Obsidian's Avowed has launched in early access, sending players on adventures across the Living Lands. Along with magical items and perilous encounters, players may also find something unexpected: romance.
Prior to release, Obsidian stated Avowed wouldn't feature a dedicated romance system, opting instead for "thoughtful relationships" with companions. Game director Carrie Patel explained in an IGN interview: "We are building thoughtful relationships with our companion characters," she said. "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 report at least one companion, Kai, shows romantic interest in the player character. Spoilers for interactions with Kai follow. Read on at your own risk.
***Warning! Avowed spoilers follow:*
