Despite Being Marred by Controversy, Avowed Outdoes Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on Steam

2024 saw a multitude of contentious moments in the gaming world, and Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, was not immune to this trend. The game stirred up a storm of public reaction after its unveiling in July 2020. Initially, the announcement was well-received, but a tweet from the art director would significantly alter the game’s course.

Despite facing criticism from both gamers and non-gamers, Avowed is outperforming its rival, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, on Steam. However, one might wonder what this uproar is about and why it hasn’t impacted the game negatively as expected. Let’s delve into the details.

Avowed faces massive controversy amidst development

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t wait to dive into “Avowed,” my new first-person action RPG adventure! Initially, it was marketed as Obisidian’s tribute to “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.” During the Xbox Games Showcase, it was indeed hyped up as the next big thing in the realm of Skyrim. However, while its inspiration is clear, the studio decided against mimicking Skyrim’s style and instead focused on crafting a more immersive narrative and character-driven experience.

Having pronouns in a fantasy video game is utterly unacceptable 😡
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 24, 2024

The situation for the game ‘Avowed’ was smooth sailing until November 2024, when Elon Musk, CEO of X, expressed disapproval on Twitter about a feature that allows players to choose their character’s pronouns in the game, which he found unacceptable. In response, the art director of the game, Matt Hansen, publicly stated his satisfaction at having caused annoyance to Musk on his BlueSky account.

It’s truly bizarre and amusing that the wealthiest, yet most petty individual is complaining about what I’m creating. I must admit, I’m finding this situation quite delightful. Honestly, there isn’t another soul on Earth I’d prefer to annoy more than him.

Initiating this action sparked the entire debate, and supporters of the game found themselves split into two factions. Many believed that the developers were attempting to impose a DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) perspective within the games, making players conform to specific political viewpoints.

Due to strong disapproval from players, Obsidian Entertainment decided to eliminate the pronouns section from the characters’ display screens entirely, giving players the freedom to activate this feature according to their personal preferences instead.

The game is doing surprisingly well despite the controversy

Regardless of the debate and some gamers expressing dislike towards Hansen for incorporating politics into their gaming experience, the game “Avowed” is thriving. It boasts over 10,000 players at present, and within the last 24 hours, it has reached a staggering 17,000 concurrent players. Remarkably, it currently tops the sales chart on Steam in the US, outranking heavyweights such as “Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2”.

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Despite stirring up different viewpoints among certain players and potentially sparking frustration, enthusiasts of the game have been immersed to their satisfaction. Based on feedback from Steam and Reddit, Avowed boasts exceptional combat and exploration in the RPG genre, with some predicting it could be Obsidian’s top-selling title yet.

Avowed has undoubtedly struck a chord with its gamers thanks to both its game mechanics and storyline, yet its ultimate fate – whether it will achieve monumental success or face the shadow of online criticism – is still uncertain.

2025-02-20 11:53

Avowed faces massive controversy amidst development

The game is doing surprisingly well despite the controversy

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