Highlights

  • Avowed is a new fantasy RPG offering from Obsidian, separate from their previous franchise Pillars of Eternity.
  • The Outer Worlds 2 is a sci-fi RPG that will have to live up to the legacy of its predecessor.
  • Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 differ in their circumstances, with Avowed being a new IP and The Outer Worlds 2 being a well-known franchise.

Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 are both upcoming titles from Obsidian Entertainment, and they occupy different corners of the action RPG genre. Both games have generated their fair share of hype, with Avowed in particular getting a gameplay trailer recently. Fans of the genre have good reason to keep an eye on these games' development, especially considering the company that is in charge of them. What's especially interesting is that, despite both games sharing a genre and developer, the amount of differences between them to date are surprising, many of which can be pointed out even this early.

Even though Fallout New Vegas still hasn't gotten a sequel, Obsidian Entertainment has a long and respectable history in the industry. The company's main focus is RPGs, coming out with several notable titles since its inception in 2003. Among Obsidian's library, some games that fans may be familiar with include:

  • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords
  • Pillars of Eternity
  • Fallout: New Vegas
  • South Park: The Stick of Truth
  • The Outer Worlds

With two new games in the pipeline, Obsidian has lofty expectations to aim for. Given its track record, fans have good reason to expect something impressive from Obsidian's new offerings.

Obsidian's Next Two RPGs Are Decidedly Different in Several Ways

Characters from Avowed and The outer Worlds looking over a planeraty landscape

Avowed, Despite its Connections, Is a New Offering From Obsidian

As seen from the fact that Avowed has been compared to Skyrim, it's a new fantasy RPG offering from Obsidian. Despite sharing a universe with Obsidian's other fantasy series Pillars of Eternity, Avowed is a new IP that is meant to stand on its own. While players of older Pillars of Eternity titles may have some expectations, the shared setting and genre are the only real connections. Avowed's first impression came in the form of its gameplay trailers, giving fans a taste of what to expect. Its release in 2024 will be its chance to appeal to players and earn a fanbase of its own.

The Outer Worlds 2 Has a Legacy to Live Up To

In a return to the sci-fi RPG genre, fans should already expect plenty from The Outer Worlds 2. The first game established its universe quite well, featuring a galaxy completely run by corporate interests. Even with the sequel changing setting, fans of the first game should already have an idea of what to expect from the gameplay, that being a Fallout-styled spacefaring adventure. However, Outer Worlds 2 still has no release date, and little has been shown of development aside from the game's confirmation. The Outer Worlds 2 will carry the weight of its predecessor's name, so even this early, the pressure on it is immense.

Obsidian's Upcoming RPGs Couldn't Be Under More Different Circumstances

The case of Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 as they currently stand is rather ironic. While there is a chance for Avowed to reboot one of Obsidian's franchises, the IP itself is entirely new, albeit with a good amount of gameplay footage available. Meanwhile, The Outer Worlds 2 has the opposite issue, with no gameplay footage, but a well-known IP. With Avowed seeking to establish itself while The Outer Worlds 2 has to live up to the original, both have a notable challenge ahead of them, and their completely opposite settings only underscore the differences between the two.

Obsidian has a lot on its plate in the near future between Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2. For the time being, most of the spotlight will likely go to Avowed's 2024 release window, but it and The Outer Worlds 2 are on two opposite sides of the same coin. Both are in development by the same developer at the same time, but their setting and legacy status are completely different. Despite their differences, Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 will both probably see plenty more attention before release.