Obsidian's RPG Avowed has launched on PlayStation 5 alongside its major anniversary update, marking one year since its initial 2025 release on Xbox and PC. The update introduces new playable races, New Game+ mode, Photo Mode, and various quality-of-life improvements. It includes all prior post-launch content, making it a comprehensive package for new players.
Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, originally launched in 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, PC via Xbox, Steam, and Battle.net, as well as through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass. On February 17, 2026, the game arrived on PlayStation 5, coinciding with its anniversary update, version 2.00, which fulfills the post-launch roadmap.
The update adds three new playable races to character creation: Dwarves, Orlans, and Aumauan, joining the existing human and elf options. A Magic Mirror at the Party Camp allows mid-game changes to race, godlike features, or appearance using new presets, without restarting. For completed playthroughs, New Game+ enables carrying over unlocked abilities (excluding godlike ones), unique weapons, armor, and enchantments, while resetting other progress. Enemies receive stat boosts for increased challenge, balanced by raising the attribute points cap from 15 to 30 for Might, Constitution, Dexterity, and similar stats. Custom difficulty modifiers let players adjust enemy and player attributes, such as health, damage, and speed, with harder settings granting extra XP.
Additional features include Photo Mode for capturing scenes in the Living Lands, a new quarterstaff weapon, improved lighting, the option to skip certain god conversations, and enemy respawns to maintain lively areas. Past updates incorporated community requests like expanded fighter and ranger abilities, arachnophobia mode, and crafting enhancements.
On PS5, the game supports performance mode targeting 60fps, quality mode at 30fps, and balanced mode at 40fps with 120Hz support, though minor hitching occurs across modes. It lacks advanced DualSense features like haptic feedback or motion controls beyond basic rumble. The standard edition costs $49.99, and the premium edition $59.99; it is an Xbox Play Anywhere title.
Reviews note the PS5 version offers a polished experience with the update's enhancements, though the world may still feel static post-exploration. Steam Deck performance remains below 30fps on low settings.
