Avowed's surprise launch platform is a logical development

Obsidian's upcoming RPG, declaredIt was announced in 2020, right before the start of the Xbox Series X/S generation. It's no exaggeration to say that a lot has changed in the gaming industry since then. Xbox Game Studios has gone from a mid-sized publisher to a massive gaming giant that controls dozens of companies. Meanwhile, Obsidian itself has become a more eclectic studio over the past few years, developing games in a wider variety of genres than it's traditionally known for, like adventure RPGs. Pentiment And a survival game grounded. declared is the first traditional Obsidian game in quite some time, and after years of anticipation, it's finally nearing release.

declared It is scheduled to release on Xbox Series X/S and Windows PC on February 18, 2025, almost five years after it was first announced. Like all Microsoft games, it's available on Game Pass from day one. However, players who pre-order the RPG Premium Edition will be able to play it five days in advance. while declared It's currently available for purchase on both Steam and the Xbox Store, and surprisingly, Battle.net as well. Although no Obsidian game has previously been released on Battle.net, declaredConsidering Microsoft's overall plans for the gaming sector, its store launch makes sense.

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Upcoming Xbox console exclusives can be purchased using WoW Gold

The upcoming Xbox console exclusive game can be purchased using World of Warcraft Gold, potentially bypassing real money transactions.

What we see with Battle.net is consistent with Microsoft's multi-platform approach.

Microsoft aims to make its games accessible on as many platforms as possible.

Microsoft has historically released most of its titles exclusively for the console ecosystem, much like Sony and Nintendo. However, the company has taken a more multi-platform approach to gaming since completing its $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King in October 2023. Rather than focusing on exclusives and enticing gamers to buy hardware, Microsoft has chosen to make its games available on as many platforms as possible. This includes Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, as well as the PS5, Nintendo Switch, and other non-Xbox devices.

Earlier this week, Microsoft launched a new “This Is an Xbox” advertising campaign that categorizes Game Pass and xCloud-compatible devices such as smartphones, TVs, laptops, VR headsets, and PC handhelds as “Xboxes.” Microsoft said the purpose of this marketing initiative is to “showcase the evolution of Xbox as a platform that scales across multiple devices.” This doesn't mean the company is giving up on the Xbox consoles themselves, but it does mean it's taking a more services-based approach to the Xbox brand rather than a hardware-focused approach.

Non-ABK games typically don't come to Battle.net, but Avowed may be the first of many.

At the core of Microsoft's “everything is Xbox” strategy is the idea of player choice. This means fans can play their favorite games on any platform they want, including Steam, Xbox, and more. declaredThis is the case for Battle.net. Battle.net is a store that hosts Activision Blizzard games almost exclusively; declared It is one of the first titles for the platform developed by a company other than ABK. Obsidian Entertainment and Blizzard may both be owned by Microsoft, but the former operates under the Xbox Game Studios publishing banner while the latter operates under ABK.

Microsoft's commitment declared Despite not being an Activision Blizzard game, what was sent to Battle.net suggests the company isn't interested in consolidating its store and directing people to the Xbox PC app. Instead, it seems they want to allow players to purchase games from their preferred stores. Both Battle.net and the Xbox Store are owned by Microsoft, so from Microsoft's perspective, it doesn't matter which of the two platforms gamers buy the game from. Ultimately, if declared As it sells well on Battle.net, Microsoft may consider putting other upcoming Xbox games on the store as well. Doom: Dark Ages, Gears of War: E-Dayand fable.

Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island full of adventure and danger. Set in the virtual world of Eora, first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.

You are an emissary from the distant land of Aedyr to investigate rumors of a plague spreading throughout the Living Lands, an island filled with mystery and secrets, danger and adventure, choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover your personal connection to the living land and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save your soul from the forces that threaten to tear this unknown frontier apart?

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