Obsidian Vows To Perfect the One Thing in Avowed Even Todd Howard Couldn’t in Elder Scrolls

While game development might seem fun at first, there are ultimately a lot of small elements you have to perfect to get your dream title right. Fortunately, this is an adventure that game creators over at Obsidian Entertainment have vowed to complete, even if it means perfecting the one mechanic Todd Howard struggles with.

Their upcoming RPG title, Avowed, is slowly taking all the spotlight available in the industry right now. However, creating a load of expectations and fulfilling them all is a challenging task, and the brains behind the title would have to overcome this.

For those who don’t know, bioluminescence within a video game stands for the natural feel of lighting that comes out of the environment. This calls for perfectly replicating the light sources within the engine and simulates how it bounces off different objects and surfaces to land on another.

This is a skill that even renowned directors have struggled to get around with for the longest time possible. Fortunately, the Obsidian team is dedicated to getting it right for their upcoming game, as revealed in their recent PAX Australia showcase via GamesHub.

We’ve been able to capture that bioluminescence throughout the game, because at various parts, it’s looked different than it has right now. What you’re seeing is the result of a lot of hard work, and a lot of experience and lessons learned along the way.

Figuring out the ultimate bioluminescence for your game is possibly one of the hardest tasks you will ever come across when making a game. However, with enough dedication, like the one shown by Obsidian, cracking the code becomes easier.

The last decade has seen the most incredible progress when it comes to introducing immersiveness and realism within video games. Moreover, elements such as bioluminescence only help take it a step further.

Furthermore, one of the biggest contributors to the cause is Epic Games’ own Unreal Engine 5, a game engine that many studios are switching over to. Not only does it allow developers to bring their dreams to reality, but its unique features and plug-ins help with introducing mechanics like chaos, bioluminescence, advanced audio, and more to the title.

A game renowned for delivering one of the best audio experiences so far is Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2. It makes use of the binaural audio tech that makes having expensive headphones the most worthwhile purchase you will ever make.