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    Death Stranding 2

    Unveil the Avowed: Secret Insights Revealed!

    Avowed is an action role-playing game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios. Released on February 18, 2025, for PC and Xbox Series X/S, it is set in the world of Eora, the same universe as Pillars of Eternity.

    Gameplay

    • Perspective: Players can switch between first-person and third-person views.
    • Combat: Features a mix of magic, melee weapons, and firearms. Players can dual-wield weapons (e.g., pistols, wands) or use combinations like swords and shields. Spells include freezing or entangling enemies, which can be combined with physical attacks.
    • Exploration: The game is not fully open-world but offers large zones to explore. It includes skill trees for unlocking abilities and weapon upgrades.
    • Companions: Players interact with companions like Kai, who assist in combat and provide narrative depth. However, romance options are not available.
    • Choices: Dialogue options influence relationships with NPCs and companions, as well as the storyline.

    Story

    Set in the Living Lands, a diverse region within Eora, players take on the role of an envoy from the Aedyr Empire investigating a mysterious plague called the "Dream Scourge." This plague infects creatures and citizens with fungi that cause madness. The story also explores themes of colonialism and player-driven choices in shaping their character’s role.

    Development

    • Initially conceived in 2018 as a multiplayer game inspired by Destiny and Skyrim, the project shifted to a single-player focus under Carrie Patel’s leadership.
    • The game was restructured to use the Pillars of Eternity setting and transitioned from an open-world to zone-based design.
    • Originally slated for a 2024 release, it was delayed to February 2025 to avoid a crowded release window.

    Reception

    Early reviews praise its engaging worldbuilding and narrative but note that it lacks some complex systems compared to other RPGs. It has been described as a solid but not groundbreaking game.

    Availability

    The standard edition launched on February 18, 2025, while the $90 Premium Edition allowed early access starting February 13. It is also available via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscriptions.