PlayStation 5 owners, your wait is almost over. Obsidian Entertainment’s first-person fantasy RPG Avowed launches on PS5 on February 17, 2026—exactly one year after its original Xbox and PC debut. Better yet, it arrives alongside a massive Anniversary Update that adds substantial new content to all platforms.

Whether you’re a PS5 player preparing for your first dive into the Living Lands or an Xbox/PC veteran looking to replay with fresh features, here’s everything the Anniversary Update brings to the table.

Quick Answer

  • PS5 Release Date: February 17, 2026
  • Standard Edition: $49.99 | Premium Edition: $59.99
  • Anniversary Update: Free for all platforms (Xbox, PC, PS5)
  • Major additions: New Game Plus, Photo Mode, 3 new playable races, new weapons

PS5 Edition Pricing and Pre-Orders

Pre-orders are live now on the PlayStation Store. Here’s what each edition includes:

Standard Edition ($49.99): The base game with all Anniversary Update content.

Premium Edition ($59.99): Base game plus bonus cosmetics, weapons, and in-game items originally included in the Xbox/PC Premium launch.

The $49.99 price point is notably lower than the original $69.99 launch price, making this an attractive entry point for PlayStation players.

Anniversary Update: What’s New

The Anniversary Update drops simultaneously with the PS5 launch and brings major additions to all versions of the game. Here’s the full breakdown:

Three New Playable Races

Character creation expands significantly with three new race options:

  • Orlans: The diminutive race known for their cunning and resilience
  • Dwarves: Sturdy and traditional, with distinct physical traits affecting combat feel
  • Aumaua: Tall, powerful islanders bringing new dialogue options throughout the campaign

Each race offers unique dialogue options and reactivity throughout the story—Obsidian’s trademark attention to player choice extends to your character’s heritage.

New Game Plus

One of the most requested features since launch finally arrives. New Game Plus lets you restart the campaign while keeping your abilities and equipped gear. Your character level resets to avoid an overpowered start, but your build knowledge carries forward.

To keep things challenging, enemy modifiers come into play: increased elemental resistances, reduced susceptibility to stun-locking, and more varied encounter dynamics. This isn’t just a victory lap—it’s a genuine second challenge.

Photo Mode

Capture the Living Lands’ stunning environments with a dedicated Photo Mode. This community-requested feature makes it easy to screenshot your character during exploration and dialogue without awkward camera positioning. Expect plenty of mushroom-infected selfies.

New Weapons

Obsidian has confirmed at least one new weapon type arrives with the update, though specifics haven’t been detailed yet. Given Avowed’s flexible combat system—spanning swords, axes, bows, pistols, and magic—any addition expands build variety significantly.

What Is Avowed?

For PS5 players unfamiliar with the game, Avowed is Obsidian Entertainment’s first-person action-RPG set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. You play as an envoy sent to investigate a mysterious plague affecting the Living Lands, a wild frontier region full of political intrigue, magical threats, and fungal infections.

The game blends:

  • Flexible combat: Mix melee weapons, ranged attacks, and magic freely
  • Deep role-playing: Obsidian’s signature dialogue systems with meaningful choices
  • Open-zone exploration: Not full open-world, but large interconnected areas to explore
  • Companion system: Recruit and build relationships with memorable party members

Reviews landed around 80/100 on Metacritic, praising the writing, combat flexibility, and focused scope while noting some technical rough edges at launch—many of which have been addressed in subsequent patches.

Should PS5 Players Jump In?

The timing couldn’t be better. PlayStation players get Avowed in its most polished state: a year of patches, quality-of-life improvements, and now the Anniversary Update’s substantial additions. The lower $49.99 price point sweetens the deal.

If you enjoy:

  • First-person RPGs like Skyrim or Fallout
  • Obsidian’s storytelling (Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds)
  • Fantasy settings with depth beyond “kill the dragon”
  • Flexible character builds without rigid class restrictions

Then Avowed is worth your attention. The 25-35 hour campaign offers a focused experience—no 200-hour bloat here.

FAQ

Q: When does Avowed release on PS5?
A: February 17, 2026.

Q: Is the Anniversary Update free?
A: Yes, it’s a free update for all platforms including Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5.

Q: Do I need to play Pillars of Eternity first?
A: No. Avowed is set in the same universe but tells a standalone story. Newcomers won’t be lost.

Q: Does Avowed have third-person mode?
A: Yes, you can switch between first-person and third-person perspectives.

Q: How long is Avowed?
A: The main story runs 25-35 hours, with side content pushing playtime higher.

Summary

Avowed hits PS5 on February 17, 2026, bringing Obsidian’s acclaimed fantasy RPG to PlayStation with a year’s worth of polish and a substantial Anniversary Update. New playable races, New Game Plus, Photo Mode, and fresh weapons make this the definitive time to experience the Living Lands. Pre-orders are live now.