AvowedandThe Outer Worlds 2are the two big projects that Obsidian Entertainment is currently working on. Both games are RPGs that seem to be deliberate responses to certain Bethesda heavy hitters. Now, it appears as if Obsidian may have pulled a bait-and-switch withAvowedandThe Outer Worlds 2in one way.
Back in 2020, it was rumored thatAvowedwould be even bigger thanSkyrim. For the longest time, the developer was relatively quiet about how true this was. Recent updates on the game, however, have revealed this not to be the case. In fact, it could very well be that Obsidian’s biggest game may beThe Outer Worlds 2if its development cycle is anything to go on.
RELATED:Avowed’s Most Important Feature is Still in the Dark
The Rumors of Avowed’s Size and How Big It Will Be
Avowedwas first announcedall the way back in 2020. It was one of Obsidian’s first major projects confirmed to be in development following its merger with Microsoft and its first fantasy game in the AAA video game space. The first trailer for the game immediately drew comparisons toThe Elder Scrollsgames with its first-person fantasy aspects. Comparisons toThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrimwould be inevitable given the history Obsidian and Bethesda have. Rather, in terms of size, fans may have been wrong or misled aboutAvowed’s supposed scale.
During the recent Xbox Games Showcase, many more details for the upcoming fantasy RPG were revealed. Around that same time, the developer revealed a bit more about the game’s scope. While they initially set out to create their own version of anElder Scrollsgame the actual scale of the world will be a bit smaller. When discussing the size of the world, Obsidian stated thatAvowed’s size was more comparable toThe Outer WorldsthanSkyrim. While this will undoubtedly disappoint some, it does leave the door open for another game to be even bigger and better.
The Lengthy Development Of The Outer Worlds 2 and What It May Mean
First announced in 2021, thefirst trailer forThe Outer Worlds 2was easily one of the most self-aware ever made. While details on the game are a bit sparse, there are some things Obsidian has already confirmed—mainly that the game will take place in another solar system and will follow a new crew of heroes. Still, there are some indications that the game might be bigger than anyone ever expected. The key proof of this is the seemingly prolonged development time.
Then, a report indicated thatThe Outer Worlds 2had actually been in development since 2019and suggested a 2023/2024 release date. This has proven unlikely as the game was not displayed during the Xbox Games Showcase. Furthermore,Avowedis set to be released sometime in 2024, making it possible that Obsidian will want to put some space in between its biggest releases.
This would make a 2025 release far more likely, though it could be pushed all the way back until 2026. This essentially means that, at minimum, the game could be in development for six years before it is released. This would give it a much longer development cycle than the average sequel, suggesting that the game could be much bigger than anyone ever thought.
It’s impossible to say how big of a gameThe Outer Worlds 2will be when compared toAvowed. While it is possible that the former game could be taking some extra time to make a bigger world, it is equally likely that the developer is putting all of its energy and resources intoAvowedfor the time being. Full production onThe Outer Worlds 2may not have even begun and may only go into high gear as things begin to wrap up on the upcoming fantasy game. Only time will tell what the ultimate scope of both of these games is.
Avowedwill release in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
