Avowed, the highly anticipated fantasy RPG from Obsidian Entertainment, has sparked plenty of discussion among fans eager to explore the vibrant world of Eora once again. One of the biggest questions surrounding the game is simple but important: Is Avowed multiplayer, or is it strictly a single-player experience? In an era where online co-op and shared worlds dominate much of the gaming landscape, many players want to know exactly what kind of adventure awaits them.
TLDR: Avowed is a single-player RPG with no multiplayer or co-op modes announced. The game is designed as a story-driven, solo experience set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. Obsidian has focused on immersive narrative, player choice, and first-person combat rather than shared online gameplay. While multiplayer fans may be disappointed, solo RPG enthusiasts have plenty to look forward to.
Avowed Is a Single-Player Game
Let’s get straight to the point: Avowed is single-player only. Obsidian Entertainment has positioned the game as a narrative-focused role-playing experience, following in the footsteps of beloved RPGs like Skyrim, The Outer Worlds, and Obsidian’s own Pillars of Eternity.
At the time of writing, there have been no announcements or indications of multiplayer modes, including:
- Online co-op
- Competitive multiplayer
- Shared open-world sessions
- Drop-in/drop-out cooperative play
Everything shown in trailers, developer interviews, and gameplay previews points to a richly detailed solo adventure designed for one player.
Why Avowed Focuses on Single-Player
To understand why Avowed is single-player only, it helps to look at Obsidian’s design philosophy. The studio has built its reputation on delivering:
- Deep narrative storytelling
- Complex character development
- Meaningful player choices
- Branching dialogue systems
These elements thrive in a single-player environment. When a game centers around player-driven decisions that affect the world, factions, and companion relationships, a solo experience often provides greater immersion and narrative control.
Multiplayer mechanics can sometimes dilute tightly written stories. Obsidian appears to be prioritizing:
Player agency + world reactivity + personal narrative stakes
Rather than online collaboration.
Set in the World of Pillars of Eternity
Avowed takes place in Eora, the same universe as the Pillars of Eternity series. Those previous titles were also single-player, story-driven RPGs known for their intricate lore and morally complex decision-making.
The setting, particularly the region known as the Living Lands, plays a major role in shaping gameplay. The world is filled with:
- Political tensions between factions
- Magical experimentation gone wrong
- Strange creatures and ancient ruins
- Spiritual and metaphysical themes
These story-rich elements align naturally with a single-player structure. A multiplayer-focused design might struggle to preserve the depth and consequence-driven gameplay that fans expect from this universe.
Combat and Exploration: Designed for One Hero
Avowed features a first-person perspective with fluid combat that blends:
- Melee weapons like swords and axes
- Bows and ranged tools
- Spellcasting with dynamic magical effects
- Hybrid combat builds
Players can dual-wield weapons and magic, combining abilities in creative ways. The combat system emphasizes build customization, skill trees, and player choice rather than coordinated team tactics typical of multiplayer RPGs.
Because the design focuses on individual character progression, balancing the game for multiplayer parties would require major systemic adjustments. Everything so far indicates the mechanics are tuned for a solo adventurer shaping their own journey.
Are There Companions?
Even though Avowed is single-player, that does not mean you will travel alone.
Obsidian has confirmed the presence of AI-controlled companions. These characters will:
- Travel with you during your journey
- Participate in combat
- Offer insight and commentary
- React to your choices
This companion system mirrors the structure seen in The Outer Worlds, where squadmates enhanced storytelling without turning the game into a multiplayer experience.
So while a friend cannot drop into your world with a controller, you won’t be wandering Eora in isolation. NPC companions provide a narrative-driven sense of partnership instead of real-world co-op.
Why Some Players Expected Multiplayer
There are a few reasons fans speculated about multiplayer support:
- Modern RPG trends: Many large-scale RPGs now incorporate co-op or live-service elements.
- First-person combat similarities: The gameplay footage resembles titles that often support multiplayer.
- Microsoft backing: As an Xbox Game Studios title, some wondered whether it might emphasize online ecosystems.
However, none of these factors automatically imply multiplayer functionality. In fact, Microsoft’s portfolio includes many purely single-player successes, such as Starfield and various story-driven releases.
Is Multiplayer Coming Later?
As of now, there is no indication that multiplayer will be added post-launch. Unlike games built with live-service frameworks, Avowed does not appear structured around:
- Seasonal multiplayer updates
- Online progression systems
- Multiplayer matchmaking infrastructure
Adding multiplayer retroactively to a complex RPG is not a small task. It would require reworking quest logic, balance systems, dialogue triggers, and progression mechanics.
While it’s never impossible, it would be surprising given how the game is positioned and marketed.
The Benefits of a Single-Player Experience
For many RPG fans, single-player is not a limitation—it is a strength.
Here are some advantages of Avowed’s solo focus:
- Immersive storytelling: No distractions from online coordination.
- Choice-driven consequences: Your decisions belong entirely to you.
- Pacing control: Explore at your speed without pressure.
- Stable experience: No dependency on servers or online infrastructure.
Single-player RPGs tend to age well because they are not reliant on active player bases or online services. Years from now, Avowed should remain fully playable exactly as intended.
How Avowed Compares to Other RPGs
To put things in context, here’s how Avowed fits within the broader RPG landscape:
Single-Player RPGs:
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- The Outer Worlds
- Dragon Age series
- Starfield
Multiplayer or Co-op RPGs:
- Diablo IV
- Baldur’s Gate 3 (optional co-op)
- Elden Ring (limited online elements)
- Monster Hunter series
Avowed clearly aligns with the first category. Its structure, marketing, and gameplay philosophy all reflect a traditional single-player RPG approach.
Will Mods Introduce Multiplayer?
Whenever a major RPG launches on PC, discussions about modding inevitably appear. Some players wonder whether the community could introduce unofficial multiplayer.
While modders are incredibly creative, implementing full multiplayer functionality into a game not designed for it is extremely complex. It requires deep engine access, networking architecture, and large-scale systemic adjustments.
Although minor experimental mods are always possible, players should not rely on modding as a realistic path to full co-op gameplay.
The Bigger Picture: Obsidian’s Vision
Obsidian has repeatedly emphasized crafting a reactive world. Player decisions are expected to shape narrative outcomes, faction dynamics, and environmental changes.
A single-player structure supports:
- Personalized story arcs
- Permanent consequences
- Branching quest paths
- Individual moral dilemmas
This design philosophy thrives when the player is the sole driver of events. Multiplayer often requires compromise—shared dialogue trees, synchronized quests, and neutralized consequences to prevent conflicts between players.
Avowed appears unwilling to make those compromises.
Final Verdict: Single-Player Through and Through
So, is Avowed multiplayer or single-player only?
Avowed is a fully single-player RPG with no multiplayer or co-op modes announced. Everything about its development, world design, and gameplay systems reinforces that identity.
While multiplayer enthusiasts may wish for shared exploration in Eora, the solo focus allows Obsidian to deliver what it does best: deeply layered storytelling, impactful choices, and immersive world-building.
For fans of narrative-driven RPGs, that should be an exciting promise rather than a limitation. Avowed is not about playing together online—it is about carving your own legend in a dangerous, magical world shaped by your decisions alone.
And sometimes, the most powerful adventures are the ones you experience by yourself.