Love stories have become almost ubiquitous in modern RPGs. However, Obsidian Entertainment's upcoming title, Avowed, is charting a different course by foregoing traditional romance mechanics.

In a recent interview with Eurogamer, Obsidian's Game Director, Carrie Patel, highlighted the distinction between simply having romance and crafting a truly compelling romantic narrative.

Patel explained, "A good romance isn't just about a compelling romantic path, but also one that's true to the character being romanced. It’s jarring when a character with distinct personality traits, goals, and interests suddenly becomes a subservient version of themselves for the sake of a player’s romantic pursuit. Their joy in fulfilling your requests can diminish their humanity."

Furthermore, Patel argued that romance shouldn't be the sole path to deeper connection with a character. Relationships, she asserted, shouldn't be defined or limited by romantic interest.  "You need a platonic path that is equally compelling," Patel stated, adding, "because it’s a shame if romance is the only valid way to truly reach full depth with a character."

Patel concluded by sharing her perspective, both as a developer and a player, on how the gamification of romance can undermine its intended purpose.  "The more you introduce romance as a mechanic, the more you build systems, metrics, and ways for players to reinforce and measure their affinity and affection level with other characters, the more it just becomes a system people engage with rather than a relationship," she explained.