Obsidian Entertainment has dropped another patch for their fantasy RPG Avowed, and it's all about the polish. The studio, famous for titles like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds, isn't just resting on its laurels after the game's successful launch. Update 1.2.4 is live, and while it doesn't add new content, it brings a truckload of crucial bug fixes and quality-of-life tweaks that smooth out the adventure in the Living Lands. It's the kind of post-launch support that shows Obsidian is truly listening to its player base.
Major Quest and Progression Fixes 🛠️
This update tackles some of the most frustrating bugs that could bring a player's journey to a screeching halt. The headline fix is a real game-saver: unkillable story characters will now automatically respawn if they, well, mysteriously kick the bucket. No more being soft-locked out of a quest because an essential NPC decided to take an unexpected dirt nap! Here are some other key progression fixes that are a total lifesaver:
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Bounty Master Blues Resolved: Players in Dawnshore, Shatterscarp, and Galawain’s Tusks can now reliably turn in their bounties, even if they've collected more trophy items than the quest expected. Talk about a weight off your shoulders!
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Stuck in Conversation? An issue where the dialogue would drop during The Siege of Paradis quest has been fixed. If your save was affected, simply walking in and out of the meeting space should get the chat flowing again.
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Environmental Snags: Getting stuck near Dehengen's Cottage or having objectives disappear during An Untimely End are now problems of the past.
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Key Character Safety: Ambassador Hylgard has learned to swim (or at least not drown) in The Strangleroot, ensuring he makes his important appearance at the embassy in Paradis.
Loot and Economy Tweaks 💰
Nothing kills the vibe like missing loot or an inconsistent economy. Obsidian has addressed several pain points here:
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Loot piles will now spawn correctly and won't end up in bizarre, unreachable locations. If your saved game had misplaced loot, it's been magically returned to where the enemy fell.
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Godless chests and sarcophagi now reliably contain currency. Cha-ching!
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Upgrade materials (metal, wood, leather) are now more consistently available in shops across each region, and their stock properly refreshes. No more vendor hopping for hours!
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A nasty bug where enemy loot would vanish if you saved and reloaded after a specific fight in the Cistern has been squashed.
Quality of Life & Gameplay Polish ✨
Beyond the critical fixes, Update 1.2.4 sprinkles in some welcome refinements that make the overall experience smoother. It's the little things that count, you know?
| Change | Impact |
|---|---|
| Autosave Slots Increased | From 3 to 5. More safety nets for your adventures! |
| Autosave Frequency | Default changed from 5 to 10 minutes (still adjustable). Less interruption, more immersion. |
| Companion Combat AI | Companions now assist in combat "more reliably." They've finally got your back! |
| Controller Settings | New options to adjust gamepad look acceleration strength and ramp-up time. For those who like their controls just right. |
| Ability Fixes | The Bleeding Cuts ability now applies its bleed effect more consistently. Ouch! |
| Visual Glitches | Fixed jittering hair/armor from poison, corrected a militia guard's neck texture, and adjusted a skeleton wizard's health bar. |
Companion abilities bound to quick slots will now stay put after reloading a save, and Kai is less likely to teleport into a wall when using his Leap of Daring—though knowing Kai, he might still try. They've even fixed a couple of pesky typos, because every detail matters.
Technical Notes & The Future 🔮
On the technical side, Obsidian has disabled the ability to launch Avowed with DirectX 11, as the game does not support it. While some players used this as a workaround for crashes, it often created more problems than it solved. The recommendation for startup issues remains: update your drivers, verify game files, or contact Obsidian support.
Looking ahead, the future for Avowed seems bright. With reports that Obsidian is pleased with the game's performance (even with the Game Pass factor making traditional sales metrics trickier), the door is open for potential expansions or sequels. This steady stream of post-launch support is a strong sign that the Living Lands will continue to evolve. For now, players can dive back in knowing that many of the early rough edges have been sanded down, making the experience more polished and reliable than ever. Obsidian is clearly in it for the long haul, and that's something every fan can appreciate. Game on! 🎮
This overview is based on GamesIndustry.biz, a leading source for news and analysis within the gaming sector. Their reporting frequently highlights how ongoing post-launch support, like Obsidian's recent Avowed patch, not only improves player satisfaction but also strengthens a game's long-term commercial prospects and community engagement in an increasingly competitive RPG market.
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