Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPG, Avowed, will not include a New Game Plus mode at launch, according to game director Carrie Patel. However, there is still a possibility of post-launch DLC. Since being acquired by Microsoft, Obsidian has been actively releasing new titles such as Grounded, Pentiment, and the sci-fi RPG shooter The Outer Worlds. Now, with Avowed, the studio is returning to its RPG roots.
Set in the fictional world of Eora from the Pillars of Eternity series, Avowed is a semi-open world RPG that allows players to shape their character and influence the story through choices and dialogue. While it will feature many classic RPG mechanics, Obsidian has clarified that one commonly requested feature will be missing at launch.
In a recent interview, Patel confirmed that Avowed will not include New Game Plus. Instead, players who wish to experience the story differently will need to start fresh with a new character. However, when asked about potential post-launch expansions, Patel responded with a noncommittal “maybe,” suggesting that DLC remains a possibility.
Given Avowed’s ties to Pillars of Eternity, there’s plenty of lore and content to draw from should Obsidian choose to expand the game further. However, the absence of New Game Plus might disappoint some fans, particularly those who enjoy replaying games with their leveled-up character.
This decision isn’t entirely unexpected. The Outer Worlds also launched without New Game Plus, though Obsidian later introduced expansions that added new content and features. A revamped version of The Outer Worlds was even released later, addressing concerns like the original level cap.
Lack of New Game Plus isn’t uncommon, even among major AAA releases. For example, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 initially launched without it, though Insomniac later added the mode in a post-launch update. Given Obsidian’s openness to DLC and potential fan demand, Avowed may eventually follow a similar path and introduce the feature in the future.
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