The developers of the new role-playing game Avowed have abandoned romantic relationships between characters, despite the fact that this mechanic brought great success to Baldur’s Gate 3.
«It’s a ton of work», — notes Game director Kerry Patel on romance systems. «Everything has to be done flawlessly. And it’s important to make sure that a player who doesn’t choose the romantic path but wants to have a deep relationship with their companions has the same full and meaningful experience on the friendship path as they do on the romantic path. Therefore, we decided that it would be best to reveal the stories of our companions and relationships with them without the romantic option».
The new project from Obsidian Entertainment, set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, relies on four carefully designed satellites.
«We wanted each of them to have a key role in the story, different party roles, unique personalities, and ways in which they complement each other and tell the player the story of the Living Lands», — Patel reveals the details.
One of the companions, whose heart already belongs to another, attracts special attention. «We rarely see in games the story of a character who travels with you, but whose soul is torn between duty and love», — the director shares her thoughts.
Avowed will be released early next year, and although comparisons with Larian Studios’ triumphant 2023 hit are inevitable, the team is confidently following its own path.
«Romance works well in some games,», Patel admits, but adds with conviction: «Players always respond positively to a really well-written character».
As a reminder, in August, Avowed postponed by the beginning of 2025.
Source: Gamesradar