Why Avowed Won’t Be an Open World Game
Avowed will not feature a traditional open world. Instead, the game is divided into interconnected open zones with loading screens separating them. This approach is reminiscent of Obsidian’s previous RPG, The Outer Worlds, where players traveled between planets or areas via doors that triggered loading screens.
The segmented design was confirmed during the Xbox Extended Showcase 2023. Game director Carrie Patel explained that these zones are crafted for players to explore freely while maintaining a structured experience. This design allows for a balance between exploration and focused storytelling.
Why Isn’t Avowed Open World?
Initially, Avowed was envisioned as an open-world game similar to Skyrim. However, Obsidian decided to scale back the scope to focus on telling more confined, story-rich experiences. Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart explained in an interview with PC Gamer that creating a vast 8km x 8km open world would have significantly changed the style of the game.
Urquhart elaborated, “We want to tell more focused stories that players can experience with their companions, moving from one part of the world to another seamlessly.” This decision ensures the game emphasizes narrative depth over sheer map size.
How Big Is the Avowed Map?
The Avowed map is expected to be similar in size to The Outer Worlds or Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2. While not fully open-world, these games featured large zones connected by loading screens, offering plenty of space to explore.
While it’s too early to determine the exact scale of Avowed, fans can expect a world that provides ample opportunities for exploration. In The Outer Worlds, players could visit multiple planets and locations, with completionists spending around 40 hours uncovering everything.
Though it won’t match the vastness of open-world games like Skyrim or Starfield, Avowed promises bite-sized, detailed zones that offer satisfying exploration while focusing on a rich, narrative-driven experience.
