Avowed Similar to Outer Worlds or KOTOR 2 in Terms of Size, is “Open Zone” not Open World

Earlier this week, we finally got a real look at Avowed, the new first-person action-RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe from Obsidian Entertainment. While the footage looked promising, some have continued to wonder about the scope of the game – is Avowed Obsidian’s Skyrim or more of a fantasy-themed The Outer Worlds? Well, according to the game’s director, it’s more the latter.

Avowed game director Carrie Patel sat down to answer a few questions about the game during today’s Xbox Games Showcase Extended, and according to her, the game is “open zone” rather than open world, and similar in scope to The Outer Worlds or some older Obsidian titles like Knights of the Old Republic II…

“[Avowed] is going to be roughly comparable to something like Knights of the Old Republic 2 or The Outer Worlds. It’s set up as a series of interconnected open zones that players can explore at their own pace. You can invest in discovering every nook and cranny in the world, discovering every secret, finding every sidequest, meeting every character, or you can have a much more focused experience. It’s really up to players and how much time they want to spend in the Living Lands, but I’m hopeful they’re going to spend a lot of time with us once Avowed releases.”

Using both The Outer Worlds and KOTOR 2 as comparison points leave a bit of wiggle room, as the former had around a 20-hour campaign, while the latter was closer to 30 hours. That said, the overall point is pretty clear – Avowed is not going to be a life-consuming open-world experience. It’s a more linear action RPG that’s likely going to be more about memorable writing and player choice than overwhelming you with content. Whether or not that’s a good thing, is up to you.

Haven’t been keeping up with Avowed? You can check out the game’s latest trailer, and some more details about its world, companion characters, and more, right here.

Avowed is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S sometime in 2024. What do you think? Does Obsidian’s latest sound like and appetizing RPG meal? Or would you prefer something a bit more hearty?