Avowed has received a tepid response during its paid early access period, with a peak of only 13,318 concurrent players on Steam. This figure is one of the lowest debuts for an Obsidian title and raises questions about the impact of its $90 early access price and its availability on Xbox Game Pass.
The game’s early access launched on February 15, 2025, requiring players to purchase a special edition on Steam or pay a $20 upgrade fee for Game Pass subscribers. In comparison, Obsidian’s survival game Grounded attracted 32,000 peak concurrent players at launch, while The Outer Worlds saw 20,000. Even niche titles like South Park: The Stick of Truth (34,000) and Pillars of Eternity (42,000) outperformed Avowed’s initial numbers.
Looking at broader RPG comparisons highlights the disparity further:
- Starfield: ~300,000
- Dragon Age: Veilguard: ~90,000
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2: ~257,000
Although Avowed utilizes a similar early access model to Starfield, it remains a niche game with a new IP, despite being developed by the esteemed studio Obsidian. The steep price for early access may also contribute to the game’s muted launch. It’s worth noting that Game Pass subscribers, who only had to pay $20 for early access, are not included in these figures.
The lukewarm debut could raise concerns for Xbox, which fully funded the title as part of its first-party portfolio. Obsidian’s reputation for creating deep RPGs, such as Fallout: New Vegas (51,000 peak concurrent users), has established high expectations. However, Avowed’s action-oriented approach and fragmented early access rollout may have diluted the initial hype.
On a more optimistic note, the studio’s history offers a lesson in caution: Pentiment, a narrative-focused game, peaked at just 1,200 players but received critical acclaim. With Avowed’s full launch scheduled for February 18, 2025, Xbox hopes that a broader player base—including Game Pass subscribers—will lead to improved numbers following the official release.
