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2024 was stacked with awesome RPGs of all flavors, and 2025 looks to be starting out strong with Avowed, which launches on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Game Pass on February 18. This new first-person fantasy RPG comes from Obsidian, the legendary developer behind hits like Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds, Pentiment, and more.
While there are a few more months left until the game arrives, preorders are now available for multiple editions of Avowed–some of which even grant you early access to the game along with a bunch of bonus content–though, physical collectors may find the options to be a bit lacking.
Avowed Preorder Bonuses
While multiple editions of Avowed come with exclusive content, the only true preorder bonus available for the game is five-day early access to the full game when you purchase the Digital Premium or Steelbook Premium Editions before launch. The Avowed early access period begins on February 13.
Avowed Steelbook Premium Edition
$95
If you want a copy of the game to to on your shelf, you’ll want to grab the Avowed Steelbook Premium Edition for $95. This is the only “physical” option available, but bear in mind this is simply a steelbook case with a digital code for the PC and Xbox versions of the game. There is no disc included in this version–meaning you can’t actually buy Avowed on disc anywhere. Nevertheless, you do get a few extras if you purchase this version, including early access to the full game if you preorder. Here’s a full list of everything included in the Avowed Steelbox Premium Edition:
- Steelbook case
- Avowed Xbox/PC download code (with five days early access starting February 13)
- Letter from the developer
- Illustrated map of The Living Lands
- Digital Artbook
- Digital Soundtrack
- Two premium companion cosmetic DLC packs
Preorders for the Avowed Steelbook Premium Edition are available at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and GameStop.
All Avowed preorder options
- Digital Standard Edition — $70
- Digital Premium — $90
- Premium Upgrade — $25
- Steelbook Premium Edition (physical) — $95
If you don’t want the physical goodies, the Avowed Digital Premium Edition is also available for $90. It includes the full game and all digital content from the physical edition but ditches the steelbook case, map, and letter. You also get the 5-day early access. If you just want to grab the game without the extra goodies or early access, a $70 standard digital edition is available to preorder on Xbox and PC via Best Buy, the Microsoft Store, and Steam. Technically, there’s an even cheaper way to buy the game on PC: by using World of Warcraft in-game gold, which is one of the payment option on Blizzard’s Battle.net launcher.
As a Microsoft exclusive, Avowed will be added to Game Pass Ultimate for Xbox Series X|S and PC. You won’t own the game, but it is the cheapest way to play Avowed at launch. And if you want the Premium Edition content, you can pick up an upgrade kit for $25 to access those perks, including five days early access. Keep in mind that playing new Game Pass games at launch is only available for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. Game Pass Ultimate costs $20/month, or you can buy prepaid 1-Month codes for $17 or 3-Month codes for $50 at Amazon.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also includes access to cloud streaming for hundreds of Game Pass titles, including Avowed. If you’re interested in playing Avowed via the cloud or simply want a new Xbox controller, you should check out Amazon’s limited-time bundle deal that includes an Xbox Wireless Controller, Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, and one-month Game Pass Ultimate prepaid card for $75 (was $137). Depending on your connection, cloud streaming quality can be spotty and won’t be as stable or smooth as playing the game on console or Windows, but this is the simplest and most affordable way to play the game if you don’t already have an Xbox Series X|S or gaming PC.
There’s also an $80 bundle with the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which offers a more reliable connection and speedier performance. 4K Fire Sticks now support the Game Pass app, so one of these bundles is all you need to play Avowed.
While Avowed has obvious similarities to other first-person RPGs like The Elder Scrolls series –such as branching dialog systems, first-person melee combat, and fantastical worlds to explore–a closer approximation would be Obsidian’s sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds, as both games take place in smaller interconnected zones rather than expansive, contiguous open worlds. Be sure to check out our latest Avowed hands-on preview to learn more about the game.
Microsoft has a couple of exclusives releasing before the end of the year with steelbook editions, too. On November 19, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 lifts off, and you can preorder the Premium Deluxe Edition with a jumbo steelbook case for $130. You can pair this edition with Thrustmaster’s T-Flight Hotas Collector’s Edition Flight Stick for $100. This Flight Sim 2024-themed stick releases the same day as the game.
Meanwhile, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases on Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9, and the Collector’s Edition is still available to preorder at Walmart.
Avowed is set in the world of Eora, the same fictional setting as Obsidian’s Pillars of Eternity series. Unlike Avowed, these are top-down, party-based RPGs akin to classic computer games like Baldur’s Gate and Icewind Dale. Obsidian says won’t need to have played the Pillars of Eternity games to understand the story of Avowed, but they’re still worth checking out for fans of classic computer RPGs and anyone curious to know more about the setting. You can pick up PC versions of Pillars of Eternity and its sequel, Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire at GOG. They’re also available on Xbox One and PS4, and you can pick up Pillars of Eternity II pre-owned at GameStop.
Avowed launches on Xbox Series X|S, Windows, and Game Pass on February 18, 2025.
Brendan Hesse on Google+
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