I revisited Avowed on PS5 for the anniversary update, and after 20 hours I'm convinced there's never been a better time to play the RPG

Seeing Xbox Game Studios greet me when I boot up a game on PS5 still takes some getting used to, but damn if it isn't a welcome sight. Following in the footsteps of Forza Horizon 5 and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle in 2025, Avowed is no longer an Xbox exclusive thanks to its release on PS5 today. And just like Playground's racer and MachineGames globetrotting adventure, I couldn't be happier about the fact that more players are going to be able to discover Obsidian's colorful, Pillars of Eternity-tinged fantasy.

After all, I was head-over-heels for the Living Lands this time last year. From its flexible combat system, to its loveable companions (hello, Kai), welcoming lore reader, and its removal of irksome features that usually cause friction, it felt like the perfect palate cleanser between Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered – 2025 really did start off with a bang for RPG sickos like me.

Naturally I couldn't resist the chance to revisit Avowed a year on, with the PS5 launch giving me the perfect excuse. But I don't feel like I'm repeating history by replaying the same game at the exact same time in 2026, because its big anniversary update alongside its release on Sony's console really does change things for the better – and after sinking 20 hours into a fresh playthrough, I've never been more convinced that now's the time to play Obsidian's RPG (no matter what platform you're on).

Godlike greatness

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One of the major additions in Avowed's anniversary update is undoubtedly the new playable races, and they immediately give my replay a fresh feel. On top of humans and elves which were included in the base game, you can now make your Envoy of Aedyr a hair-covered Orlan, Dwarf, or robust, semiaquatic Aumaua. Each with their own starting stats, I opt for the Aumaua since they have two extra Might from the get-go, and I want to make myself a kind of tanky, warrior-wizard hybrid to mess around with the new weapon (more on that later).

By letting me play as any one of the main races that inhabit the world of Eora, Avowed immediately feels like a more complete package. And with more pre-made faces to choose from and extra godlike features to customize my look, character creation has gotten an extra helping of options that I'm more than happy to see – especially since there's now a magic mirror at camp where I can change my look whenever I like.

As soon as my adventure begins, I notice my height is elevated from a first-person perspective, and after briefly switching to third-person, I see how I tower over the Orlan, Garryck. Once I change out my gloves for some bracers, I can see my blue-skinned hands, which at once immerses me in my new Envoy.

It's definitely exciting to be able to make a fresh character and have more options when it comes to stat builds. Plus, thanks to New Game+, returning players who've finished up the game can make a new character with the additions and keep all your unique weapons and abilities (bar the godlike powers, which makes sense for story reasons).

I do wish the world would do more to recognize these character changes, though. Since Kai is also Amuauan, I couldn't stop myself from making a godlike who's the same race as the total sweetheart of a companion. But I was a little disappointed he didn't acknowledge it. In fact, all of the conversations I had with Kai and other companions or NPCs didn't reflect that my character is Amuauan. It was particularly strange when Kai spoke about his people, and I couldn't choose a response that took my own heritage into account beyond being from Aedyr.

I get that for the most part the world recognizes you as a godlike who's been touched by an unknown deity, alongside your role as an Envoy – with the tensions between those two concepts playing into the storyline and the choices you can make – but I would love to see a future update bring in little tweaks that acknowledge these new playable races, even if it's just some small nods to add to the role-play.

Snap shot scenes

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Outside of the new character options, another weapon has entered the fray in the form of a quarterstaff. While the wand is a natural complement to magic if you're making yourself a mage-like character in Avowed, the quarterstaff offers a melee option that I enjoy switching to when an enemy gets too close. It's satisfying to thwack enemies with it and sent them flying, and it also looks very fitting for any would-be magic wielder thanks to its distinct Gandalf vibes.

But the one feature I've been most looking forward to is one that also proves to be my favorite new addition in the RPG: photo mode. Stepping back into the Living Lands after a year away has only served to remind just how beautiful and inviting the world of Eora is, and now I can capture picture perfect moments of my Envoy and companions against the beautiful backdrops of Dawnshore, or Emerald Stair.

Enemies respawning in certain areas and more options to tailor and customize difficulty in the options menu are just the cherries on top of an update that has pulled me right back into the Living Lands. Even if you've not been holding out for the RPG's arrival on PS5, the anniversary update is enough of a reason to return to the adventure.

Avowed review: "No Skyrim, but an unforgettable return to form for Obsidian Entertainment"