Obsidian Entertainment had an unusual year in 2025. They released two major RPGs, Avowed in February and The Outer Worlds 2 in October, giving fans not one but two opportunities to dive into rich narrative worlds with meaningful choices and memorable companions. On paper, this should have been a victory lap for the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds. In reality, both games landed with a reception that can best be described as lukewarm.
Neither game was bad. Both had genuine strengths that reminded players why Obsidian has such a devoted following. But neither quite reached the heights fans expected, leaving 2025 feeling like a year of missed opportunities rather than triumphant successes. The question isn’t whether these games are worth playing. It’s why a studio this talented keeps delivering experiences that feel almost great instead of actually great.
Avowed Wanted to Be Skyrim But Settled for Something Smaller
Avowed launched on February 18, 2025 after being delayed from its original fall 2024 window. Set in the Living Lands region of Eora, the same universe as Pillars of Eternity, the game promised a first-person fantasy RPG experience with Obsidian’s signature deep storytelling and meaningful choices. What players got was solid but constrained, a game that excelled in some areas while feeling oddly limited in others.
The combat is genuinely fun, offering a mix of magic and melee that feels responsive and satisfying. The writing quality is high, with mature dialogue and interesting lore scattered throughout the world. The companion interactions feel meaningful, and the choices you make actually impact how the story unfolds. Reviews praised the worldbuilding and character writing, with IGN giving it strong marks and calling it a reminder of why people fell in love with Obsidian RPGs in the first place.
But the scope is smaller than many expected. There are only four companions compared to six in The Outer Worlds, and only two of them have their own dedicated questlines. The world, while dense with content, doesn’t offer the sprawling exploration many hoped for after years of Skyrim comparisons. Obsidian repeatedly pushed back against those Elder Scrolls comparisons, insisting Avowed was its own thing, but that didn’t stop players from expecting something more expansive.
The Performance Issues Nobody Wanted
Avowed launched targeting 30fps on Xbox Series X and S, a decision that immediately drew criticism. In a first-person action RPG where responsive combat matters, locking the framerate at 30 felt like a compromise too far for many players. Art director Matt Hansen defended the choice, saying they prioritized visual density and special effects over framerate, arguing that single-player games don’t necessarily need 60fps.
The backlash was swift enough that Obsidian eventually confirmed the game could hit 60fps on Xbox Series X, though the Xbox Series S remained locked at 30. On PC, performance was a constant struggle, with the team battling memory and runtime issues throughout development. A technical retrospective presentation at Unreal Fest Orlando 2025 detailed how the team fought with Unreal Engine 5 to achieve acceptable performance, often losing 2-4 milliseconds of frametime just trying to optimize individual features.
These technical struggles meant Avowed never quite achieved the smooth, polished experience players expect from a first-party Microsoft RPG. It ran, and it ran reasonably well after patches, but the shadow of performance compromise hung over the entire experience.
The Outer Worlds 2 Learned Some Lessons But Not All of Them
When The Outer Worlds 2 launched on October 29, 2025, Obsidian had the benefit of feedback from both the original Outer Worlds and Avowed’s February release. The team knew players wanted bigger worlds, deeper RPG systems, and more Fallout: New Vegas-style reactivity. To their credit, they delivered on many of those requests.
The sequel features significantly larger explorable areas compared to the original, with the team specifically targeting expansive zones after players complained the first game felt too small. The writing is sharper and more grounded, ditching some of the “lolz random” humor that aged poorly from the original for more sophisticated satire. The RPG systems got deeper, with improved buildcrafting, a revamped flaws and perks system, and better faction integration throughout the story.
IGN gave it an 8.5, praising the smarter writing, better combat, and irresistible RPG grind. Polygon called it bigger and mostly better, though they noted it lacks depth and reactivity in crucial areas. The critical path represents only 10-15% of total content, giving players the option for a tight focused experience or a sprawling epic depending on how much they want to engage with side content.
The Problems That Persisted
Despite improvements, The Outer Worlds 2 stumbled in frustrating ways. The first act is widely considered weak and sluggish, taking too long to get to the good stuff. Enemy variety is terrible, with players fighting the same handful of creature types repeatedly throughout the entire game. One reviewer specifically called out how tedious combat becomes when you’re shooting the same aliens for the twentieth hour straight.
Quality-of-life issues from the first game inexplicably returned. The item pickup system requires pixel-perfect precision, forcing tiny movements when trying to loot multiple objects close together. Avowed fixed this with a tap-to-collect system that works flawlessly, yet The Outer Worlds 2 team chose not to implement it. It’s a small frustration that compounds over dozens of hours.
Pre-release metrics on Steam showed weaker performance than Avowed, suggesting lower anticipation despite the sequel status. Some blamed fatigue after Avowed’s mixed reception earlier in the year. Others pointed to a crowded October release window. Either way, The Outer Worlds 2 arrived without the momentum Obsidian probably hoped for.
The Almost Great Problem
Both games share a common issue. They’re competent, enjoyable RPGs with genuine strengths that never quite coalesce into something exceptional. Avowed has great combat and writing but limited scope and performance issues. The Outer Worlds 2 delivers on player requests for size and depth but suffers from weak pacing, poor enemy variety, and baffling quality-of-life oversights.
Reddit discussions comparing the two games reveal divided opinions. Some prefer Avowed’s tighter focus and satisfying action. Others appreciate The Outer Worlds 2’s expanded scope and deeper RPG systems. Steam community discussions lean toward The Outer Worlds 2 as the better overall game, citing superior writing, voice acting, and meaningful choices. But the conversation itself illustrates the problem. These are Obsidian games, a studio with a legacy including Fallout: New Vegas and Knights of the Old Republic II. The bar isn’t “which one is better.” It’s “why isn’t either one great?”
One player on Reddit summed it up perfectly after finishing Avowed. The game sits comfortably at 7.5 out of 10, which isn’t terrible but feels disappointing for a studio of Obsidian’s caliber. That same energy applies to The Outer Worlds 2. It’s good. It’s enjoyable. It’s just not the knockout fans wanted.
Budget and Development Constraints
Some fans theorize Obsidian does its best work when constrained. Avowed reportedly had a smaller budget and less development time than The Outer Worlds 2, especially after a development reboot in early 2021. Yet many players found Avowed’s focused design more satisfying than The Outer Worlds 2’s sprawl. There’s an argument that forcing Obsidian to make tough choices about scope produces tighter, more cohesive experiences.
The Outer Worlds 2 had more resources, more time, and explicit goals to address criticisms from the first game. Yet it still launched with glaring flaws that shouldn’t have made it past playtesting. That suggests the problem isn’t just budget. It might be process, leadership, or simply spreading talented developers across too many projects simultaneously.
Obsidian is also developing Grounded 2 and providing ongoing support for multiple live titles. Splitting focus across this many projects might explain why both Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 feel like they needed six more months of polish and refinement that they never received.
What’s Next for Obsidian
Looking ahead to 2026, Obsidian has confirmed two DLCs for The Outer Worlds 2 alongside continual improvements including new features and quality-of-life updates players have requested. Avowed is also receiving ongoing support, though details remain vague. The question is whether these post-launch improvements can elevate either game from good to great, or if the foundations simply won’t support that leap.
Director Carrie Patel told Eurogamer that Microsoft and Xbox are very happy with Avowed’s reception, pointing to player engagement and time spent rather than raw sales numbers. With Game Pass in the mix, success metrics for first-party Xbox games have shifted away from traditional sales. That might reduce pressure to deliver blockbuster hits, but it also means Obsidian can continue producing solid 7.5 and 8 out of 10 games without the market forcing them to aim higher.
The Outer Worlds 2 reviews average around 8 to 8.5 depending on the outlet, with praise for humor, depth, and engaging gameplay offset by criticisms of pacing and technical issues. That’s respectable but not exceptional. For a studio trying to reclaim its reputation as one of the best RPG developers in the industry, respectable isn’t enough.
FAQs
Which is better, Avowed or The Outer Worlds 2?
It depends on what you value. Avowed has tighter, more focused design with better combat feel and fewer quality-of-life annoyances. The Outer Worlds 2 offers deeper RPG systems, better writing, and more content overall. Most reviewers give The Outer Worlds 2 a slight edge, but both games score around 7.5 to 8.5 out of 10.
When did Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 release?
Avowed launched on February 18, 2025 (with early access starting February 13 for premium edition owners). The Outer Worlds 2 released on October 29, 2025, with early access beginning October 24 for premium edition buyers.
Are both games on Game Pass?
Yes, both Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 launched day one on Xbox Game Pass. This is standard for all first-party Microsoft games. You can play both without purchasing if you have an active Game Pass subscription.
Will there be DLC for either game?
Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 has two premium DLC expansions confirmed for 2026. Avowed is receiving ongoing support but specific DLC plans haven’t been announced. Both games are getting quality-of-life improvements and updates throughout 2026.
Why did both games get mixed reception?
Both games are solid RPGs with genuine strengths but noticeable flaws. Avowed suffers from limited scope and performance issues. The Outer Worlds 2 has weak pacing, poor enemy variety, and quality-of-life problems. Neither game feels polished enough to be considered a masterpiece despite competent execution.
Is Avowed set in the Pillars of Eternity universe?
Yes, Avowed takes place in the Living Lands region of Eora, the same fantasy world as Pillars of Eternity. However, it’s a first-person action RPG rather than a top-down CRPG, making it a very different experience from the Pillars games.
How long are both games?
Avowed takes roughly 20-30 hours for the main story and side content. The Outer Worlds 2’s critical path is about 10-15% of total content, with completionist playthroughs potentially reaching 40-50 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore.
Should I play the first Outer Worlds before the sequel?
Not necessary. The Outer Worlds 2 takes place in a different star system (Arcadia instead of Halcyon) with a new cast of characters and fresh story. Playing the first game provides context for the corporate dystopia setting but isn’t required to understand or enjoy the sequel.
The Bottom Line
Obsidian Entertainment released two RPGs in 2025, and both are worth playing if you’re a fan of the genre. Avowed delivers satisfying combat and strong writing in a more focused package. The Outer Worlds 2 expands on its predecessor with deeper systems and bigger worlds. Neither game is bad, and both have passionate defenders who genuinely love what they offer.
But neither game is great, either. Both feel like they needed more time, more polish, and harder decisions about what to prioritize during development. The technical issues, quality-of-life oversights, and pacing problems aren’t dealbreakers, but they prevent either game from achieving the excellence Obsidian is capable of when everything clicks.
For a studio with Obsidian’s legacy and talent, delivering two 7.5 to 8 out of 10 games in a single year feels like underachieving. Fans know what this team can do when given the right resources, focus, and time. Fallout: New Vegas proved it. The original Pillars of Eternity proved it. Even the flawed but fascinating Knights of the Old Republic II proved it.
The question heading into 2026 and beyond is whether Obsidian can recapture that magic, or if the pressures of being a first-party Microsoft studio with Game Pass obligations and multiple simultaneous projects will keep them locked in this cycle of almost great games that never quite cross the finish line.
Both Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2 are good RPGs that fans of the genre will enjoy. They’re just not the games everyone was hoping Obsidian would make. And in a year where the studio had two chances to prove itself, that feels like the biggest missed opportunity of all.