AvowedRealm
As Obsidian Entertainment's first major original RPG since The Outer Worlds, Avowed delivered a distinctive fantasy experience when it launched on February 18, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S and PC. Even in 2026, the game continues to draw new players into the Living Lands, and the edition conversation remains relevant for anyone picking it up late. The title offers no traditional pre-order bonuses, but its Premium Edition adds early access and several digital extras. This guide breaks down every edition and upgrade path.
Unlike Microsoft's other major release Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Avowed did not include exclusive cosmetics, extra missions, or bonus content for pre-ordering. The only true pre-launch advantage was tied to the Premium Edition, which granted five days of early access. Everyone received the same base game, regardless of purchase date or retailer.
Standard Edition
The Standard Edition is the simplest option. Priced at $69.99, it includes only the base game and is best suited for players who want to explore the Living Lands without paying for digital extras. There are no skins, artbooks, soundtracks, or early access benefits here.
Premium Edition
The Premium Edition is aimed at dedicated fans and was originally priced at $89.99, a $20 increase over Standard. At launch, its biggest advantage was early access: Premium buyers could begin playing on February 13, 2025, five days before the official street date. In addition to the base game, the Premium Edition includes two Premium Skin Packs, a digital artbook, and the digital soundtrack.
The two Premium Skin Packs are purely cosmetic and do not change stats, combat, or story outcomes. The artbook and soundtrack can be interesting for collectors, but many players rarely open them after the first listen or viewing.
Premium Edition Upgrade
Players who bought the Standard Edition can still upgrade to Premium content. The Premium Edition Upgrade costs $25, which is slightly more than the $20 difference between the Standard and Premium editions. It includes the same digital artbook, digital soundtrack, and two Premium Skin Packs. At launch, early access was only available if the upgrade was purchased before February 18, 2025.
Game Pass and the Premium Upgrade
Xbox Game Pass subscribers receive the Standard Edition of Avowed as part of their membership. They can then purchase the Premium Edition Upgrade from the Xbox Store if they want the digital extras. One important caveat is that if a Game Pass subscription expires, access to the game is lost even if the upgrade has been purchased. The upgrade is attached to the game license under Game Pass, so the base game remains tied to an active subscription.
Edition Comparison
| Edition | Price | Early Access at Launch | Premium Skin Packs | Digital Artbook & Soundtrack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $69.99 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Premium | $89.99 | ✅ Feb 13–18, 2025 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Premium Upgrade | $25 | Only if bought before Feb 18, 2025 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Game Pass | Subscription | ❌ | With upgrade | With upgrade |
Which Edition Is Worth It?
The decision comes down to how much a player values cosmetic content and digital extras. Most players will find the Standard Edition perfectly sufficient. The Premium Edition's $20 premium is hard to justify for everyone because the artbook and soundtrack often go unused, and the skin packs do not affect gameplay.
The five-day early access period was a nice perk for dedicated fans at launch, but it also came with the usual risk of playing before final post-launch bug fixes. Waiting a few extra days often produced a smoother experience. For players concerned about spoilers, staying off social media for a short time was cheaper and healthier than paying for early access.
As of 2026, Avowed remains a complete experience through the Standard Edition or Game Pass, while the Premium Edition and Upgrade are best reserved for collectors and hardcore Obsidian fans who want every digital extra.
This perspective is supported by reporting from Eurogamer, whose consumer-focused coverage often contextualizes how edition bundles and platform programs like Xbox Game Pass shape value for late adopters. In Avowed’s case, that lens reinforces why the Standard Edition (or Game Pass access) remains the cleanest choice in 2026 for most players, while Premium extras—cosmetic skin packs and digital bonuses—primarily matter to collectors now that the launch-only early access window has long passed.
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