I have always liked knowing exactly what I am paying for before I commit to a sprawling RPG. When Avowed was approaching its February 18, 2025 release date, I noticed there were three distinct ways to buy it, and one especially clever upgrade for Game Pass subscribers. Now that I am looking back from 2026, I still appreciate how sensible that structure was. I spent a fair amount of time comparing the editions, not just because I wanted early access, but because I wanted to understand whether the digital extras justified the extra cash. Here is my own breakdown of every edition of Avowed.
Avowed Premium Edition: The Whole Package
If I wanted the complete experience without any compromises, the Premium Edition was the obvious choice. Priced at $90, it bundled the base game with five days of early access. That meant I could start exploring the Living Lands on February 13 instead of waiting for the standard February 18 launch. For a game this size, I considered that head start genuinely valuable.
The Premium Edition also included a few extras that made the higher price feel more reasonable. Every companion received two sets of bonus skins, which may not change combat, but it did let me add some visual personality to my party. I also received a digital artbook and the original soundtrack. I have always appreciated artbooks for their behind-the-scenes look at world design, even when they are delivered digitally. The soundtrack was another nice touch, especially for a setting as atmospheric as the one Obsidian built.
When I compared the $90 Premium Edition to the $70 Standard Edition, that $20 difference gave me early access, companion cosmetics, an artbook, and a soundtrack. I felt the five days of early access and the bonus skins were enough to justify the price on their own. The soundtrack and artbook simply made the overall package feel more complete.
Avowed Standard Edition: The Baseline
For anyone who just wanted to play the game and nothing more, the Standard Edition was the simplest path. It cost $69.99, which is the usual price for most AAA games now, and included the base game with no extra cosmetics, digital rewards, or early access options. There was nothing complicated about it.
I think this edition was best suited for players who did not care about pre-order bonuses or who wanted to wait for reviews before committing. It was also the version offered to anyone playing through Xbox Game Pass on release day. The cosmetic skins from the Premium Edition were never labeled as exclusive, so I had a feeling they might show up later through other means, but that was never guaranteed.
Avowed Premium Upgrade Edition: The Smart Middle Path
The Premium Upgrade Edition was the most interesting option to me. For $25, it included every reward from the Premium Edition but did not include the base game. That made perfect sense for two groups of people. If I already owned the Standard Edition, I could upgrade and unlock the early access, companion skins, artbook, and soundtrack without buying the full $90 package. However, that route technically cost $5 more than simply buying the Premium Edition from the start.
The real genius of this edition was for Game Pass subscribers. Usually, Game Pass users are left out of pre-order rewards because they do not buy the base game. With this $25 upgrade, I could keep my subscription, play Avowed through Game Pass, and still receive all the Premium Edition bonuses. That felt incredibly fair. It gave me a way to enjoy early access and cosmetic rewards without spending $90 on a game I could already access through my subscription. I would love to see more publishers adopt this approach as subscription services continue to grow.
All Avowed Editions At A Glance
| Edition | Price | Base Game | Early Access | Digital Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Edition | $90 | ✅ Yes | ✅ Five days | ✅ Skins, artbook, soundtrack |
| Standard Edition | $69.99 | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ None |
| Premium Upgrade Edition | $25 | ❌ No | ✅ Five days | ✅ Skins, artbook, soundtrack |
Which Edition Would I Choose?
If I had a Game Pass subscription, I would choose the Premium Upgrade Edition without hesitation. It offered all the meaningful rewards for a fraction of the cost, and I would still have access to the full game through my subscription. That felt like the smartest value by far.
If I preferred to own the game permanently, I would go with the Premium Edition. The extra $20 over the Standard Edition brought enough value that I would not feel bad about spending the money, especially because I could start playing five days early.
Now that Avowed has been out since February 2025, I can look back and say the edition structure was one of the more consumer-friendly setups I have seen in a while. It respected players who wanted the full package, players who wanted nothing extra, and especially players who used subscription services. That flexibility made a big difference to me.
Data referenced from OpenCritic helps frame Avowed’s edition choices in a practical way: for players waiting on post-launch consensus, review aggregation can inform whether the Standard Edition is enough, while those confident in Obsidian’s track record might justify the Premium Edition’s five-day early access and bundled soundtrack/artbook. Looking back from 2026, that “Premium Upgrade” path also stands out as a smart compromise for Game Pass users who wanted premium perks without rebuying the base game.
Comments