Avowed made its debut in early access yesterday, and it’s received a generally positive response. Obsidian, the studio behind beloved titles like Fallout New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, has brought this new RPG to life, launching it exclusively on Xbox and Steam. To dip into this adventure before its official Xbox Game Pass launch next week, you’ll need to shell out an extra $10. This strategic move offers Microsoft an extra income stream to offset any potential sales losses from its Netflix-style gaming subscription service. But what if you’re itching to pay for early access while also making the most of your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate perks? Sadly, Microsoft seems to have barred that door.
Avowed plunges you into a first-person action RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. It showcases Obsidian’s signature touches—deep choice-driven narratives, diverse player styles, and vast worlds ripe for exploration. With such a format, the game appears to be an ideal candidate for Xbox Cloud Gaming, yet Microsoft seems to see things differently.
Yesterday, my inbox was flooded with questions from users on X (formerly Twitter), all wondering when Avowed’s early access would hit Xbox Cloud Gaming. Bafflingly, early access isn’t scheduled to roll out there until next week, even for those who purchased the premium access.
One could argue that Microsoft might have a convoluted corporate reason for this gap. Still, it falls flat when you realize that rival service NVIDIA GeForce Now already offers the early access experience.
There’s no conspiracy theory here suggesting Microsoft favors NVIDIA GeForce Now over its own Xbox Cloud Gaming. Yet, this inconsistency in Microsoft’s gaming ecosystem is quite exasperating. Watching their “This is an Xbox” marketing push left me frustrated as it was supposed to highlight services like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming, neither of which feel completely polished.
Recently, Microsoft allowed “buy to own” games on Xbox Cloud Gaming, which seemed like the perfect opportunity to feature Avowed on this platform. Given that the system supports additional content from deluxe editions, it’s puzzling why technical issues would prevent this. Some speculate regulatory hurdles might be to blame, possibly related to the UK CMA forcing Microsoft to transfer rights of Activision Blizzard’s cloud games to Ubisoft. Still, I’ve found no indication that Obsidian’s titles fall under this ruling, though I’m still digging for more clarity.
We’ve reached out to Microsoft for answers on why Avowed’s early access is available on NVIDIA GeForce Now but excluded from Xbox Cloud Gaming. There’s also the broader question of how Microsoft plans to handle the growing trend of “advanced access” premium passes in the realm of cloud gaming.
Microsoft has all the pieces to create an unparalleled experience across its platforms. The vision of purchasing Avowed on various platforms, seamlessly transferring save files, and playing on virtually any device paints a promising future for Xbox. However, prioritizing these logistical details should be paramount.
It’s disappointing to see loyal customers—who’ve paid for early access and hold Xbox Game Pass Ultimate—left in the lurch. Microsoft needs to improve its delivery on these fronts.
We’ll keep you updated on any developments from Microsoft addressing this issue, or any plans to resolve it.
