Avowed Has a Little Bit of Romance In It After All

Obsidian's Avowed, now available in early access, has players exploring the Living Lands and encountering magic, peril, and surprisingly, romantic possibilities. While Obsidian previously stated Avowed wouldn't feature a dedicated romance system, opting instead for "thoughtful relationships" with companions (as explained by game director Carrie Patel in an IGN interview), early access players are reporting at least one companion, Kai, exhibiting romantic interest in the player character.

Patel's earlier statement highlighted a commitment to depth and authenticity in any romantic interactions: "We are building thoughtful relationships with our companion characters," she said. "Ultimately, I personally am a fan of making that an option, but I feel like if you're going to do it, you really, really have to commit and make sure that you're giving all to fulfilling that in a way that feels both true to the character, but also creates an engaging player experience. So not something we're doing for Avowed, but I wouldn't say never."

Spoiler Alert! Details regarding specific romantic interactions with Kai follow. If you wish to avoid spoilers, stop reading now.

Warning! Avowed spoilers ahead!