Earlier today, Xbox Wire published a lengthy interview with Obsidian Studios, where they outlined their storytelling philosophy for the upcoming game ‘Avowed’. The studio aims to deliver a richer narrative and player choice experience by moving away from traditional open-world formats.

Narrative Designer Kate Dollarhyde emphasized that the focus is not merely on choosing between good and bad outcomes but on deeper contextual storytelling:
“The material reality of the people living in the setting informs the actual stories being told. What does it look like when a colonial empire comes to your backwater island and says, ‘Hi, we’re here and this is ours?’”
(“What does it look like when a colonial empire comes to your backwater island and says, ‘Hi, we’re here and this is ours?’”)

The studio prefers to create a structured experience where player choices lead logically to outcomes that feel coherent. Game Director Carrie Patel commented on the challenge of maintaining pacing in open worlds:
“Pacing is really tough in open-world games. You never know where the player is and what they’re doing at any given time.”
(“Pacing is really tough in open-world games. You never know where the player is and what they’re doing at any given time.”)

By adopting a more controlled environment where players can explore linear regions, Obsidian aims to craft more nuanced choices that enhance engagement instead of diluting it.

Avowed is set for release on February 18.