Avowed vs Avowed 2: What We Know About the Cancelled Sequel and How It Compared to the Original

Saturday, July 11, 2026
Quick Answer: How Does Avowed 2 Compare to the Original? While the original Avowed (released Feb 2025) focused on establishing the world of Eora through a tight, action-oriented first-person RPG set in the Living Lands, Avowed 2 was designed to expand that foundation. The sequel planned to tackle the massive lore implications of the first game's ending, potentially expand the map to new regions like the Deadfire Archipelago, and introduce deeper, more systemic RPG mechanics. However, due to Xbox's July 2026 cancellation, Avowed 2 is currently in limbo as Obsidian attempts to "re-pitch" a refocused version of the game.

The release of the original Avowed in early 2025 marked Obsidian Entertainment's return to the rich, lore-heavy universe of Pillars of Eternity. It was a critical success that introduced the world of Eora to a broader, action-RPG-focused audience. Naturally, a sequel was the next logical step.

 

But with the shocking news in July 2026 that Xbox had cancelled Avowed 2 (only for Obsidian to quietly continue a "re-pitch" version), fans are left trying to understand the gap between what we played and what we almost got. Here is a comprehensive comparison between the original Avowed and the cancelled (but potentially returning) Avowed 2.

Avowed's Foundation: What the Original Established

To understand what Avowed 2 was building on, we have to look at what the first game achieved. The original Avowed was designed as a gateway into Obsidian's complex fantasy universe.

  • Setting the Stage: It introduced players to the Living Lands, a mysterious, unexplored frontier of the Aedyr Empire, filled with ancient ruins, dangerous wildlife, and warring factions.
  • The Protagonist: You played as the "Envoy," an investigator from the Aedyr Empire sent to uncover the truth behind a mysterious plague and the ancient Engwithan secrets hidden in the region.
  • Gameplay Identity: It utilized a first-person (and third-person) perspective with fluid, real-time action combat, blending melee, firearms, and magic in a way that felt more like a modern action-RPG than a traditional isometric cRPG.
  • The Cliffhanger Ending: The game concluded with massive metaphysical revelations about the gods of Eora, the nature of souls (kith), and the Engwithan secret, leaving the world's balance fundamentally altered.

What Avowed 2 Was Building On (Pre-Cancellation)

Before its cancellation, Avowed 2 was reportedly in active development, aiming to take the foundation of the first game and expand it in scope, depth, and consequence.

Expanding the Narrative Scope

While the first game was a localized mystery in the Living Lands, Avowed 2 was expected to deal with the macro-level consequences of the Envoy's actions. The sequel would likely explore how the Aedyr Empire reacts to the truth about the gods, and how the metaphysical balance of Eora shifts when mortals hold the keys to divine power.

Broadening the Map

The Living Lands served as a great introductory region, but a sequel requires new vistas. Based on the lore of Pillars of Eternity, Avowed 2 was rumored to be exploring regions beyond the mainland, potentially introducing the tropical, volcanic islands of the Deadfire Archipelago or the rugged, mystical Glanfathan Highlands.

Deepening the RPG Mechanics

Feedback from the first game suggested that while the combat was fun, hardcore RPG fans wanted more systemic depth. Avowed 2 was reportedly leaning into:

  • More complex faction reputation systems.
  • Deeper companion relationship arcs and personal quests.
  • Expanded skill trees and subclass customization.
  • Potentially introducing a "Real Time with Pause" (RTwP) tactical option, a hallmark of Obsidian's older titles.

Side-by-Side Comparison: Avowed vs. Avowed 2

Here is a direct breakdown of how the two games compare across key categories, based on the original release and the pre-cancellation reports for the sequel.

Feature Avowed (Original - 2025) Avowed 2 (Cancelled / Re-pitch)
Primary Setting The Living Lands (Aedyr frontier) Expected to expand to new regions (e.g., Deadfire Archipelago or Glanfathan Highlands)
Narrative Scope Localized mystery; uncovering Engwithan secrets and a regional plague. Global consequences; dealing with the fallout of the god-revelations and Aedyr's political response.
Combat Style Fluid, real-time action combat (first/third person). Expected to retain action combat but potentially add deeper tactical layers or an RTwP toggle.
RPG Systems Streamlined for broad action-RPG appeal; solid but accessible. Planned to be much deeper, with complex faction reps, expanded subclasses, and heavier companion arcs.
Development Status Released (Feb 2025) to positive reviews. Officially cancelled (July 2026), but secretly kept alive by a skeleton crew for a "re-pitch".

The Cancellation Impact: What We Almost Lost

When Xbox cancelled Avowed 2 as part of CEO Asha Sharma's "big reset," it wasn't just a financial decision—it represented a loss of creative momentum for the franchise.

❌ The Loss of a Direct Follow-Up: The original Avowed ended on a massive cliffhanger. Cancelling the sequel leaves that narrative thread hanging in limbo, frustrating players who invested time in the Envoy's journey.
❌ Stalled Franchise Growth: Avowed was positioned to be Xbox's new flagship fantasy RPG alongside Elder Scrolls and Fallout. The cancellation halts the growth of a brand-new IP that was just finding its footing.
❌ Disrupted Studio Momentum: Obsidian had just shipped a successful game and was riding high on creative energy. Forcing the team to pivot abruptly to a new Fallout game disrupts their creative flow and wastes the pre-production work already done on the sequel.

Can the Vision Survive in Another Form?

If Obsidian's "re-pitch" strategy fails and Xbox refuses to fund Avowed 2 as a standalone sequel, could the vision survive?

  • Option A: A Massive Expansion (DLC)
    Obsidian could scale back the scope of Avowed 2 and release it as a massive, premium expansion for the original Avowed. This would require less investment from Xbox, resolve the cliffhanger ending, and keep the franchise alive, even if it lacks the scope of a full sequel.
  • Option B: Repurposing for Elder Scrolls
    Chris Avellone has speculated that if Avowed 2 is fully killed, the pre-production work, world-building, and mechanical prototypes could be repurposed for a new Elder Scrolls game. Given that The Elder Scrolls VI is still years away, Obsidian's deep fantasy RPG expertise could be highly valuable to Bethesda Game Studios.
  • Option C: A Pillars of Eternity 3 Bridge
    If the Avowed 2 IP is completely abandoned, Obsidian might fold the story ideas directly into a future Pillars of Eternity 3, using the isometric format to resolve the god-lore cliffhangers that Avowed 2 was meant to tackle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is Avowed 2 a direct continuation of the first game's story?

Yes. Avowed 2 was designed to be a direct narrative continuation, picking up the massive lore implications and cliffhangers from the end of the original Avowed. It was meant to explore the consequences of the Envoy's discoveries regarding the gods of Eora.

Will Avowed 2 be set in the Deadfire Archipelago?

While not officially confirmed before the cancellation, the Deadfire Archipelago (introduced in Pillars of Eternity 2) was heavily rumored to be a primary setting for Avowed 2. It would have provided a completely new visual palette and expanded the map significantly beyond the Living Lands.

Did the original Avowed sell enough to justify a sequel?

Yes. While Microsoft rarely releases exact sales figures, the original Avowed was a critical success and performed well on Xbox and PC. The cancellation of Avowed 2 was not due to the first game's failure, but rather Xbox's new strategic mandate to focus exclusively on legacy franchises like Fallout and Elder Scrolls.

What happens to the story of Avowed if the sequel is never made?

If Avowed 2 is never released in any form, the story of the Envoy and the metaphysical cliffhangers from the first game will remain unresolved. However, because the game is set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, it is highly likely that Obsidian will eventually address these plot threads in a future Pillars game or a scaled-back DLC.