In a recent Bloomberg interview, Avowed's second game director, Carrie Patel, revealed the tumultuous journey behind the game's development, including the discarding of two years' worth of work. Obsidian Entertainment initially conceived Avowed as a blend of Destiny and Skyrim, aiming for a massive open world with cooperative multiplayer.
The 2020 teaser trailer, while exciting for fans, masked the game's incomplete state. Months later, the decision was made to completely scrap the project and begin again. The trailer now serves as a reminder of a discarded prototype, vastly different from the final release.
Following the reboot, Patel took the reins as game director, reimagining Avowed. She moved away from the Skyrim and Destiny influences, abandoning the open-world design and multiplayer aspects. Instead, Obsidian opted for their signature zone-based structure, focusing on a strong single-player narrative deeply rooted in the Pillars of Eternity lore.
Restarting mid-development presented immense difficulties, comparable to filmmaking without a script. Teams worked intensely amidst uncertainty as leadership solidified a cohesive vision. Despite these challenges, development continued for another four years before Avowed's eventual release.
