"Avowed: Originally a Mix of Destiny and Skyrim"

In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Carrie Patel, the second game director of Avowed, provided insights into the tumultuous development journey that resulted in the abandonment of two years' worth of work. Initially, Obsidian Entertainment set out to create Avowed as a unique blend of Destiny and Skyrim, envisioning a game that would offer cooperative exploration within a vast open world alongside dynamic multiplayer elements.

The first teaser trailer, released in 2020, sparked enthusiasm among fans, yet it concealed the underlying truth: the game was far from being finished. Mere months after the trailer's debut, the decision was made to completely overhaul the project, effectively discarding all previous efforts. As a result, the teaser now serves as a nostalgic reminder of an early prototype that bears little to no resemblance to the final game.

After the reboot, Carrie Patel took on the role of game director and steered the project in a new direction. She moved away from the initial inspirations of Skyrim and Destiny, opting to abandon the open-world and multiplayer ambitions. Instead, Obsidian returned to its roots with a zone-based structure, concentrating on delivering a rich single-player experience deeply intertwined with the lore of Pillars of Eternity.

The mid-development restart posed significant challenges, comparable to making a film without a script. Teams worked diligently amidst uncertainty as the leadership team endeavored to forge a unified vision. Despite these obstacles, it took an additional four years of development before Avowed was finally ready for release.