"Avowed Features Subtle Romance Elements"

Obsidian's Avowed has now entered advanced access, allowing eager players to explore the Living Lands ahead of the official release. As adventurers traverse this mystical realm, they're encountering not only magical items and perilous challenges but also unexpected romantic possibilities.

In the lead-up to Avowed's release, Obsidian had made it clear that the game would not include a traditional romance system. Instead, the focus would be on developing "thoughtful relationships" with companions. This approach was highlighted by Avowed's game director, Carrie Patel, in an interview with IGN. Patel emphasized the importance of fully committing to romance options if they were to be included, stating, "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 at least one companion, Kai, shows romantic interest in the player character. Spoilers ahead for those who wish to remain unaware of specific interactions with Kai. If you want to avoid these details, please stop reading now.