Avowed Archives

AppWizard

July 29, 2025

Grounded 2 PC system requirements show the Xbox Game Pass title is 5 times bigger than the original — but you can run it on decade-old specs

Microsoft's gaming division, Xbox, is set to release Grounded 2, a sequel developed by Obsidian Entertainment, following the success of the original game launched in 2020. Grounded 2 was unveiled during the Xbox Games Showcase in June and features gameplay where players navigate a park environment after being shrunk to the size of an ant. The game has minimum and recommended PC system requirements: Minimum Requirements: - OS: Windows 10/11 with updates - Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel i5-8400 - Memory: 16 GB RAM - Graphics: AMD RX 5700 / Nvidia GTX 1070 / Intel Arc A580 - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 40 GB available space Recommended Requirements: - OS: Windows 10/11 with updates - Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X / Intel i7-10700K - Memory: 16 GB RAM - Graphics: AMD RX 6800 XT / Nvidia RTX 3080 - DirectX: Version 12 - Storage: 40 GB available space Grounded 2's storage requirement is 40 GB, an increase from the original game's 8 GB, reflecting expanded content. The game will be available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, or for purchase at .99, with a Founder's Edition priced at .99 and a Founder's Pack upgrade available for .99.

AppWizard

July 24, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 will no longer cost $80 as Microsoft backs away from plans to follow Nintendo’s lead

Obsidian Entertainment has adjusted the price of its RPG, The Outer Worlds 2, after public feedback regarding its initial pricing. The studio communicated with fans via their Bluesky account, indicating a commitment to fair pricing and collaboration with partners for the revision. The gaming industry has seen fluctuations in major title prices, with Microsoft maintaining its strategy of keeping full-priced holiday releases consistent. Obsidian's other title, Avowed, launched at a similar price point and was available through Game Pass, while it was discounted during the Steam Summer Sale. Some publishers have opted for lower price points for new titles to attract gamers seeking quality experiences without premium costs.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Avowed update basically reinvents the fighter and ranger classes, while also adding new weapons and better Steam Deck optimization

Avowed has received a significant update to address the imbalance between character classes, particularly benefiting rangers and fighters. New abilities for rangers include Shadow Step, Fan of Daggers, Smoke Bomb, and Chilling Surprise, along with passive skills like Concussive Shot, Sharpshooter, and Deadly Poison. Fighters have gained abilities such as Driving Kick, Barbaric Smash, Deep Breath, and Reviving Exhortation, with passive skills including Dual Wield Mastery, Adrenaline, Bloodlust, and Vanguard. Additionally, new unique items have been introduced, including various weapons and robes. The update also includes graphics improvements, new FPS options, and bug fixes.

AppWizard

July 9, 2025

Xbox and PC Game Pass might not actually be that profitable for Microsoft

Microsoft is planning layoffs that could affect over 9,000 employees, about four percent of its global workforce of 228,000. These layoffs are impacting various gaming studios and projects. The company is shifting its strategy towards artificial intelligence and reducing focus on hardware sales within the Xbox division. Concerns have been raised about the profitability of Xbox and PC Game Pass, with claims that Game Pass may not be as financially successful as previously thought. Christopher Dring noted that the profitability calculations for Game Pass do not include first-party development costs, which could significantly alter the perception of its financial success. A Microsoft spokesperson stated that the layoffs are part of efforts to align with business demands and improve organizational efficiency.

AppWizard

July 2, 2025

‘Patient gaming’ only gets more attractive when $70 games get heavy Steam sale discounts just months after launch

PC gaming is experiencing strong sales, with discounts influencing purchasing decisions. Games often see price drops of up to 50% within seven months of release. For example, Avowed is currently priced at .89 after a 33% discount during the Steam Summer Sale. Notable discounts include Assassin's Creed Shadows, reduced by .50 since March, and Oblivion Remastered, which has also dropped in price since its April launch. The Patient Gamers subreddit, with over 750,000 subscribers, focuses on games at least a year old, allowing discussions on titles like Cyberpunk 2077 without the urgency of new releases. The gaming industry employs FOMO tactics, encouraging pre-orders for special editions, as early sales are crucial for a game's long-term success. Some suggest launching games at lower prices instead of relying on pre-order bonuses, as seen with Titanfall 2, which dropped in price shortly after release. Titles like Helldivers 2 and other recent releases have successfully launched at lower price points, indicating a shift towards value in the market. As competition grows, particularly with remastered classics and indie games like Peak, the pricing landscape is changing. Recommendation algorithms on social media are promoting personalized discovery of games. Steam sales provide newcomers with access to established titles at low prices, such as Civilization 6, demonstrating the ongoing appeal of older games amidst new releases.

AppWizard

July 1, 2025

Deus Ex was a hard sell because, among other things, the Thief devs thought ‘if you give players a gun, they won’t sneak’

Deus Ex is a significant title in the immersive simulation genre, allowing players to approach challenges from various perspectives and breaking away from traditional linear gameplay in CRPGs and FPS games. Warren Spector, the game's creator, expressed frustration with conventional RPGs and FPS games before developing Deus Ex. The game has influenced many others, including Baldur's Gate, Pillars of Eternity, Skyrim, Avowed, Prey, and Baldur's Gate 3, showcasing its impact on player freedom and game design. An interview with Spector will be featured in the upcoming issue of PC Gamer, releasing on July 15.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Weekend PC Download Deals for June 20: GOG.com and Blizzard Summer Sales

GOG.com is offering over 8,000 DRM-free PC games, including titles like Baldur's Gate 3 and Cyberpunk 2077, as part of its Summer Sales season. Blizzard's Battle.net is also having a Summer Sale with discounts on franchises like World of Warcraft and Diablo 4. Steam is hosting its Fishing Fest and has publisher sales from EA, THQ Nordic, Koei Tecmo, and Klei, along with discounted new releases and free weekends for games like Dead by Daylight. The Epic Games Store, Fanatical, Gamebillet, Gamersgate, GamesPlanet, Green Man Gaming, and Humble Bundle are also participating in sales. Humble Bundle offers a subscription service called Humble Choice for .99 per month, providing access to various games and extra savings on purchases.

AppWizard

June 16, 2025

Stutters and hitches in Unreal Engine 5 games should become rarer over time due to Epic’s continuous updates, but we’ll still see them for a while because of the way games are made

At Unreal Fest in Orlando, Epic Games showcased new features for Unreal Engine 5 through a tech demo of CD Projekt Red's Witcher 4 and hosted training sessions for developers. Key topics included shader compilation stutters and performance issues in Unreal Engine games, with a focus on optimization methodologies rather than the engine itself. Insights revealed persistent performance optimization challenges, particularly with shader compilation and traversal stutters. Developers were encouraged to implement PSO precaching in Unreal Engine 5.2 or newer, although neither solution is perfect. Obsidian's game Avowed began development in Unreal Engine 4 before transitioning to version 5.3.2, while aiming for specific frame rates on Xbox Series S and X. The team size for Avowed was 140, with only 15 in technical roles, which may have limited their ability to fully utilize new features. Unreal Engine 5.6 offers performance enhancements that require strategic implementation by developers. Attendance at Epic's sessions was high, indicating a growing awareness of performance issues among developers. The hope is that future titles will leverage the latest engine version to address these challenges effectively.

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 director offers the most sympathetic answer I’ve yet heard for the $80 game question: ‘We don’t set the prices for our games,’ and ‘You’d have to honestly talk to the Xbox folks’

Brandon Adler, the director of The Outer Worlds 2, stated that game developers do not set the prices for their games, emphasizing that pricing decisions are made by corporate executives. He expressed a desire for broader accessibility to games but indicated that pricing inquiries should be directed to Xbox executives. The economic landscape has shifted, making home ownership difficult while consumer electronics have become more affordable. Gamers now have various options, including subscription services and budget-friendly hardware. The perceived normal price for games has shifted to the range of to , with being a stretch, particularly for highly anticipated titles. Pricing challenges reflect deeper issues in the gaming industry, including recent layoffs and rising development costs. Obsidian Entertainment has adopted a strategy of working on multiple smaller projects, resulting in more affordable pricing for some titles, while the upcoming Avowed is set at a full retail price. Concerns exist that The Outer Worlds 2’s price might hinder its success, especially given the unclear metrics Microsoft uses to evaluate sales performance.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

3 things I liked and 2 I didn’t after 30 minutes with Grounded 2

Obsidian Entertainment is set to release several games in 2025, including The Outer Worlds 2 in October and Grounded 2, which will launch in early access on July 29. Grounded 2 features a new expansive open world set in a city park that transforms into an alien landscape when players are shrunk to ant size. The map is larger than the original Grounded, and players can use buggies for exploration. The early access will allow players to experience a substantial portion of the map and the first chapter of the story, providing feedback for the final product. Grounded 2 will be available on all platforms except PlayStation.