By Sagar V. Mankar 
Obsidian’s new action RPG Avowed has rocketed to the number one position on Steam’s global top sellers list immediately following its official launch.
According to Microsoft’s Vice President of Games Marketing, Aaron Greenberg, the game has dominated key markets worldwide, securing the top spot in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Finland. This widespread regional success has contributed significantly to its global achievement.
Notably, players are spending $69.99 USD for the Standard Edition and $89.99 USD for the Premium Edition on Steam, even though they can access the game at no additional cost through their Xbox Game Pass subscriptions.
The game’s player engagement on Steam has also shown impressive growth. Starting with a modest concurrent player count of around 9,000 during its early access launch on February 14, the numbers nearly doubled to reach a peak of 17,171 players on its official release day, as reported by SteamDB. While this figure falls slightly short of Obsidian’s previous RPG release The Outer Worlds, which peaked at 20,349 concurrent players, it still represents a strong showing for a Game Pass-available title.
The critical reception has been notably positive, with MetaCritic showing scores of 80 on Xbox Series X|S and 79 on PC. On Steam, 80% of 3.4k reviews are positive, and most of them loving its compiling story, Slapstick dialogue, Character customization, and fast-paced combat.
Set in the mystical world of Eora, previously established in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed invites players to explore the Living Lands, an island steeped in ancient magic and mystery. The game provides players with a diverse arsenal including swords, spells, guns, and shields, alongside a unique grimoire system that enhances the combat experience.
As Microsoft’s first major release of 2025, Avowed establishes a strong precedent for the year ahead.