Avowed Update 1.2.3: Major Fixes and Exciting Future DLC Hints!

Summary

Avowed update 1.2.3 fixes major questline glitches, companion AI behavior, and audio issues for a better player experience.
Despite launch bugs, Avowed became a top seller on Steam, showcasing a successful release despite initial issues.
Obsidian doesn’t plan to add New Game Plus mode but hints at potential paid DLC in the future based on game popularity.

In a recent development, Obsidian Entertainment has rolled out Update 1.2.3 for the recently launched action RPG titled Avowed. This update brings about significant alterations to the game, addressing numerous bugs and enhancing the general gaming experience.

Out now this month, “Avowed” is the latest creation from the studios at Obsidian Entertainment. This new title has garnered mostly favorable reviews so far, with an average critic score of 81 on OpenCritic. Critics have generally lauded the game for its compelling story, deep lore, engaging gameplay, and immersive exploration opportunities. However, some criticism has been levied against the RPG aspect due to the prevalence of bugs. Luckily, Obsidian is actively working to rectify these issues.

Currently, Obsidian has rolled out Update 1.2.3 for the game Avowed. This update addresses a variety of bugs, particularly those that disrupted questlines like “A Path to the Garden” and “Message from Afar”, making it impossible for players to complete them. The patch also incorporates modifications in gameplay and balance, including enhancing the resistance reduction and cooldown of Arcane Veil, and improving the AI behavior of companions to make them more dependable during combat. The poor AI behavior of companions was a common issue among Avowed players, so it’s reassuring to see this being addressed promptly. Additionally, the update offers numerous audio enhancements for Avowed, rectifying multiple instances where the audio did not perform as intended by the developers.

Following the latest Day One update for Avowed, this fresh development is now being rolled out. The prior update, a substantial one, focused on addressing player feedback during the early access period and rectifying numerous bugs. It significantly enhanced the functionality of equipment tiers and various other aspects as well.

Luckily, despite the glitches at its debut, I found myself deeply engrossed in the world of Avowed. Just a few days after its release, this game skyrocketed in popularity on Steam, even making it to the top spot on their US sales chart. That’s quite an accomplishment, considering that you need to shell out $70 to play it on Steam, but if you’re an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass subscriber, you can dive right in!

It appears unlikely that the game Avowed will receive many new features through free updates, as confirmed by Obsidian earlier this month. They revealed that the game lacks a New Game Plus feature and do not plan to add it in the future. However, they hinted at the possibility of paid downloadable content for Avowed being released sometime in the future, contingent on the game’s success.

Avowed Update 1.2.3 Official Patch Notes

Crashes & Major Issues

Resolved a crash related to GameThread timing out.
Fixed a crash when pressing ESC after climbing a ladder.
Fixed a crash that occurred when playing on PC with an Xbox Account signed in and losing an internet connection.
Addressed a rare rendering-related crash.

Quests & Area Design

Yatzli now correctly advances “A Path to the Garden” quest even if “One Last Drink” was completed before meeting Temerti & Yatzli in Thirdborn.
Ofryc will now appear as intended in Paradis near the end of “Dawntreader.”
“Shadows of the Past” now progresses correctly if the player enters Naku Kubel immediately after it becomes accessible.
Sanza now correctly rewards the player when turning in the first map.
Wilfrith’s Map is now removed from the player’s inventory when given to Sanza.
Removed a “Quest Available” icon from a quest giver in Shatterscarp if they have been killed.
Fixed an issue where a conversation with Yatzli during “The Siege of Paradis” would start too early.
Fixed an issue where a dream conversation in Dawnshore would end prematurely.
Corrected conditionals preventing certain end slides from playing.
The “Precious Light” quest marker now appears correctly if Adelgund was spoken to before the quest starts.
Amadio in Emerald Stair no longer reacts as if the xaurips have been killed when only damaged by an elemental interaction.
Sargamis’ dialogue after choosing to sacrifice himself is no longer cut off.
Fixed an issue where dreamthralls outside of Naku Kubel would drop dead unexpectedly.
Xaurips in the Deadfall Highlands (Shatterscarp) will no longer follow the player outside their intended area.
Barrier collision is now correctly removed after a conversation in front of Naku Kubel and fast traveling to Party Camp.
The Belderreno bounty encounter now spawns more reliably.
Players can no longer skip talking to Darle after burning the nests in “Fires in the Mine.”
Fixed an issue where four of the same Great Sword could be picked up outside of Paradis.
Players can now properly give illicit goods to Daiko under certain conditions in “The Wasteland Courier.”
Players can now properly exit the conversation with Forgemaster Dela in Solace Keep when unsure about which weapon to upgrade.
Players can no longer use parkour on the rocks to bypass part of “Boundaries of Antiquity.”
The Pyromancer in Dawnshore no longer clips into and out of the ground.
The “Message From Afar” quest now properly completes if the player exited The Strangleroot in an unintended way.
Added a proper quest marker for “Mapping the Living Lands: Galawain’s Tusks.”

Systems, Gameplay, and Balance Updates

Corrected the requirements for the achievement “The Outer Worlds.”
Arcane Veil Balance Adjustments:
- Damage Reduction: 50% → 25%
- Cooldown: 10s → 15s
Environmental Fixes:
- Characters are no longer affected by electrified water when standing above it, jumping over it, or standing on an ice platform.
Companion Behavior:
- Companions will now assist in combat more reliably.
- Companions will no longer rarely disappear after skipping a cutscene.
Combat & Encounters:
- Combat Encounters.
- Encounters with waves of enemies now spawn more reliably.
- Fixed rare cases where NPCs would teleport under the map.
- Improved behavior for water-borne electrical damage.
- Melee weapons (except one-handed swords) now properly trigger camera shakes when hitting enemies.
- Newly spawned enemies during combat now detect the player correctly.
Player Movement & Camera Fixes:
- Fixed an issue where the Steel Garotte guard’s weapon would enlarge when taking damage before a conversation.
- The player camera no longer lurches when opening a small lockbox.
The player will no longer:
- Levitate briefly after opening a sarcophagus.
- Momentarily uncrouch when opening a small lockbox.
- Be unable to move after loading a save where Arcane Veil was active.
- Get stuck aiming down sights after a cutscene.

Audio Improvements

Adjusted music mix volumes based on story moments and vistas in:
- Emerald Stair
- Galawain’s Tusks
- Shatterscarp
- The Garden

Sound Fixes:
- “Arduous Delay of Motion” ability now plays an audio effect upon enemy impact.
- “Barbaric Shout” now correctly plays the shout sound every time it is used.
Visual & Art Fixes
- Camera Framing Adjustments:
  - Before dispelling the barrier to Naku Kubel.
  - In conversations with gossiping Fiorian Citizens in Emerald Stair.
  - During “The Siege of Paradis” quest.
  - In Naku Kubel.
  - With Cinzia in Thirdborn
- Improved fog appearance in the opening area of The Garden.
- Adjusted lighting near the Shrine to Skaen in Emerald Stair.
- NPCs now correctly look at the player rather than at the camera during the debate with Giatta, Vidarro, and Quillici in Fior mes Iverno.
- Removed graphical artifacts from the dreamscourge effect in Emerald Stair near the Farmer’s Market.
User Interface (UI) & Controls
- Fixed “Insufficient Funds” and strikethrough text incorrectly appearing in store screens.
- Cloud Syncing:
  - When saving fails, a more descriptive error message now appears.
  - If save sync fails after logging in, a dialog will now display listing the failed save syncs.
- HUD & Indicators:
  - Adjusted directional damage indicators to not display during damage-over-time effects.
  - Fixed an issue where damage numbers were previously failing to appear.
  - Clarified text for Cross Save pop-ups.
  - Loot windows now show correct values for stacked coins.
- Controller & Inventory Fixes:
  - Steam & Xbox icons now appear in the Main Menu to indicate the logged-in account.
  - Settings now correctly apply saved controller layouts after restarting the game.
  - Upon crafting the maximum amount of an item, focus now returns to that item’s recipe entry.
  - Inventory values are now hidden for items that cannot be sold (e.g., quest items and upgrade materials).
- Miscellaneous
  - Credits: Various corrections were made.
  - Localization: French tutorials now display properly localized images.

2025-02-22 01:56