Avowed Includes Some Romance Elements

Obsidian's highly anticipated game, Avowed, has now entered its advanced access phase, allowing eager players to dive into the enchanting world of the Living Lands. As these new adventurers explore this mystical realm, they are bound to encounter magical items, thrilling dangers, and, intriguingly, a hint of romance which was not initially promised.

In the lead-up to Avowed's release, Obsidian made it clear that the game would not include a dedicated romance system. Instead, the focus was to be on fostering "thoughtful relationships" with companions. This approach was highlighted by Avowed's game director, Carrie Patel, in an interview with IGN. Patel stated, "We are building thoughtful relationships with our companion characters. Ultimately, I personally am a fan of making that an option, but I feel like if you're going to do it, you really, really have to commit and make sure that you're giving all to fulfilling that in a way that feels both true to the character, but also creates an engaging player experience. So not something we're doing for Avowed, but I wouldn't say never."

However, early players and reviewers have discovered that the game might have taken a slight detour from this initial stance. Reports indicate that at least one companion, Kai, shows romantic interest in the player character. **Spoilers ensue** for specific interactions with Kai, so if you wish to remain unspoiled, proceed with caution.