Avowed: Romance Confirmed in Latest Update

Obsidian's highly anticipated game, Avowed, has now entered its advanced access phase, offering early adventurers the chance to explore the enchanting Living Lands. As players delve into this mystical world, they're not only encountering magical items and facing various dangers but also stumbling upon unexpected elements of romance, contrary to what was initially announced by the developers.

In the lead-up to Avowed's release, Obsidian made it clear that the game would not include a dedicated romance system. Instead, the focus was to be on fostering "thoughtful relationships" with companions. This approach was elaborated on by Avowed's game director, Carrie Patel, in an interview with IGN. Patel expressed her personal support for romance options in games but emphasized the importance of fully committing to such features to ensure they enrich both the character development and the player's experience. She stated, "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 access players and reviewers have uncovered that romance might indeed be part of the Avowed experience. **Spoilers ahead** for those who wish to remain unspoiled about interactions with the companion Kai, you may want to stop reading now.