Avowed Was Originally Designed as a Blend of Destiny and Skyrim

Obsidian Entertainment's Avowed: A Development Odyssey

Bloomberg recently interviewed Carrie Patel, Avowed's second game director, revealing a turbulent development journey marked by a complete project overhaul. Initially conceived as a blend of Destiny and Skyrim, Obsidian's vision involved a massive, cooperatively explorable open world with robust multiplayer components.

The 2020 teaser trailer, while generating considerable fan enthusiasm, belied the game's actual state of incompletion. A decision was made to discard two years of work and completely restart development. The original teaser now serves as a testament to a discarded prototype, vastly different from the final release.

Patel, taking the reins as director post-reboot, fundamentally reshaped Avowed. The Skyrim and Destiny influences were abandoned, along with the open-world design and multiplayer features. Obsidian returned to its established zone-based structure, focusing instead on a compelling single-player narrative deeply rooted in the Pillars of Eternity universe.

This mid-development restart presented significant obstacles, likened to filmmaking without a script. Teams navigated uncertainty and intense pressure as the leadership solidified a unified vision. Despite these challenges, Avowed's development continued for another four years before its eventual launch.