What Would Avowed 2 Look Like If Obsidian Successfully Re-Pitches It? Potential Features, Setting, and Story

Saturday, July 11, 2026
Quick Answer: What Will Avowed 2 Be About? If Obsidian successfully re-pitches Avowed 2, expect a game that leans much heavier into deep, classic RPG mechanics than the first game. Story-wise, it will likely deal with the massive lore implications of Avowed 1's ending, exploring the consequences of the player's choices regarding the gods of Eora. The setting may expand beyond the Living Lands into broader regions of the world established in Pillars of Eternity, featuring deeper companion arcs, more complex faction reputation systems, and a tighter, more focused narrative scope.

With Avowed 2 currently in a state of limbo—officially cancelled by Xbox but secretly kept alive by a skeleton crew at Obsidian Entertainment—the gaming community is left wondering: What exactly is Obsidian building, and how might this "re-pitch" change the game?

 

When a game gets cancelled and has to fight for its life, it usually undergoes a massive design shift. The mandate to appeal to the broadest possible action-RPG audience often gets stripped away, allowing the developers to lean into their core strengths. Based on the ending of the first game, Obsidian's design history, and the rich lore of the Pillars of Eternity universe, here is what a re-pitched Avowed 2 could look like.

Story Direction: The Aftermath of the Living Lands

The first Avowed ended on a massive cliffhanger that fundamentally shook the world of Eora. The player character, the Envoy from Aedyr, uncovered ancient Engwithan secrets and made choices that directly impacted the gods and the metaphysical fabric of the world.

Consequences of the Envoy's Choices

Obsidian is famous for making player choices matter (see: Fallout: New Vegas, Pillars of Eternity). Avowed 2 will almost certainly deal with the fallout of the first game's ending.

  • The God Vacuum: Depending on how the first game ended, the balance of power among the gods of Eora has shifted. Avowed 2 could explore what happens when mortals realize the gods are fallible, or when certain divine domains are left unattended.
  • The Aedyr Empire's Reaction: The Envoy's discoveries in the Living Lands will inevitably reach the ears of the Aedyr Empire. The political fallout could serve as the central conflict for the sequel.
  • Soul Mechanics: The first game heavily featured the lore of souls (kith). A sequel would likely dive deeper into Engwithan soul-crafting, potentially introducing new magical threats born from corrupted or manipulated souls.

Potential New Regions: Expanding the World of Eora

While the first game was confined to the lush, dangerous, and isolated region of the Living Lands, a sequel needs to expand the map. Because Avowed is set in the same universe as the critically acclaimed Pillars of Eternity series, Obsidian has a massive, established world to draw from.

Potential Region Lore Background Why It Works for Avowed 2
The Deadfire Archipelago A massive chain of volcanic islands introduced in Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire. Home to the vibrant Rauatai culture and ancient adra (soul stuff) deposits. Offers a completely different visual palette (tropical, volcanic) and introduces naval exploration or island-hopping mechanics.
Tyranny's Territories (Kyros's Empire) While technically a different timeline in Obsidian's multiverse, the aesthetic of a magically subjugated, dark fantasy empire fits perfectly with Aedyr. Allows Obsidian to explore the darker, more authoritarian side of the Aedyr Empire, providing a stark contrast to the wild Living Lands.
The Glanfathan Highlands The rugged, mystical homeland of the Glanfathans (like your companion Karloch from Avowed 1). Provides an opportunity to deeply explore Karloch's backstory, the ancient animancy traditions of the Glanfathans, and their strained relationship with the Aedyr Empire.

Gameplay Evolution: Leaning Back Into RPG Roots

The first Avowed was criticized by some hardcore RPG fans for being a bit too "action-heavy" and lacking the deep, systemic role-playing mechanics of older Obsidian games. If the game is being re-pitched to Xbox, Obsidian might use this opportunity to strip away the "broad appeal" padding and double down on what they do best.

What a "Re-Pitched" Gameplay Loop Might Look Like:

  • Deeper Dialogue and Alignment Systems: Expect a return to complex dialogue trees, reputation systems with multiple factions, and choices that have delayed, cascading consequences in the second half of the game.
  • Companion Overhauls: Avowed 1's companions were good, but a sequel could feature companion quests that are as robust as those in Baldur's Gate 3 or Pillars of Eternity, with companions reacting dynamically to your major story choices.
  • Expanded Class/Build Diversity: The first game's magic and melee combat was fun, but a sequel could introduce more distinct subclasses, deeper skill trees, and more synergistic spell-casting mechanics.
  • Hub World Upgrades: Instead of just a campfire, Avowed 2 might feature a fully realized, upgradeable hub city (like a major Aedyr settlement or a neutral trading port) where you can interact with NPCs, manage your faction standing, and see the world change based on your actions.

How the "Cancellation" Might Actually Make Avowed 2 Better

It sounds counterintuitive, but having a game cancelled and forced to re-pitch it can sometimes result in a vastly superior final product. Here is how the Xbox "big reset" could inadvertently help Avowed 2:

✅ A Tighter Scope: Without the mandate to be a massive, 100-hour "system seller" for Game Pass, Obsidian can focus on a tighter, more polished 30-to-40 hour narrative experience with higher quality writing and fewer repetitive filler quests.
✅ Freedom from "Action" Constraints: The first game was heavily marketed as an action-RPG to compete with titles like Skyrim. A re-pitch allows Obsidian to embrace its identity as a studio that makes deep, thoughtful, text-heavy RPGs without worrying about mass-market action mechanics.
✅ Stronger Pillars Integration: With the pressure off, Obsidian might lean much harder into connecting Avowed 2 directly to the Pillars of Eternity storyline, potentially setting up the long-rumored Pillars of Eternity 3 or bringing back beloved characters from the older games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will Avowed 2 connect directly to Pillars of Eternity 3?

While Obsidian has not officially confirmed a Pillars of Eternity 3, the lore of Avowed is deeply intertwined with the Pillars universe. If Avowed 2 is re-pitched, it is highly likely it will serve as a narrative bridge, resolving the god-related cliffhangers from Avowed 1 and setting the stage for the future of the entire Eora timeline.

Will Avowed 2 feature real-time with pause combat?

Avowed 1 used purely real-time action combat. However, because Obsidian is famous for "Real Time with Pause" (RTwP) in games like Pillars of Eternity, a re-pitched Avowed 2 might introduce an RTwP toggle or a more tactical pause-and-cast magic system to differentiate it from standard action RPGs.

Will the player character from Avowed 1 return?

Obsidian typically allows you to import save files or make canonical choices for their sequels. It is highly probable that you will either play as the same Envoy from Aedyr, or play as a new character in the same era where the Envoy's past actions heavily influence the world state.

Does the "re-pitch" mean the game's scope is being reduced?

Not necessarily reduced, but likely refocused. When a game is re-pitched to secure funding, studios usually cut experimental or overly broad features to guarantee a stable release. Expect Avowed 2 to have a more focused narrative and fewer, but higher quality, side activities compared to the first game.