Avowed's director hints at future plans for the franchise following the game's successful launch. Read on to discover the possibilities of expansions, sequels, and other projects in the works.
Avowed's Director Looks to Expand Upon the World They Created
Future Expansions or Sequels?
Avowed's release was a success, with Microsoft and Obsidian reportedly pleased with sales figures. In a February 22, 2025 interview with Bloomberg, Avowed Game Director Carrie Patel discussed the potential for expansions or a sequel.
While Obsidian hasn't publicly announced any concrete plans, Patel expressed a strong desire to continue working on the franchise. She's keen to explore further development, stating, "Now that we’ve built this wonderful world, and also built this team strength and muscle memory around the content and gameplay in this world, I’d love to see us do more with it."
Navigating the Challenges of Avowed's Development
Avowed's journey to release wasn't without its hurdles and significant changes. Patel described the process as "messy," detailing the numerous challenges faced throughout development.
The project began in 2018, a time when Obsidian was preparing for a potential sale despite the success of titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. The independence presented its own obstacles. Microsoft's acquisition of Obsidian in 2020 and the subsequent game announcement in the same year brought new challenges. The team had to cut several features, including multiplayer functionality. A leadership change and game reboot in January 2021 further reshaped the project.
Patel highlighted the complexities of managing a team of over 80 people, stating, "Normally if you’re stepping back and reevaluating your creative direction, putting together a new vertical slice and revised production plans, you would do that with a very small team." Under Patel's leadership, the team refocused, emphasizing the story and lore from the Pillars of Eternity franchise and shifting from an open world to open zones, a change that ultimately improved the game's world design.
Reflecting on the experience, Patel noted, "There’s this interesting thing I’ve seen on every project I’ve worked on or seen during my time at the studio — things are messy, messy, messy, then they start coming together."
Obsidian Eyes a Pillars of Eternity Tactics Game
With the Pillars of Eternity franchise revitalized by Avowed's success, Obsidian is now exploring a Pillars of Eternity Tactics game. During a February 23, 2025 Twitch livestream, Pillars of Eternity and Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire Director Josh Sawyer revealed this interest.
Sawyer stated, "Pillars: Tactics is a thing that a lot of people would like, a lot of people at the studio would like to work on; there are a lot of people who like tactics games." However, he acknowledged the challenges in determining the scope, including team size, visual fidelity, and overall scale. Previous reports indicated developer interest in a Pillars of Eternity tactics game, and Avowed's success may finally bring this project to fruition.
Despite this, Sawyer remains committed to developing Pillars of Eternity 3, aiming for a budget comparable to Baldur’s Gate 3 ($100 million), a significant increase from Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire's budget.
Avowed is available now for Xbox Series X|S and PC. For the latest Avowed news, check out our related article below!
