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[ShaiKhulud1989]

Indy and Hellblade 2 were massive bombs. Avowed is doing fine for it's budget

6 years dev time will defo not worth sub-20k on Steam without a PS5 release, no matter how you or MS PR will slice it.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard with almost 100k CCU sold around 2 millions and never covered the lenghty production cycle. With PS5 (best-selling current gen platform) thrown into the mix. I'm sure that Avowed actual sales are somewhere in the range of abysmal and everyone will keep the fake smile in media until the inevitable layoffs announcements.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

It is when you compare to other AAA games. 50-75mil budget. 500k in sales at full price alongside decent Gamepass engagement would most likely be considered a success. The director came out today and said Obsidian was happy with sales

500k sales???

Lots of assumptions here, that’s not enough to be profitable, second of all it’s lucky to have sold 200k by now

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Indy and Hellblade 2 were massive bombs. Avowed is doing fine for it's budget

remember that got rebooted two times. but that is not even the issue.

MS keeps making these AA games that fail to capture the gaming culture and fail to "punch above their waist" regarding its market performance

And while it's possible they could make a slight profit with these kinds of games, MS is not in the business of making slight profits. These games would need to come out every two years. Games like Hellblade 2, Avowed, State of Decay 3, South of Midnight, or the next Double Fine game can't take 4 to 6 years between releases.

 

[demigod]

Not even close bro

Almost choked on this cheetos.

 

[demigod]

500k sales???

Lots of assumptions here, that’s not enough to be profitable, second of all it’s lucky to have sold 200k by now

Bro thinks California salary is cheap.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Bro thinks California salary is cheap.

It would not surprise me if Avowed cost as much if not more as KCD2 ($40 million)

 

[poppabk]

It’s still not a cheap game, I doubt they are hitting any sales targets so far

It's on gamepass their theoretical sales target is zero.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

It's on gamepass their theoretical sales target is zero.

Ahh yes, GamePass…the place where games go to die and MS is happy to lose money on it….

Totally not true btw

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

It's on gamepass their theoretical sales target is zero.

Well it's a matter of target for new subs then. The stats that MS hides better than US goverment aliens.

 

[demigod]

Of course you pick the lower score

7 vs 8
7.5 vs 8

That's preferences. Nothing to do with "will never play again" as if you are talking for the roach king.

Both good games. Stop being such a little bitch and grow up.

What are you yapping about? Asmond gave it a 7 not a 7.5.

You don't give a shit about his thoughts, but you'll repeatedly refer his review 7.5 review score.

You wrong too.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

It's on gamepass their theoretical sales target is zero.

That's really not how that works.

Games releasing on GamePass have two targets. One is increased and sustained subscribership and the other is B2P sales.

It's like saying that because a movie is going to be on Netflix the company making it doesn't care about box office. It just isn't true.

With stagnant GamePass subscriber levels, that means these games desperately need to make up the difference in B2P sales, which is exactly why Microsoft is putting their games on PlayStation, because PC releases aren't enough to bridge the gap. If they were, they wouldn't put their console sales at risk just to get some additional B2P sales on PlayStation.

 

[Raven117]

It’s a damn shame Indy “bombed”. They should have released that on PS5 with some solid marketing. Best “Indy” content since Last Crusade.

As for Avowed. Who knows what their internal metrics are. Doesn’t seem like a massive hit. But who knows?

It’s growing on me though. I’m starting to think their biggest issue was changing the color palate from its darker one…..

 

[adamsapple]

What are you yapping about? Asmond gave it a 7 not a 7.5.

You wrong too.

Better to stick to leaving reactions only, you walking clown emoji .

 

[Killjoy-NL]

 

[FoxMcChief]

I love a good train wreck

Were you there for Concord or PSVR2?

 

[FoxMcChief]

I laughed way too hard at this

Not surprising from a Concord defender.

 

[demigod]

Better to stick to leaving reactions only, you walking clown emoji .

It says 7 right there, don’t make me you boy.



Edit: i guess adam gave up. Laugh it up boys, here’s your 7 from Asmon.

 

[JTCx]

Were you there for Concord or PSVR2?

hell yea baby

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Not surprising from a Concord defender.

High on Life and Avowed defender

Funny how you and adamsapple trash on trash games … unless it’s Microsoft releasing the trash

 

[Bumblebeetuna]

Pretty sure they trash on trash Microsoft games, but not really good RPG’s like Avowed.

But Redfall? Sure.

Of course, you could take the trashiest MS game and I doubt either of them have a quarter of the posts defending it as you did Concord.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Pretty sure they trash on trash Microsoft games, but not really good RPG’s like Avowed.

But Redfall? Sure.

Of course, you could take the trashiest MS game and I doubt either of them have a quarter of the posts defending it as you did Concord.

Avowed is a mid game that will score in the 70s meta…”really good RPG”? Not really

I love his narrative that I’m a huge Concord defender just because I call out then dev cost BS

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Avowed is a mid game that will score in the 70s meta…”really good RPG”? Not really

I love his narrative that I’m a huge Concord defender just because I call out then dev cost BS

Avowed is awesome.

Calling it mid or slop is bizarre.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Avowed is awesome.

Calling it mid or slop is bizarre.

Doesn’t seem awesome based on the review scores and footage I’ve seen.

Doesn’t seem terrible, but at the same time seems completely unappealing and nothing extraordinary. Many say it’s basically a “made for GamePass” kind of game and completely forgettable and sterile…not good for an RPG

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Doesn’t seem awesome based on the review scores and footage I’ve seen.

Doesn’t seem terrible, but at the same time seems completely unappealing and nothing extraordinary. Many say it’s basically a “made for GamePass” kind of game and completely forgettable and sterile…not good for an RPG

Can’t relate.

Game is addictive. Can’t stop playing.

Take that as you will.

 

[GymWolf]

Is she wrong?

KCD 1 & 2 - Jank
Gothic / Risen - Jank
STALKER - Jank

The eurojank trifecta I would say even

Witcher 3 - Jank
Elden ring - Jank
Mass Effect - Jank
KOTOR - Massive jank
Alpha protocol - Jank
Monster Hunter - LOL jank
Vampire the Masquerade - Definition of jank, fixed by ton of mods

The context of the interview
"is a little jank kind of a good thing?" "You gotta accept a little jank to do something fun and creative"

→ GAME IS BROKEN AS FUCK

Oh wait, its not broken as fuck, peoples have been playing it.

Again, easy baiting by youtubers. When you go in a game wanting to find something negative, oh you'll find it. In any games, regardless of score or popularity.

She did a disservice to the game with that statement because the game really don't have much jank but it is also a very safe project that definitely doesn't try to reinvent the wheel like other games that are maybe more buggy but also more ambitious.

So to sum up, no idea why she said that when her game is both optimized and not creative at all.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Can’t relate.

Game is addictive. Can’t stop playing.

Take that as you will.

What’s so great about it in your view? Seems to not be in the same tier as truly great RPGs

 

[vaibhavpisal]

What’s so great about it in your view? Seems to not be in the same tier as truly great RPGs

Gameplay loop of going out, exploring, finding stuff, upgrade …. Repeat.

Environments are interesting, I wanna see what’s around the corner. Level design is good, I can approach everything in multiple ways. (Not an im sim, very little simulation. But levels are inspired from those).

She did a disservice to the game with that statement because the game really don't have much junk but it is also a very safe project that definitely doesn't try to reinvent the wheel like other games that are maybe more buggy but also more ambitious.

So to sum up, no idea why she said that when her game is both optimized and not creative at all.

Probably comparing to something really polished like RDR2.

 

[Hudo]

FROM THE PEOPLE THAT BROUGHT YOU KOTOR 2, NEW VEGAS, AND DARK MESSIAH OF M&M

Dark Messiah was made by Arkane, not Obsidian.

 

[RJMacready73]

It’s a damn shame Indy “bombed”. They should have released that on PS5 with some solid marketing. Best “Indy” content since Last Crusade.

As for Avowed. Who knows what their internal metrics are. Doesn’t seem like a massive hit. But who knows?

It’s growing on me though. I’m starting to think their biggest issue was changing the color palate from its darker one…..

Wait Indy bombed? I thought that game looked incredible and was well reviewed, how did it bomb if it was on Gamepass?? I gotta admit I'm really looking forward to playing it on PS5 and will prob buy day1 as I love these Uncharted Saturday Matinee type adventure games so have been avoiding all news about it, as for Avowed, I'd rather slap my own testicles with a spiked fish than play that purple mushroom Dragon Age DLC shite

 

[MayauMiao]

"You gotta accept a little jank to do something fun and creative, I think."

 

[Insanemaelstrom]

Wait Indy bombed? I thought that game looked incredible and was well reviewed, how did it bomb if it was on Gamepass?? I gotta admit I'm really looking forward to playing it on PS5 and will prob buy day1 as I love these Uncharted Saturday Matinee type adventure games so have been avoiding all news about it, as for Avowed, I'd rather slap my own testicles with a spiked fish than play that purple mushroom Dragon Age DLC shite

Probably. We don't have a lot of data but according to circana, it sold less than astrobot and Spiderman 2 in its debut month and is not in the charts in its second month( January 2025). It was a bit on gamepass( with 4 million players) but we don't know how much that actually means in terms of success metrics.

Also, as a fellow uncharted fan who has played Indiana, it's better to temper your expectations. It doesn't have the stealth or action type gameplay of uncharted. It is more about exploring and solving puzzles. Also, wouldn't recommend if you are not an Indiana Jones fan( I haven't seen any of the movies and honestly speaking the game didn't grab me at all). There are a few other flaws, imo, but would rather not talk about them as it will ruin the game for you. It's has its good points( the game does look incredible and people who like the movies love the game, etc). But do keep in mind it isn't uncharted.

 

[ricardo_sousa11]

Another great success by the AAA industry

 

[deriks]

Wait Indy bombed?

No

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was successful enough that Disney reportedly "picked up the phone and wants more"

Weeks after Lucasfilm Games boss expressed interest in the idea

www.gamesradar.com

But there's a chance that Infernal Machine will still hold as the Indiana Jones instead

 

[PeteBull]

Indy bombed 100%, we know this coz of super low steam ccu and it nowhere to be seen in sales chart both in europe/uk and circana too.
Even Astrobot, who officially got only 1,5m sales by nov 2024 sold much better.
Just look at this shiet:

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/circana-january-2025-1-black-ops-6-2-madden-3-ff7-rebirth-8-donkey-kong-country-returns-ps5-1-units-rev-nsw-2-units-xbs-2-rev.1681055/#post-270144597

Astro jumped from 12th to 8th place in january, much newer indy game nowhere to be seen... Even not in engagement or xbox only top10- no indy, in circana aka xbox strongest market.

 

[Killjoy-NL]

Nvm, pointed out already

 

[RJMacready73]

Probably. We don't have a lot of data but according to circana, it sold less than astrobot and Spiderman 2 in its debut month and is not in the charts in its second month( January 2025). It was a bit on gamepass( with 4 million players) but we don't know how much that actually means in terms of success metrics.

Also, as a fellow uncharted fan who has played Indiana, it's better to temper your expectations. It doesn't have the stealth or action type gameplay of uncharted. It is more about exploring and solving puzzles. Also, wouldn't recommend if you are not an Indiana Jones fan( I haven't seen any of the movies and honestly speaking the game didn't grab me at all). There are a few other flaws, imo, but would rather not talk about them as it will ruin the game for you. It's has its good points( the game does look incredible and people who like the movies love the game, etc). But do keep in mind it isn't uncharted.

Chap I'm over 50 and like most old fucks we grew up with indy so being a fan of all things indy is kinda inbuilt I absolutely love Uncharted and regularly replay them all but know this is a slightly different game but still leaning into that exploration/adventure

 

[Dazraell]

It's not like it was in full development all those years. Obsidian has under 300 employees. The last 5 years they developed TOW, Grounded, Pentiment, Avowed, and TOW2 later this year. Whatever production hiccups Avowed had, it surely didn't effect Obsidian's output much. And by the sounds of it, these issues occurred in pre-production, which is usually not a big deal, with only a fraction of the development team working on it

According to the recent article by Schreier, the game already had 80 people dev team when project was rebooted. Pentiment and Grounded also had a very small teams by design, I remember reading somewhere it was between 10-15 devs per team

 

[RJMacready73]

Indy bombed 100%, we know this coz of super low steam ccu and it nowhere to be seen in sales chart both in europe/uk and circana too.
Even Astrobot, who officially got only 1,5m sales by nov 2024 sold much better.
Just look at this shiet:

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/circana-january-2025-1-black-ops-6-2-madden-3-ff7-rebirth-8-donkey-kong-country-returns-ps5-1-units-rev-nsw-2-units-xbs-2-rev.1681055/#post-270144597

Astro jumped from 12th to 8th place in january, much newer indy game nowhere to be seen... Even not in engagement or xbox only top10- no indy, in circana aka xbox strongest market.

Tbt don't these type of games do better on console where there's more of a fanbase, whereas on PC all they play are Sims, FPS and Hentai games... I mean TLOU and Uncharted didn't even break a sweat on PC which tells me all I need to know about those degenerates

 

[StereoVsn]

Gameplay loop of going out, exploring, finding stuff, upgrade …. Repeat.

Environments are interesting, I wanna see what’s around the corner. Level design is good, I can approach everything in multiple ways. (Not an im sim, very little simulation. But levels are inspired from those).


Probably comparing to something really polished like RDR2.

That’s the thing. You described action adventure with light RPG elements. The world is very static, storytelling is mediocre, you can’t control/equip party members, quests are meh.

This is coming from Obsidian which are known for their deep RPG systems, great quest design and interesting writing.

Do you see how folks who used to like Obisidian’s games might not like their latest fare? Personally I am in this camp and deeply disappointed by what that 6 year effort and early claims of Obsidians Skyrim brought to the table.

Edit: It’s too bad Indy underperformed. Would have really loved to see sequel to that. To my surprise really liked the game.

 

[PeteBull]

To get us back on track with most recent info:
On first weekend day/night so fri to sat avoved didnt even manage to reach his previous peak ccu of 17k, this time only 14k ccu, 2 more days/nights to go before we can officially declare it as sales failure ^^

https://steamdb.info/app/2457220/charts/

 

[StereoVsn]

To get us back on track with most recent info:
On first weekend day/night so fri to sat avoved didnt even manage to reach his previous peak ccu of 17k, this time only 14k ccu, 2 more days/nigtts to go before we can officially declare it as sales failure ^^

Lower vs what I would have thought. Was thinking 30k over the weekend or higher. Might not crack even 25k.

 

[PeteBull]

Tbt don't these type of games do better on console where there's more of a fanbase, whereas on PC all they play are Sims, FPS and Hentai games... I mean TLOU and Uncharted didn't even break a sweat on PC which tells me all I need to know about those degenerates

That is why i showed u circana charts, and gave info from uk/euro charts where console releases dominate usually, indy bombed there hard too, not only on steam ccu.

 

[FireFly]

According to the recent article by Schreier, the game already had 80 people dev team when project was rebooted. Pentiment and Grounded also had a very small teams by design, I remember reading somewhere it was between 10-15 devs per team

80 people is a very small team for a modern title (albeit in preproduction).

 

[Dazraell]

80 people is a very small team for a modern title.

I mean, considering Obsidian has less than 300 employees total (and it's worth to point out that not everyone employed has to be a dev), it's not really that small

 

[Joel Was Right]

There are Xbox YouTube channels who argued that Microsoft's 25 line-up should have remained exclusive in order to sell hardware.

 

[coachmcguirk91]

6 years dev time will defo not worth sub-20k on Steam without a PS5 release, no matter how you or MS PR will slice it.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard with almost 100k CCU sold around 2 millions and never covered the lenghty production cycle. With PS5 (best-selling current gen platform) thrown into the mix. I'm sure that Avowed actual sales are somewhere in the range of abysmal and everyone will keep the fake smile in media until the inevitable layoffs announcements.

6 Years development time doesn't mean much. It could be 5 people working on and off the project for 3 years before going into full production. Avowed will eventually come to PS5 and Switch2, which will add additional growth. All future Obsidian games will come to all platforms Day1, which will make games like Avowed quite profitable.

And Avowed is considered Obsidian's B team. The majority of Obsidian's resources are on TOW2, in which the original sold incredibly well for it's budget. Layoffs ain't happening. If TOW2 bombs then maybe

Veilguard has probably 3-4x the budget of Avowed. It is not comparable, imo. It also released on PS5 day 1 and was not on Gamepass

500k sales???

Lots of assumptions here, that’s not enough to be profitable, second of all it’s lucky to have sold 200k by now

I said 500k at full price. The first year or so of sales. The vast majority of gamers are surely playing through Gamepass. If Avowed gets 6 or 7mil engagement within first couple months(Indy had 4mil) then Microsoft is probably OK with that. Compared to Indy and Hellblade 2, Avowed is a homerun

 

[MayauMiao]

There are Xbox YouTube channels who argued that Microsoft's 25 line-up should have remained exclusive in order to sell hardware.

But Microsoft never listen and it boggles the mind why they never grasp such concept.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

That’s the thing. You described action adventure with light RPG elements. The world is very static, storytelling is mediocre, you can’t control/equip party members, quests are meh.

This is coming from Obsidian which are known for their deep RPG systems, great quest design and interesting writing.

Do you see how folks who used to like Obisidian’s games might not like their latest fare? Personally I am in this camp and deeply disappointed by what that 6 year effort and early claims of Obsidians Skyrim brought to the table.

Edit: It’s too bad Indy underperformed. Would have really loved to see sequel to that. To my surprise really liked the game.

I just wrapped up my playthrough of Fallout 4. Avowed I feel is very close to that. It falls more in category of looter shooter type of game I feel.

Get a weapon you like, find resources to upgrade it fully, keep building your character around it, etc.

Am early in Avowed, but found Fallout 4 expertly balanced if I followed this playstyle.

—————

Not sure if I would call it fundamentally a bad thing. Starfield for example, didn’t felt like it had a strong hook like this. So I dropped it after some 100 hrs.

 

[DonkeyPunchJr]

remember that got rebooted two times. but that is not even the issue.

MS keeps making these AA games that fail to capture the gaming culture and fail to "punch above their waist" regarding its market performance

And while it's possible they could make a slight profit with these kinds of games, MS is not in the business of making slight profits. These games would need to come out every two years. Games like Hellblade 2, Avowed, State of Decay 3, South of Midnight, or the next Double Fine game can't take 4 to 6 years between releases.

I’m so baffled by these types of games.

Avowed is exactly the kind of game where I might give it a try if I were already a Gamepass subscriber. But I sure as hell wouldn’t pay $70 for it, nor does it look good enough where it makes me want to subscribe.

 

[Joel Was Right]

But Microsoft never listen and it boggles the mind why they never grasp such concept.

Probably because it would have killed the Xbox division; no one is rushing to buy the hardware to play Avowed, Doom, Midnight South etc. At least now, Microsoft can tell investors to wait for the returns from going multi-platform.