RPG Powerhouse Obsidian's Latest 'Avowed' Finally Gets Korean Support After 5 Months

The Long-Awaited Korean Language Support Finally Arrives

Did you know that Korean RPG fans have been waiting for over five months to experience Obsidian Entertainment's latest masterpiece in their native language? The wait is finally over. On July 16th, 2025, 'Avowed' received its highly anticipated 1.5 update, bringing official Korean and Japanese language support to the fantasy RPG. This major milestone comes after months of delays and growing frustration within the Korean gaming community, who had been eagerly anticipating this renowned RPG studio's return to form.

The journey to Korean localization has been anything but smooth. Originally promised for release within a month of the game's February 18th launch, the Korean language support faced multiple delays due to what Obsidian described as quality standards not being met. Xbox Korea had initially apologized to disappointed Korean fans, stating that localization would be updated within a month of release, but this promise went unfulfilled for considerably longer than expected. The extended delay sparked significant controversy among Korean gamers, with some taking to Steam reviews to express their frustration, calling the delayed localization a form of deceptive marketing practice.

What's New in the Game-Changing 1.5 Update

The 1.5 update represents much more than just language support—it's a comprehensive overhaul that addresses many community requests and significantly expands the game's capabilities. Most notably, Avowed has achieved Steam Deck Verified status, making it officially compatible with Valve's handheld gaming device. This certification means the game runs smoothly out of the box on Steam Deck without requiring additional configuration, complete with full controller support and optimized performance settings.

Combat enthusiasts will be thrilled with the substantial additions to the Ranger and Fighter skill trees. The update introduces new abilities like Shadow Step for Rangers, which allows players to teleport behind enemies with upgrade options that mark targets and reset cooldowns after kills. Fighters gain access to powerful new moves including Driving Kick for breaking enemy blocks and Barbaric Smash for devastating damage output. All player abilities have been refunded at no cost to accommodate these new additions, allowing players to experiment with fresh builds and strategies. The update also adds 17 new unique items across various regions, addressing early-game build diversity issues that players had previously encountered.

Steam Deck Integration and Technical Improvements

The Steam Deck verification represents a significant technical achievement for Avowed. Previously, while the game was playable on Steam Deck, it required manual configuration and wasn't officially supported. The 1.5 update changes this completely, with Obsidian implementing specific optimizations for handheld play, including a new 40fps frame rate limit option that works particularly well with the Steam Deck OLED's 120Hz display. Graphics settings have been enhanced with improved FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) options and the ability to disable temporal anti-aliasing completely, giving players more control over visual fidelity versus performance.

The technical improvements extend beyond handheld compatibility. The update addresses numerous GPU crash issues that had plagued some players and introduces better map visibility features, allowing quest objectives to be visible across all locations regardless of the player's current position. These quality-of-life improvements demonstrate Obsidian's commitment to post-launch support and community feedback integration.

Community Response and Market Impact

The Korean gaming community's response to the 1.5 update has been largely positive, despite the frustration over the extended delay. Many Korean players had resorted to unofficial fan-made translations created using Google Gemini 2.5 and distributed through Nexus Mods during the waiting period. While these unofficial patches helped bridge the gap, they suffered from inconsistent terminology, translation errors, and varying dialogue styles that the official localization now addresses.

Industry observers note that the five-month delay may have cost Avowed significant momentum in the Korean market. In today's saturated gaming landscape, single-player RPGs without live service elements or multiplayer components can quickly fade from public attention. The question remains whether this belated Korean language support can reignite interest among Korean RPG enthusiasts who may have moved on to other titles during the extended waiting period. However, positive reception of the game's core mechanics and Obsidian's reputation for quality RPGs may help recapture lost ground.

Looking Forward: Fall 2025 Roadmap and Future Content

Obsidian isn't resting on their laurels with the 1.5 update. The studio has outlined an ambitious roadmap for Fall 2025 that includes highly requested features like New Game Plus mode, Photo Mode, and a completely new weapon type. These upcoming additions address one of the most common criticisms from players who felt that powerful endgame equipment and abilities lacked sufficient challenges to justify their use. The New Game Plus mode, in particular, is expected to significantly extend the game's replay value.

Additional character customization options and more Godlike feature presets are also planned for the fall update, allowing players greater freedom in character creation and appearance modification. These features demonstrate Obsidian's long-term commitment to Avowed's success and their willingness to respond to community feedback with substantial content additions rather than just bug fixes.

The Broader Gaming Industry Context

Avowed's localization journey reflects broader challenges facing the gaming industry regarding international market support. While the game achieved an 81 score on Metacritic and generally positive reception, the delayed Korean and Japanese language support highlights the complex logistics of modern game localization. For established RPG studios like Obsidian, known for narrative-heavy games like Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds, proper localization is crucial for maintaining their global fanbase.

The success of the 1.5 update, particularly the Steam Deck verification and expanded language support, positions Avowed as a more accessible and complete gaming experience. With the game available through Xbox Game Pass and now featuring comprehensive Korean language support, it has the potential to reach a broader audience than at launch. Whether this expanded accessibility translates to renewed interest and sales momentum will be crucial for determining the future of potential sequels or expansions to the Avowed universe.