Avowed Hits PS5 With Massive Anniversary Update, New Game+ and Playable Races

Image source: Competitor Portal / Google News (Used for representation purposes only)

Introduction

Obsidian's first-person fantasy RPG Avowed is celebrating its one-year milestone with a massive anniversary update while officially making the leap to PlayStation 5.

In this major gaming news update, Xbox Wire confirmed that PC and console players are getting New Game+, expanded character creation options, fresh playable races, and performance tweaks alongside the new PS5 version.

When I first stepped foot into the Living Lands last year, I spent dozens of hours experimenting with spell-slinging and dual-wielding pistols. Seeing Microsoft bring one of its prominent first-party RPGs over to Sony's console with a feature-packed anniversary patch shows how much the cross-platform strategy has evolved.

Whether you played on day one or waited for a physical version on PS5, this patch drops a whole list of community-requested features that refine the entire campaign.

Deep-Dive Details: New Game+, Races, and the Magic Mirror

The anniversary update brings several major systems that long-time fans have been requesting since launch. Top of that list is New Game+, which lets you take your end-game character, hard-earned gear, and unlocked abilities back to the start of the story with adjusted enemy scaling.

If you want to re-spec or change your look mid-campaign, Obsidian finally added the Magic Mirror. You can now tweak your appearance, facial features, and style at any point without needing to restart your save file.

Character creation gets a huge expansion too. Obsidian added brand-new playable races, allowing players to build characters outside the original elf and human choices. That means fresh racial traits, customized backgrounds, and new roleplaying avenues across every quest line.

Here is a breakdown of what this patch delivers across all platforms:

• New Game+ Mode: Carry over skills, weapons, and stats into a tougher Living Lands playthrough.
• Playable Races: Expand your character creation choices with new racial options and passive traits.
• The Magic Mirror: Change your appearance and cosmetic style anytime during your adventure.
• Attribute Points Cap Increase: Raise your character's potential to craft godlike feature variants and wild hybrid builds.
• Performance Enhancements: Smoother frame rates, improved visual stability, and refined combat feel.

During my recent testing on Xbox and PC, the combat pacing feels sharper. Raising the attribute points cap opens up ridiculous build flexibility, letting you stack magic power alongside heavy melee strikes to really bring the hurt to bosses.

Video analysis

Looking at the gameplay footage, the visual fidelity in the Living Lands holds up incredibly well across platforms. The framerate stays locked during chaotic spell effects, which was one of my bigger gripes when testing the launch build last year.

Impact on Gamers: What the PS5 Release Means

Bringing Avowed to PlayStation 5 marks another big step in Microsoft's multi-platform initiative. PS5 players get the complete version right out of the box, including every post-launch quality-of-life fix and all the anniversary content on day one.

For existing PC and Xbox players, this patch serves as the perfect excuse to jump back into the Living Lands. The combination of New Game+ and expanded playable races drastically improves replayability, giving completionists a reason to hunt down missed secrets.

Here is how the release features compare across platforms:

DualSense features on PS5 give spellcasting and firearm combat a distinct tactical feel, with haptic triggers resisting as you charge up heavier spells or fire off flintlock pistols.

It is refreshing to see Obsidian deliver on their post-launch roadmap without locking core upgrades behind paid DLC packs. Everyone gets access to these improvements regardless of where they choose to play.

FAQ Section

When does the Avowed anniversary update release?

The anniversary update releases today across Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 as part of the game's one-year celebration.

Is Avowed a full native release on PS5?

Yes, Avowed is launching as a native PlayStation 5 title with complete feature parity, DualSense controller support, and all anniversary content built right into the base game.

Do I need to complete the game to access New Game+?

Yes, you must complete the main campaign story once on your save file to unlock New Game+ mode for subsequent playthroughs.

Conclusion

Obsidian's anniversary update for Avowed is a fantastic win for RPG fans across every platform. Between New Game+, expanded playable races, and a native PS5 debut, there has never been a better time to explore the Living Lands.

What are your thoughts on Avowed coming to PlayStation 5? Are you starting a New Game+ run or trying out a new race? Let us know in the comments below!