Obsidian's Avowed, now available in early access, has surprised players with a romantic subplot, despite previous statements from the developers. While Obsidian had initially stated Avowed would focus on "thoughtful relationships" with companions rather than a dedicated romance system, at least one companion, Kai, displays romantic interest in the player character.
This contradicts an earlier statement by Avowed game director Carrie Patel in an IGN interview. Patel explained their decision to avoid a traditional romance system, stating, "We are building thoughtful relationships with our companion characters... if you're going to do it, you really, really have to commit and make sure that you're giving all to fulfilling that in a way that feels both true to the character, but also creates an engaging player experience. So not something we're doing for Avowed, but I wouldn't say never."
Early access players and reviewers have revealed specific romantic interactions with Kai, prompting a spoiler warning for those wishing to experience the game unspoiled. The unexpected inclusion of romance adds a new layer to the game's narrative, deviating from the developers' initial plans.
