Elder Scrolls 6 Updates: Many have assumed that now that Xbox has bought Bethesda, Obsidian would produce games that are very similar to Avowed, but Xbox CEO Phil Spencer maintains that this is not the case. Prior to Xbox’s acquisition of Bethesda, the company revealed that Obsidian was working on a game called Avowed that is quite similar to The Elder Scrolls. With The Elder Scrolls 6 on the way, some are concerned that they may overlap too much.
As of the right moment, not much is known about Avowed, although Obsidian has a lengthy relationship with Bethesda. Following the success of Fallout 3, Bethesda authorized Obsidian to create a spin-off, Fallout: New Vegas, which was generally well-received by gamers but fell short of Bethesda’s expectations.
Around ten years later, Obsidian released The Outer Worlds, which obviously drew influence from Fallout, and many believed that Avowed would do the same. However, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer assured fans that the two are vastly different.
Elder Scrolls 6: Quite how “different” though?
In an interview with IGN, Spencer stated that Avowed is a game in and of itself, comparing it to Fable in that regard. Of course, the game is situated in the Pillars of Eternity universe, which means it’s already a part of a pre-existing world with its own set of rules and history, which is arguably the most significant distinction between the two.
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However, given that The Elder Scrolls 6 is still a ways off, it’s hard to believe it won’t fill a gap, allowing Obsidian’s game to scratch that fantasy RPG itch for aficionados of the genre.
With a sequel in the works, it’s probable that the franchise will stay true to its Fallout roots, although Avowed appears to be attempting to distance itself from Bethesda’s influence. There will undoubtedly be some parallels as a fantasy game, but Obsidian hopes to build something really unique that establishes itself as its own RPG brand that does not exist in the shadows of another. If it succeeds, Xbox will be able to spin between a number of very different and well-established RPGs for years to come.
With that stated, Avowed may be released in 2022, which would be even better for building a strong RPG lineup. With Starfield planned for release next autumn, Avowed in 2022, and Fable perhaps in 2023, if not sooner, Xbox’s first few years are already looking promising.
Only time will tell how excellent all of these games are, but considering the studios’ track records, it’s reasonable to assume that the majority of them will be high-quality titles, and with The Elder Scrolls 6 in the works, Xbox might be in for a generation-defining RPG.
