In a significant shift for platform exclusivity, Xbox has confirmed that another of its major titles is making the jump to PlayStation. The acclaimed role-playing game Avowed will launch on PlayStation 5 next month, almost exactly one year after its debut on Xbox and PC.
Launch Details and Anniversary Update
Avowed is scheduled to release on the PlayStation Store on February 17, 2026, with pre-orders available now for £39.99. This date marks the game's one-year anniversary, having first launched on February 18, 2025.
To coincide with the PS5 launch, developer Obsidian Entertainment is rolling out a substantial anniversary update. This free update will be available across all platforms—PC, Xbox, and the new PS5 version. Key additions include a highly requested New Game+ mode and a photo mode for capturing the game's vivid landscapes. Players can also look forward to a new weapon type and a new playable race, offering fresh incentives for another adventure in the Living Lands.
What is Avowed?
Developed by the studio behind Fallout: New Vegas, Avowed is a first-person RPG set within the rich universe of Obsidian's Pillars of Eternity series. Players assume the role of an envoy, a 'Godlike' being, dispatched to investigate a mysterious plague corrupting the frontier region known as the Living Lands.
The game offers deep role-playing mechanics, including a choice of three distinct classes that shape the combat and exploration experience. Its narrative is driven by player choice, with dialogue decisions that tangibly affect quest outcomes and relationships with a cast of memorable characters. Combat blends swords, spells, and even early firearms.
Critical Reception and Platform Strategy
Upon its initial release, Avowed was met with positive reviews from both critics and players. It holds a solid Metacritic score of 80%, with praise frequently directed at its engaging world-building and robust RPG systems.
This move to PlayStation 5 follows an emerging Microsoft strategy of bringing its former exclusives to rival platforms. The announcement signals that Avowed will be a digital-only release on PS5 for now, with no physical pre-order option currently listed. This follows the pattern of the Xbox physical edition, which was a Steelbook containing only a digital code.
For RPG fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in Bethesda's flagship series, Avowed has been touted as a compelling experience crafted by similar talent. While not The Elder Scrolls VI, its depth and setting have made it a favourite amongst the genre's enthusiasts.
The Broader Trend for Xbox Games
The arrival of Avowed on Sony's console is not an isolated event. It is part of a wider pattern that will see other iconic Xbox franchises, such as Halo, appear on PlayStation hardware later this year with the release of Campaign Evolved. This represents a notable evolution in the gaming landscape, blurring the lines between traditional platform boundaries.
For PlayStation gamers who missed it the first time around, the PS5 release—packaged with a year's worth of updates and new content—presents an ideal opportunity to dive into one of the more distinctive RPGs of recent years.
