The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim is arguably one of the most influential open-world RPGs in the genre. For that reason, Avowed has some pretty big shoes to fill if it aims to do what Skyrim once did. But by looking at one of Skyrim's most famous features, it may just have a chance.
Skyrim's modding scene is generally considered to be one of the best and biggest in the gaming scene, with it still being very active over a decade later. It is likely the biggest reason that Skyrim itself is still relevant today, as countless mods continue to get released for it. Avowed should learn from this, having modding capabilities as soon as possible.
The Huge Potential For Avowed's Modding Community
Modding hasn't just carried the relevance of Skyrim, but many others as well. Minecraft, Fallout 4, and Grand Theft Auto 5 all have modding communities that have greatly contributed to their respective game's online presence. This has served Skyrim the best, however, likely because it has one of the most conducive environments for the modding scene. Not only Skyrim launched with excellent modding compatibility, but the nature of the game allows fans to insert whatever kind of content they would like. Avowed needs to take a page out of Skyrim's book, creating an equally hospitable environment for mods to thrive.
Nowadays, mods drop like hotcakes, with Hogwarts Legacy serving as an excellent example. Around a month after its release, modders created a fully functional multiplayer mod for the game. If modding compatibility were to be included with Avowed's release date, it would greatly diversify the number of things players could do with the game. It would also help alleviate possible technical problems, as modders are always quick to create their own fixes for possible bugs or performance issues.
As mentioned before, modding greatly extends the lifespan of a game in terms of its relevance. This is because playing a single-player RPG can only be so fun for some players, as eventually, the game can get stale. Mods allow the experience to feel new and fresh, whether that be with the inclusion of a weather or hunger mod, or by adding Thomas the Tank Engine as a possible enemy. Mods could also reimagine aspects of Avowed that players may not like to create an overall smoother experience for them. During this time, Obsidian Entertainment could take the time to develop DLC content.
Arguably the biggest behind including modding compatibility on launch would be for the sake of the community itself. Fostering a strong community is how great games are made. Skyrim is a big example of this, with players uploading pictures of their adventures on social media platforms like Reddit. These communities come together with their shared stories to create a like-minded group focused on their love of the game. This wholesome interaction between players is ultimately what leaves a lot of players having a positive perception of the game. If there's anything Avowed can learn from another RPG, it's from Skyrim's modding scene.
If The Outer Worlds is any indication, it is likely Avowed will at least come with decent modding support. Its lifespan will very much rely on this, as many games have for their individual popularity. Avowed needs to dig deep into modding if Obsidian Entertainment wants it to live as long as previous titles.
Avowed is currently in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.