Microsoft’s upcoming major title, the RPG Avowed developed by The Outer Worlds creator Obsidian, is set to release in February. Unlike some of Obsidian’s previous RPGs, Avowed will not feature an open-world setting. This aligns with the game’s design philosophy, according to Avowed’s director Berto Ritger.
Avowed offers large “defined areas,” rather than existing within an expansive open world. Ritger noted that the use of established zones serves as a “good pacing mechanism” for the choices players encounter.
“We generally know what you’ve accomplished before moving on to the next stage. It remains a pretty open format within those areas, allowing you to explore as you wish, but it’s not a single continuous space where you could be in any location at any time,” Ritger explained in a conversation with Xbox Wire.