Summary
The details of theAvowedPremium and SteelBook editions have left fans of physical games feeling left out. Despite referring to the game’s most expensive version as a “physical” edition, the Premium SteelBook does not come with a disc but a digital download code inside the case. Some fans waiting for the February 18 release ofAvowedhave taken to social media to express their disappointment with the lack of an actual physical copy.
Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming fantasy RPG has stirred a lot of excitement among Xbox fans, but not all the news has gotten the reception the studio likely wanted. Comments from the game’s developers suggestAvowedcould launch without a 60 FPS mode, and before that, Microsoft delayed its release from Fall 2024 to February 2025. Now, Xbox may be in hot water again as players cry out against the Premium SteelBook’s missing disc.
MicrosoftrevealedAvowed’s three launch versions— Digital Standard, Digital Premium, and Premium Edition SteelBook — on November 14. It didn’t take long for fans to notice that this third version, which costs $94.99, contains a digital game code instead of a disc, despite the announcement calling it a “physical” edition. It does have some physical elements, like the book itself and a map, but the use of a code means Xbox is not giving players the option to own a hard copy of the game. Some fans still sayAvowedis one of the most-anticipated games of 2025, but gamers who prefer physical media may be less excited about it now.
Avowed Digital Premium Edition— $89.88
Avowed Premium Edition SteelBook— $94.99
The Premium Edition SteelBook costs just $5 more than the Premium package, and some players may find the SteelBook and its contents are enough to justify that. Others, however, are less pleased with there being no physical game in the physical edition. Fans took to Twitter to call Xbox out for overlooking gamers who like to play physical games. Others said there’s little point to a booklet if it doesn’t contain a disc. WhileAvowedmay avoid some common problemsin modern gaming, it seems an over-reliance on virtual media is not one of them.
Avowedis not the first game to have a digital-only release, but that may worsen the issue, not excuse it. Notably, thePlayStation 5 Pro does not have a disc drive, which has been a source of much frustration for Sony fans. The release of the Xbox Series X Digital suggests Microsoft could be leaning in the same direction. With so many games and consoles forgoing support for physical versions, some players worry that this is part of a larger trend marking the end of physical gaming as a whole.
It’s unclear ifAvowedwill receive a disc version after launch or whether Xbox will stop making disc-supporting consoles altogether. However, any move in that direction is not a welcome change for all fans.
Avowed
WHERE TO PLAY
Welcome to the Living Lands, a mysterious island filled with adventure and danger. Set in the fictional world of Eora that was first introduced to players in the Pillars of Eternity franchise, Avowed is a first-person fantasy action RPG from the award-winning team at Obsidian Entertainment.You are the envoy of Aedyr, a distant land, sent to investigate rumors of a spreading plague throughout the Living Lands - an island full of mysteries and secrets, danger and adventure, and choices and consequences, and untamed wilderness. You discover a personal connection to the Living Lands and an ancient secret that threatens to destroy everything. Can you save this unknown frontier and your soul from the forces threatening to tear them asunder?
