Avowed is now available on PlayStation 5, marking the Xbox-published RPG’s arrival on Sony hardware one year after its original release. The good news is simple: the game runs well on PS5. The bad news is harder to ignore—PS5 Pro owners gain almost nothing beyond minor stability improvements.
Technical analysis shows that the PS5 version delivers solid performance across its three expected graphics modes: Quality, Balanced, and Performance. Each mode behaves as advertised, but none push the hardware in a meaningful way, especially on Sony’s more powerful console.
Three Graphics Modes, Familiar Trade-Offs
On standard PS5, Avowed offers the same visual setup found on Xbox Series X:
- Quality Mode targets higher visual fidelity at 30fps. The resolution boost exists, but combat-heavy gameplay makes the frame-rate cap hard to recommend.
- Performance Mode aims for 60fps, though it relies on a lower internal resolution with upscaling. The smoother motion helps, but environmental detail takes a hit.
- Balanced Mode sits between the two at 40fps and works only on 120Hz displays, offering the most sensible compromise for supported setups.
All three modes are serviceable, but none stand out as a showcase for Unreal Engine 5 on console.
PS5 Pro Owners Miss Out on Advanced Features
The real disappointment lands with PS5 Pro support. Despite the console’s enhanced capabilities, Avowed does not include a Pro-exclusive graphics mode. There is also no use of Sony’s PSSR upscaling technology, which many players expected to see.
Instead, PS5 Pro users get slightly steadier frame rates and marginally improved resolution consistency—improvements that feel more like backend tuning than true next-gen optimization. This continues a pattern seen in previous PlayStation ports from Obsidian Entertainment, where Pro-level features remain minimal .
Solid Port, Missed Opportunity
To be clear, Avowed functions exactly as intended on PS5 hardware. Load times are reasonable, visuals remain attractive, and performance stays stable across long play sessions. For most players, the experience is smooth and enjoyable.
However, for PS5 Pro owners, the release feels like a missed opportunity. With no hybrid mode, no advanced upscaling, and no visual features that separate it from the base PS5 version, the Pro console’s advantages go largely unused.
Avowed’s PS5 launch succeeds where it matters most: playability. The RPG looks good, runs reliably, and delivers the full experience PlayStation players waited for. Still, the lack of meaningful PS5 Pro enhancements keeps this port from standing out in a growing lineup of technically ambitious console RPGs.
For now, Performance or Balanced mode remains the best choice—regardless of which PS5 you own. Play Now!
