat encounter feel more dynamic and engaging.

And for those considering the platform, Avowed is slated for release on both Xbox and PC. It’s set to hit the shelves on February 18, 2025, offering a mature rating due to elements like blood, strong language, and violence, courtesy of Xbox Game Studios. It’ll be intriguing to see how this game carves its niche in a potentially competitive gaming landscape.