Avowed Anniversary Update & PS5 Release: What You Need to Know [2025]

Avowed's First Anniversary Hits Play Station 5: Everything You Should Know

You've been waiting for this. If you've been eyeing Avowed on Play Station 5, the wait is officially over. After launching exclusively on Xbox and PC last year, Obsidian Entertainment finally brought the fantasy RPG to Sony's console ecosystem, and they're celebrating the occasion with a massive Anniversary Update that changes how the game plays across all platforms.

But here's the thing: this isn't just about PS5 getting its moment in the spotlight. The Anniversary Update introduces features that honestly should've been there at launch. New Game Plus mode? Brand new playable races? A completely revamped Photo Mode? These additions suggest Obsidian has been listening to player feedback and actually acting on it.

The real question isn't whether PS5 players should jump in—they should. The question is whether you should expect Avowed to look substantially better on the newly launched PS5 Pro. Spoiler alert: don't hold your breath. Digital Foundry's technical breakdown reveals that the PS5 Pro enhancements are, well, underwhelming. We're talking zero ray tracing upgrades, no Play Station Spectral Super Resolution, and visual targets that match the Xbox Series X rather than pushing beyond.

So what exactly changed? What makes this Anniversary Update worth diving back into? And should PS5 Pro owners feel disappointed? Let's break down everything that just hit the gaming world.

The Anniversary Update: What Actually Changed

Obsidian didn't skimp on the Anniversary Update. This patch adds genuine substance to the Avowed experience, and it's not just window dressing. The headliner? New Game Plus mode finally gives you a reason to jump back into Eora after you've already conquered the main campaign.

New Game Plus in Avowed works like most iterations: you maintain your character's level, skills, and gear from your previous playthrough, but the world and story reset. This means you can experience the narrative again without losing all your progression. It's not revolutionary, but it's exactly what players have been requesting since launch.

Then there's the character customization expansion. Three entirely new playable races join the existing roster, giving you more creative options when starting fresh runs. The game already had solid character creation at launch, but these new races expand the visual variety significantly. You're not just reskinning the same models; Obsidian added genuinely distinct options.

The photo mode overhaul deserves its own mention. If you've used photo modes in other modern RPGs, you know they can feel either clunky or overpowered. Obsidian found the sweet spot here. The updated Photo Mode lets you adjust lighting, camera angles, filters, and character poses without breaking immersion. It's the kind of feature that transforms how players engage with the game's stunning environments.

New Weapon Types and Combat Variety

The quarterstaff joins the arsenal as a brand-new weapon class. This isn't just another sword or another bow. Quarterstaffs fundamentally change your approach to combat because they offer unique move sets and playstyles. If you've already beaten the game with a spellblade or rogue build, suddenly you've got a legitimate reason to experiment with an entirely different combat philosophy.

Weapon variety matters in RPGs. It's the difference between multiple meaningful playthroughs and just doing the same thing again with slightly different stats. The quarterstaff addresses a gap in Avowed's melee options, particularly for players who want crowd control and defensive positioning rather than pure damage output.

Party Camp Customization

This quality-of-life feature sounds minor until you use it: you can now change your character's appearance at any point while resting at Party Camp. Previously, if you created a character and wanted to alter their appearance mid-game, you were stuck. This seems small, but it reflects player feedback. Some people want to roleplay character transformations. Others simply regret their initial choices after seeing how their character looks in actual gameplay lighting.

It's the kind of feature that shows developers listening. Not every studio adds it. Many assume people won't want this flexibility. But player communities consistently request these options, and Obsidian delivered.

Godlike Features and Presets

More Godlike feature presets mean more customization for how your character relates to the divine. Avowed's Godlike options already set it apart from other fantasy RPGs—they're genuinely fantastical without feeling silly. Additional presets give you even more control over this aspect of character creation. If you care about how your character fits into the world's lore and mythology, this matters.

Avowed on PS5 Pro does not utilize PSSR or ray tracing enhancements, relying solely on FSR 2 for upscaling. Estimated data.

The Play Station 5 Port: Performance and Quality Breakdown

Now we get to the technical nitty-gritty. The PS5 version of Avowed launched with three distinct performance modes, each targeting different hardware configurations and player preferences.

Quality Mode: The Visual Showcase

Quality Mode targets 1440p resolution at 30 frames per second. This is Obsidian's statement: "If you care more about how the game looks than how responsive it feels, this is your mode." Running at 1440p gives you noticeably sharper visuals than performance mode, and for a single-player RPG where you're not competing against other players, 30fps is entirely playable.

But here's where it gets interesting. According to technical analysis, the Xbox Series X hits that 1440p target more consistently than the PS5 does. This is the subtle frustration of multiplatform development: hardware optimization doesn't always favor the newer or theoretically more powerful console. The PS5 and Xbox Series X trade blows depending on the workload. Sometimes PS5 wins, sometimes Xbox wins. With Quality Mode, Xbox holds the edge.

This matters if you've got both consoles and are deciding where to play. The difference isn't night and day, but it's measurable. A few frames here and there might stutter less on Xbox than PS5, even though the resolution target is identical.

Balanced Mode: The Sweet Spot

Balanced Mode is the compromise for modern displays. It targets 40fps on 120 Hz-capable monitors and TVs. This is where PS5 genuinely shines. You get substantially better visual quality than performance mode while maintaining frame rates smooth enough for snappy responsiveness.

If your TV or monitor supports 120 Hz refresh rates (and honestly, most newer gaming displays do), this is the mode that feels the most "next-generation." You're getting visual polish with near-performance-mode responsiveness. It's not as sharp as Quality Mode, but the difference is less dramatic than you might expect.

Performance Mode: The Responsive Standard

Performance Mode delivers 60fps. Period. That's the promise, and execution matters here. Digital Foundry notes something unexpected: the PS5 performance mode actually runs faster than the Xbox Series X version, particularly when Variable Refresh Rate support is enabled. This is the kind of detail that matters to competitive players and anyone who cares about input latency.

For a single-player RPG like Avowed, 60fps at the expense of visual polish is absolutely viable. You're getting smooth, responsive gameplay without the visual compromise being severe. The internal resolution drops to 1080p compared to Quality Mode's 1440p, but modern rendering techniques make the visual gap smaller than it sounds.

The PS5 Pro Disappointment: Why It Matters

Here's where the update gets controversial. Sony's PS5 Pro launched with promises of enhanced visuals and stronger performance. You're paying $800 for the premium Play Station experience. Logically, newer games should look materially better on PS5 Pro.

Avowed doesn't follow that logic.

No Play Station Spectral Super Resolution

PSSR is Sony's proprietary upscaling technology, designed specifically for PS5 Pro. It uses AI to intelligently upscale lower-resolution images without losing detail. Games optimized for PSSR often see dramatic improvements in visual clarity compared to their native PS5 counterparts.

Avowed doesn't use it. Instead, Obsidian stuck with FSR 2, AMD's open-source upscaling tech. Now, FSR 2 is good. It's the same technology used across countless multiplatform games. But it's not leveraging the PS5 Pro's specialized hardware. It's like buying a sports car and driving it in a way that any car could drive.

This is a developer choice. It's technically possible to implement PSSR, and numerous other studios have done it. But it requires additional optimization work and resources. Obsidian apparently decided that investment wasn't worth it, or perhaps the work was already complete before PS5 Pro launched.

No Ray Tracing Enhancements

Ray tracing is the visual technology that makes reflections, shadows, and lighting behave like light actually behaves in the real world. It's computationally expensive, which is why most games use it selectively.

The PS5 Pro version of Avowed doesn't add ray tracing features. The 30fps Quality Mode doesn't suddenly get real-time ray-traced reflections. The 60fps Performance Mode stays the same. You're getting the exact same rendering approach across both console versions.

This is technically disappointing because ray tracing showcases PS5 Pro's GPU improvements. The fact that Obsidian didn't add even optional ray tracing features suggests the optimization work didn't extend to this area.

Internal Resolution: Not the Jump You'd Hope For

PS5 Pro boasts significant GPU improvements over standard PS5. In theory, this should translate to higher internal resolutions. The math seems straightforward: more GPU power equals higher resolution rendering.

Avowed caps at 1440p on Quality Mode and 1080p on Performance Mode—the exact same targets as standard PS5. There's no "PS5 Pro Ultra" mode with 4K rendering. There's no exclusive high-fidelity mode that showcases the upgraded hardware. You're getting the standard experience, full stop.

Consistency: The One Real Win

The only genuine advantage PS5 Pro delivers is consistency. Digital Foundry notes that the console more reliably hits its 60fps target in Performance Mode compared to standard PS5. Frame pacing is more consistent, stutters happen less frequently, and the experience feels smoother overall.

This matters. A locked 60fps is better than a fluctuating 55-60fps, even if the visual difference is identical. But is this improvement worth $800 for Avowed? That's a personal question, but the answer for most people is probably no.

The PS5 and Xbox Series X offer similar performance modes for Avowed, with the PS5 having a slight edge in Performance Mode when VRR is enabled. Estimated data based on typical performance metrics.

What This Says About Multiplatform Development

The Avowed PS5 Pro situation reveals larger industry trends. Not every studio implements platform-exclusive enhancements. Some games get tailored versions; others get straightforward ports. It's a resource allocation question that each studio answers differently.

Obsidian Entertainment is working on Avowed alongside various post-launch support responsibilities. Dedicating significant engineering resources to PS5 Pro optimization when the base PS5 version already works solidly is a legitimate choice, even if players wish it went further.

What's important to understand: this doesn't reflect PS5 Pro's capabilities. It reflects Obsidian's priorities. Other studios like Capcom are implementing PSSR across their title lineup. The technology exists. The choice to not use it is a development decision, not a hardware limitation.

The Three-Mode Strategy: What It Means for Players

Offering three distinct performance modes gives Avowed players real choice. You're not locked into a single experience. You can switch between modes based on what you care about in that moment.

Playing story-heavy sequences? Quality Mode lets you soak in the atmosphere at 1440p. Entering a combat-heavy dungeon? Switch to Performance Mode for responsive 60fps gameplay. Got a 120 Hz display? Balanced Mode splits the difference perfectly.

This flexibility is increasingly rare. Many newer games just offer "Quality" and "Performance," period. Three options, with different targets and purposes, shows thoughtful design. It's treating different player preferences as equally valid rather than forcing everyone into the same visual bucket.

New Game Plus: Replayability and Long-Term Engagement

New Game Plus is deceptively important for RPG longevity. Some players finish a 40-hour campaign and immediately move to their next game. Others love revisiting stories they've already experienced, approaching them with different character builds and roleplay choices.

NGP+ enables the second group. You maintain progression while resetting the world. This means:

• You experience the narrative again without losing your power fantasy
• Different character builds and approaches become viable because you're already leveled
• Side quests and dialogue choices offer new perspective after knowing how the story ends
• Challenge runs become possible (imagine a level-1 start in New Game Plus attempting maximum difficulty)

For players who connect deeply with Avowed's world and characters, this feature extends playtime by dozens of hours. It transforms the game from "experience once and move on" to "experience multiple times with different approaches."

The Anniversary Update for Avowed introduces significant features like New Game Plus and new playable races, but PS5 Pro enhancements are minimal. Estimated data.

The New Races: Lore and Roleplay Impact

Three new playable races might sound cosmetic, but they reshape roleplay possibilities. Each race carries cultural and historical weight in Avowed's setting of Eora. Adding new races means new lore opportunities, different dialogue options, and fresh narrative angles.

When you create a character, their race shapes how NPCs react to them and which dialogue paths open up. A wood elf rogue experiences the world differently than an orc fighter. New races expand this branching significantly.

This is why race selection in RPGs matters beyond aesthetics. It's worldbuilding made tangible. It's the game acknowledging that your character's identity shapes their journey.

Photo Mode Updates: Community Creativity

Modern gaming communities treat photo modes seriously. Games like Ghost of Tsushima and Baldur's Gate 3 have generated millions of stunning screenshots through their tools. Photography is how players express creativity and share their experiences.

Obsidian's Photo Mode update acknowledges this. Improved tools, more customization options, and better UI make capturing incredible moments easier. It's a feature that might seem secondary but drives engagement, social sharing, and how people talk about the game outside the playing experience itself.

The Quarterstaff: Combat Philosophy and Build Diversity

Weapon diversity directly impacts build diversity. Adding the quarterstaff creates new character archetypes and playstyles. A quarterstaff-focused build probably emphasizes crowd control, positioning, and durability over burst damage.

This matters for replayability. Your first Avowed playthrough might have been a sneaky archer or elemental mage. A quarterstaff specialist playstyle is genuinely different, requiring different stat distributions, ability choices, and tactical approaches.

And for New Game Plus, this new weapon transforms how you approach familiar content. You're not just replaying the same build; you're exploring fundamentally different combat approaches.

In Quality Mode, Xbox Series X slightly outperforms PS5, whereas PS5 excels in Balanced Mode. Performance Mode is nearly equal across both consoles. Estimated data based on technical analysis insights.

Party Camp Customization: The Underrated Quality-of-Life Feature

Many players don't think about character appearance during character creation. You're making quick decisions, imagining how they'll look in-game, and inevitably being surprised or disappointed later. Party Camp customization removes this trap.

It's a small feature that has outsized impact on player satisfaction. It says "we trust you to know what you want, and we'll give you the flexibility to achieve it." These features accumulate. One isn't significant. Five of them across the Anniversary Update? That's a substantial quality-of-life improvement.

Technical Performance: Beyond the Headlines

PS5 performance is solid but not flawless. Frame rate targets are generally hit, but occasional dips happen. Loading times are reasonable for a 2024-generation RPG. The console handles the game world without excessive simplification compared to PC or Xbox versions.

What's impressive is that Obsidian delivered a multiplatform game that runs acceptably everywhere. Not perfectly, but acceptably. The PS5 version holds its own against Xbox Series X, with different modes offering genuine choices rather than feeling like compromises.

The Anniversary Update Timeline: A Year of Development

This update represents a full year of Avowed post-launch development. From launch to Anniversary Update, Obsidian had to balance maintaining the game, fixing bugs, responding to player feedback, and preparing for PS5 release. That's significant work compressed into 12 months.

The Anniversary Update's scope suggests Obsidian was already planning most of these features during development. New Game Plus, new races, and expanded customization don't happen overnight. They require design approval, implementation, testing, and iteration. This likely started before the Xbox launch.

But it also reflects responsiveness. Obsidian listened to "where's New Game Plus?" and "I want more character options" and actually delivered on those feedback points.

Estimated performance scores show PS5 and Xbox Series X are closely matched, with Xbox slightly ahead in graphics quality. Estimated data.

Player Expectations vs. Reality

PS5 Pro launched with hype. Gamers expected enhanced versions of existing games to showcase the upgraded hardware. Avowed doesn't deliver on that expectation, and that's disappointing.

But context matters. Not every game gets PS5 Pro optimization. Studios have to prioritize. Obsidian chose to deliver solid multiplatform stability rather than PS5 Pro-exclusive bells and whistles. It's a defensible choice, even if it's not the choice players hoped for.

The real question: Is the Anniversary Update and PS5 release enough to draw players back (or in for the first time)? For most people, absolutely. New Game Plus, new races, combat additions, and quality-of-life improvements create meaningful new content. PS5 Pro enhancements feel like a nice-to-have rather than a must-have.

What's Next: The Future of Avowed

This Anniversary Update suggests Obsidian plans continued Avowed support. Whether that means DLC, additional New Game Plus variations, or just balance patches remains unclear. But the company's commitment to post-launch development is evident.

Future updates might include more content, additional races, or even narrative expansions. The Anniversary Update establishes the template for how Obsidian handles ongoing support.

Comparing Avowed to Competitor RPGs

Avowed exists in a crowded space. Baldur's Gate 3, Dragon's Dogma 2, and Final Fantasy VII Remake all compete for RPG player attention. The Anniversary Update helps Avowed hold its own, but it's playing catch-up in some areas.

Baldur's Gate 3 still offers deeper branching narratives and character interactions. Dragon's Dogma 2 delivers more visceral combat. But Avowed brings excellent world-building, solid writing, and now, meaningful replayability through New Game Plus.

The competitive landscape matters because it contextualizes these updates. They're not just improvements in a vacuum; they're moves in an industry-wide conversation about what post-launch support should include.

The Business Side: Play Station Expansion Strategy

From a business perspective, bringing Avowed to PS5 is crucial. Play Station players represent a massive market. Obsidian (now part of Microsoft) had some flexibility here, and they chose to expand the audience rather than keeping Avowed exclusive to Xbox.

This decision likely cost significant resources for porting, testing, and optimization. The Anniversary Update coinciding with PS5 launch suggests both events were strategically timed to maximize player attention.

The Role of Fan Communities

The Anniversary Update features largely came from fan requests. That's worth acknowledging. Players asked for New Game Plus. Players wanted more character options. Players requested expanded Photo Mode. Obsidian listened and delivered.

This creates a feedback loop: good post-launch support keeps communities engaged, communities provide feedback, that feedback shapes future updates. Avowed's growing community likely influenced what's in this update.

Making Your Platform Choice

If you're deciding where to play Avowed, here's the practical breakdown:

PS5 is the new entry point. If you've never played Avowed, the PS5 version is absolutely your way in. You get the full Anniversary Update content, three performance modes, and solid performance across the board.

Xbox Game Pass offers value. If you own an Xbox, Game Pass makes Avowed free. That's hard to beat for trying the game without financial commitment.

PC gives flexibility. If you want the absolute highest fidelity or plan to mod the game, PC is where Avowed shines. Modding support is excellent, and visual settings are fully customizable.

PS5 Pro owners need realistic expectations. The PS5 Pro version is incrementally better at performance consistency, but not visually superior in meaningful ways. If you already own a standard PS5, upgrading to Pro for Avowed alone isn't justified.

The Anniversary Update Across Platforms

One of the best decisions Obsidian made was releasing the Anniversary Update simultaneously across all platforms. PC players, Xbox players, and now PS5 players all get the same features at the same time. No exclusivity windows, no platform fragmentation.

This matters for online cooperation, shared economies, and community cohesion. Everyone experiences the update together rather than some players being locked out while waiting for their platform's version.

FAQ

What is the Avowed Anniversary Update?

The Anniversary Update is Obsidian Entertainment's first major post-launch patch for Avowed, released one year after the game's initial launch. It includes New Game Plus mode, three new playable races, a completely redesigned Photo Mode, a new quarterstaff weapon class, expanded character customization options, and quality-of-life improvements like the ability to change your character's appearance at Party Camp. This update rolled out across PC, Xbox, and PS5 simultaneously.

How does the PS5 version of Avowed perform compared to Xbox Series X?

The PS5 version offers three distinct performance modes: Quality Mode at 1440p/30fps, Balanced Mode at 40fps for 120 Hz displays, and Performance Mode at 60fps. Technical analysis shows the Xbox Series X hits the 1440p target more consistently in Quality Mode, while the PS5 Performance Mode actually runs faster when VRR is enabled. Overall, both versions perform comparably, with different strengths depending on the mode you choose.

Why doesn't the PS5 Pro version have major enhancements for Avowed?

Obsidian Entertainment chose not to implement PS5 Pro-exclusive features like Play Station Spectral Super Resolution or ray tracing enhancements. The PS5 Pro version runs identically to the standard PS5 version in terms of resolution targets and rendering settings, offering mainly improved frame rate consistency rather than visual upgrades. This appears to be a development resource decision rather than a hardware limitation.

What is New Game Plus and why does it matter?

New Game Plus lets you restart the story while keeping your character's level, skills, and equipment from your previous playthrough. This enables different playstyles during replays, allows experienced players to tackle higher difficulties, and gives narrative-focused players the chance to experience the story again with new perspective. For single-player RPGs like Avowed, New Game Plus dramatically extends post-launch engagement.

Which performance mode should I choose on PS5?

Your choice depends on your priorities and display capabilities. If you value visuals most, Quality Mode at 1440p/30fps delivers the sharpest image. If you have a 120 Hz display, Balanced Mode at 40fps offers an excellent compromise between visual quality and responsiveness. If you prioritize smooth, responsive gameplay, Performance Mode at 60fps is the solid choice. You can switch between modes anytime, so experiment and see what feels best.

Should I buy a PS5 Pro if I want to play Avowed?

No, not specifically for Avowed. The PS5 Pro enhancements are minimal—mainly just better frame rate consistency. The visual targets are identical to standard PS5. If you're considering PS5 Pro for other reasons, that's fine, but Avowed shouldn't be a deciding factor. A standard PS5 provides an excellent experience with this game.

How many hours of new content does the Anniversary Update add?

New Game Plus doesn't add hours of new story content—you're experiencing the same narrative you already played. However, it enables meaningful replayability for players who want different character builds or playstyles. The new weapon and races add variety to how you approach the game. Most of the value is in replayability rather than fresh content hours.

Can I switch between PS5 performance modes without restarting the game?

Yes, you can switch performance modes anytime without restarting. This makes it easy to experiment with different modes for different situations. Playing a story-heavy moment? Switch to Quality Mode for visual richness. Heading into a dungeon? Drop to Performance Mode for responsiveness.

Key Takeaways

• Avowed's Anniversary Update adds New Game Plus, three new playable races, redesigned Photo Mode, quarterstaff weapon, and enhanced character customization across all platforms simultaneously
• PS5 version offers three performance modes (30fps quality at 1440p, 40fps balanced, and 60fps performance) with comparable performance to Xbox Series X, though Xbox hits visual targets more consistently in Quality Mode
• PS5 Pro enhancements are minimal—no PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, no ray tracing upgrades, and identical resolution targets to standard PS5, with only improved frame consistency as the main advantage
• New Game Plus enables meaningful replayability by letting players maintain character progression while resetting the world for fresh narrative experiences with different builds and strategies
• The Anniversary Update reflects strong post-launch developer commitment and responsiveness to player feedback, though PS5 Pro optimization suggests resource allocation prioritized multiplatform stability over console-exclusive features

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