Avowed is one of the upcoming Xbox games we are most excited about. The game, a first-person RPG courtesy of veteran developer Obsidian, will be set in the world of Pillars of Eternity. However, thanks to a very very early look at the gameplay, courtesy of an inside source, the world of Avowed seems to be suddenly more detailed.

Jez Corden, senior editor at futuristic site Windows Central, wrote up a very detailed impression of an early build of Avowed, based on his relationship with "trusted and proven sources familiar with Microsoft's plans for the Xbox's future." While Tom's Guide recommends a skeptical eye for leaked information on any game, both Corden and Windows Central are proven and reputable sources, and it seems safe to say that Corden's reporting is reliable for this kind of thing.

At this point, Avowed appears to be playable, albeit still in pre-alpha status. As last year's announcement trailer suggested, the game takes place from a first-person perspective and allows players to choose weapons and magic spells for each hand, including Jolting Touch (lightning), Fireball (self-explanatory), Fetid Caress (poison), and other Pillars of Eternity fans will be familiar with some of these spells. Some of these spells require one or two hands, depending on their complexity. Melee and ranged attack characters have a variety of options, including swords, arrows, and guns. Physically oriented classes use special attacks with weapons instead of casting spells.

With its emphasis on real-time combat, first-person gameplay, and assigning skills to different hands, Corden asserts that "Avowed is definitely Obsidian's take on The Elder Scrolls."

Obsidian has already considerable experience crafting first-person RPGs in original settings, as evidenced by their 2019 hit The Outer Worlds. But whether Avowed will be a true open world like The Elder Scrolls or a sprawling area connected to a central hub with a more linear storyline like The Outer Worlds, Corden is unsure.

Still, Avowed does not seem to be just The Elder Scrolls (or The Outer Worlds) in the skin of Pillars of Eternity. The game has destructible environments and subtle fire effects, and there is a great focus on character classes as opposed to simple skill choices.

It is important to keep in mind that Avowed is still in the early stages of development and everything that has been discovered so far is subject to change. The game does not yet have a firm release date, so even if the pre-alpha version progresses in an uninterrupted straight line to the final product (which never happens), a full release could still be years away.

Furthermore, it is hard to know what to expect from the game's story and characters from the pre-alpha gameplay; Avowed could be a direct sequel to the first two Pillars of Eternity games, or it could be an entirely different adventure taking place in the same corner of the world. It could be an adventure in the same corner of the world, or it could be somewhere in between.

Either way, Windows Central has shared some important game details with us, and we expect Obsidian and Microsoft to follow suit soon. We liked what we saw in the one-minute Avowed teaser, and we'll be sure to keep an eye out for more.