Wait, Avowed is on PS5 now? And it's... good?
Okay, so I just saw the headlines popping up, and honestly, a part of me did a double-take. Avowed, the new RPG from the legendary Obsidian Entertainment – you know, the folks behind Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity – making its way to PlayStation 5. And not just that, but the dev team openly talking about addressing its “biggest criticism” for this new launch. My first thought? Good on them. My second thought, a more cynical one, I admit, was: What criticism? And why did PS5 players have to wait for the *fixed* version?
It's an interesting move, right? For a game that was pretty much seen as a tentpole Xbox/PC exclusive, this PlayStation port isn't just a simple platform expansion. It feels like a statement. A quiet acknowledgment of a bumpy start, perhaps, wrapped in a shiny new cross-platform bow. And frankly, it's something we don't always get in this industry, this level of candidness about initial missteps.
The Obsidian Legacy and the Fickle Finger of Feedback
Let's rewind a bit. Obsidian Entertainment. These guys have a reputation. A well-earned one. They're known for deep, choice-driven RPGs with fantastic writing and intricate worlds. I've personally sunk hundreds of hours into their games, lost in the lore and consequences of my actions. So, when Avowed was announced, there was a collective gasp of excitement from RPG fans. A new first-person RPG in the world of Eora? Sign me up!
But then, when it first hit Xbox and PC, the feedback wasn't universally glowing. Good, yes, but not the 'instant classic' status some might have hoped for. PC Gamer specifically highlighted that Obsidian was 'surprised' players bounced off 'one of the RPG's most important systems.' That's a quote, by the way, and it really stuck with me. Surprised. It tells you a lot about the disconnect that can happen between a developer's vision and player experience. They poured their hearts into it, surely, but something just... didn't land.
What was it, exactly? The news isn't super specific, which is kind of Obsidian's style – let the game speak for itself. But my money's on something fundamental to the core gameplay loop. Maybe the combat felt clunky? Or perhaps the progression system wasn't as intuitive or rewarding as it should have been? RPGs live and die by their systems. If players aren't connecting with how they play, how they grow, how they interact with the world, then even the best writing can't save it. It's like having a gorgeous car with a finicky engine. You might admire it, but you're not going to enjoy the drive.
The 'Anniversary Update' and the PS5 Launch: A Second Chance
Now, this is where it gets interesting. Obsidian didn't just shrug and move on. They listened. And they've apparently baked a whole lot of fixes and improvements into what they're calling a 'Massive Update' – conveniently timed with the PS5 launch. Push Square reports that the Avowed dev hopes this 'biggest criticism' has been fixed for the PS5 crowd. That's a pretty strong statement of intent.
Think about it. They're not just porting the game. They're re-launching it, in a sense, on a brand new platform, with a significant overhaul. It's almost like a director's cut, but instead of just adding deleted scenes, they're re-shooting some of the more problematic ones. PlayStation LifeStyle's review headline, "Obsidian Action RPG Was Worth the Wait," seems to corroborate that these changes have made a real difference. It implies a sense of vindication, a feeling that the game has finally reached its potential.
This whole scenario feels a bit like when a TV show has a rough first season but gets renewed, and the showrunners take all the feedback to heart, coming back stronger. And you know what? That's commendable. It takes a certain humility to say, "We got some things wrong, and we're going to fix them." Especially for a studio with Obsidian's pedigree. They could have easily just pushed out a straight port and called it a day, banking on their name. But they didn't. They chose to iterate, to refine, to make it better.
Wider Implications: What Does This Mean for Gaming?
The fact that Avowed, an Xbox Game Studios title, is now on PlayStation 5 also speaks volumes about the shifting landscape of platform exclusivity. We've seen more and more games making the jump lately. It's a win for players, no doubt. More people get to experience great games, regardless of their console allegiance. It's also probably a smart business move for Microsoft, expanding their reach and revenue streams beyond their own hardware.
But it also highlights a growing trend in game development: the idea of a game as a living, evolving product. Initial launch is no longer the final word. It's just the beginning. Developers are increasingly expected to listen to feedback, patch, update, and even overhaul core systems post-release. For single-player RPGs, traditionally a 'fire and forget' kind of experience, this is a significant shift. And frankly, it’s a double-edged sword.
On one hand, it's great! We get better games. Developers can respond to their communities. Who doesn't want a game that gets polished and improved over time? On the other hand, it also subtly encourages a 'release now, fix later' mentality. It means early adopters are, in a way, beta testers, experiencing a less refined version of the product. And that can be a tough pill to swallow, especially when you've pre-ordered or bought a game at full price on day one.
The Avowed situation feels like a positive example, though. It seems like the team genuinely went back to the drawing board to address fundamental issues, not just bug fixes. And the timing of the "Anniversary Update" with the PS5 launch gives those new players a truly enhanced experience right out of the gate. A second bite at the apple, you could say. And a much juicier one, apparently.
So, yeah, I'm genuinely curious to see how this plays out long-term. Is this the new standard? Will more studios take a page out of Obsidian's book and openly address core criticisms with significant post-launch updates and cross-platform expansions? It's a brave new world, folks. And sometimes, a slightly tired tech writer like me just wants to play a game that feels finished and fantastic from the get-go. But hey, I'll take a polished gem, even if it took a little extra time in the forge.
🚀 Tech Discussion:
What do you think about games launching on a new platform with significant updates that address original criticisms? Is it fair to early adopters, or a sign of healthy post-launch development?
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