Microsoft's 'Avowed' advanced access inexplicably skips Xbox Cloud Gaming in favor of NVIDIA GeForce Now, putting Xbox customers last

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If you paid the extra $10 for early access to Avowed and $20 per month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you may find that Microsoft prefers your custom on NVIDIA GeForce Now instead.

Avowed not on Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Cloud Gaming won't let you play Avowed Premium Edition, even if you own it. But if you're an NVIDIA GeForce Now customer, it's a different story. (Image credit: Kayla, Pokemon trainer)

Avowed launched in early access yesterday to generally positive reception. The latest RPG from Obsidian, known for games like Fallout New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity, launched exclusively on Xbox and Steam with a premium early access period — because it's 2025. Avowed's early access will set you back an additional $10 ahead of its Xbox Game Pass general launch next week, giving Microsoft an additional revenue stream to make up for cannibalized sales from its Netflix-like gaming subscription service. But what if you're someone who wanted to pay for early access and enjoy the benefits of your pricey Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription? To you, Microsoft is unfortunately saying "no thanks."

Avowed is an action RPG in a first-person perspective, set in the Pillars of Eternity universe. It sports Obsidian's typical gameplay stylings, including choice and consequence via a branching story narrative, player expression with playstyle choices, in a large and satisfyingly-explorable world. The game should be an idea Xbox Cloud Gaming partner, given its gameplay format, but Microsoft seems to disagree.

Indeed, yesterday I began receiving messages from users on X (Twitter) asking when Avowed early access would go live on Xbox Cloud Gaming. Inexplicably, it seems that Avowed simply isn't planned to go live on Xbox Cloud Gaming until next week, even if you own the premium access version.

RELATED: 7 things I wish I knew before playing Avowed

Microsoft might have some kind of business-y type explanation for as to why that is, but, it would get blown to smithereens when you consider the early access period is available on rival cloud service NVIDIA GeForce Now.

Avowed on NVIDIA GeForce Now

NVIDIA GeForce Now supports more Xbox games than Xbox Cloud Gaming does, apparently. (Image credit: Windows Central)

Now, I'm not suggesting there's some kind of nefarious reason as to why Microsoft decided to support NVIDIA GeForce Now over Xbox Cloud Gaming for Avowed. I am suggesting that the oversight is an irritating and sadly typical inconsistency that Microsoft's gaming services often run on. This is why Microsoft's "This is an Xbox" campaign was so frustrating to watch play out, as the marketing campaign aimed to showcase things like Xbox Play Anywhere and Xbox Cloud Gaming, neither of which I would described as being "fully baked."

Microsoft recently added the ability to play "buy to own" games on Xbox Cloud Gaming, which would surely have been the right avenue to light up Avowed on the platform. The system does support DLC entitlements for deluxe edition features and the like, so it's hard for me to envision that this is due to some kind of technical issue. Some have suggested that it could be due to regulatory issues, with the UK CMA having previously forced Microsoft to give up rights to Activision Blizzard's cloud games to Ubisoft. However, I'm unaware of Obsidian titles being covered in any such ruling, although I am investigating as of writing.

We've reached out to Microsoft to ask why Avowed's advanced access period includes NVIDIA GeForce Now, but doesn't include Xbox Cloud Gaming, and to inquire what Microsoft's policies are for the increased amount of games with "advanced access" premium passes when it comes to cloud gaming.

Microsoft has all the parts in play to really create something truly special across its platforms. The ability to buy Avowed on multiple platforms, take my save files anywhere, and play on almost any device is a definite glimpse of a potent Xbox gaming future — but nailing these details should be at the forefront of Microsoft's mind in my view.

RELATED: Predicting the actually exciting future of Xbox hardware

I think it's very poor form to treat your most loyal customers this way, ones who not only have paid for early access but also Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, only to ultimately not deliver. Microsoft definitely needs to better here, in my view.

In any case, we'll let you know what Microsoft plans to do to fix this situation, if anything, as soon as possible.

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Jez Corden
Jez Corden
Executive Editor

Jez Corden is the Executive Editor at Windows Central, focusing primarily on all things Xbox and gaming. Jez is known for breaking exclusive news and analysis as relates to the Microsoft ecosystem while being powered by tea. Follow on Twitter (X) and Threads, and listen to his XB2 Podcast, all about, you guessed it, Xbox!

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fatpunkslim
    Lol, of course, it had to be you to jump on this kind of news. Once again, negative speculations for a simple mistake that will be corrected in a few days. We look forward to the update of your article in a few days to say that, in the end, it was an article about nothing! Lol, classic Jez, at least we can say you're consistent, always in panic mode!

    Update from my previous comment:At the same time, thinking it over, there's one thing I don't understand: the premium version doesn't mention early access to the cloud:
    Avowed Base Game
    Five Days Early Access To Avowed
    Two Sets Of Skins For Each Companion
    Avowed Digital Artbook
    Avowed Original Soundtrack- However, cloud access depends on your Game Pass Ultimate subscription, right?
    - So cloud access will be on the launch day in Game Pass, right?
    - Avowed comes to Game Pass in just 4 days, right?
    - So, cloud access will only be available in 4 days, correct?
    - And only for those who are subscribed to Game Pass, right?
    Basically, how can one say that the premium version should give access to Xbox Cloud Gaming right now if:
    It wasn't included in the premium version
    It is only available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers
    It is scheduled to be available on Game Pass in 4 days?
    Unlike GeForce Now, which is a standalone service, Xbox Cloud Gaming is included in Game Pass Ultimate.
    You're talking about Xbox Cloud Gaming as a standalone service, but it's not, right ? How can you compare it to GeForce Now under these conditions, especially since it's still in beta?

    You could even say that we don't really pay for xCloud currently, and when it exits beta, there will probably be a specific cloud subscription.

    It's the same for the "Play on Cloud Your Own Games" service, which is part of Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) and is included with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This means that to access this service and play your own Xbox games via the cloud, you need to be subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate.

    And so the xCloud service will be accessible on the launch day in Game Pass, quite simply.

    In fact, I don't understand @Jez Corden point. It seems to me there's something inconsistent in his statement, or maybe I missed something.

    But if I'm right, it's further proof that Jez seeks negativity in ideas that are false and inconsistent.
    Reply
  • Jez Corden
    imagine advocating for customers to get what they pay for.
    Reply
  • fatpunkslim
    @Jez Corden I added a comment to my initial comment, I don't know if you read it! Can you explain to me because either I didn't understand how xCloud works, or there's something illogical in your statement.

    imagine advocating for customers to get what they pay for.
    Yes, I understand what you mean! But we can't demand everything from Xbox. I think they already offer a lot of services that can't be found elsewhere. We should highlight and commend that rather than always seeing the glass half empty. Don't you think ?

    Beyond that, I think it's technically complicated to create some sort of exemption for people who buy the game but aren't subscribers. After all, we're talking about a 4-day delay. Is it worth making a big fuss over it?
    Reply
  • Gabe Szabo
    @fatpunkslim no, you're in the wrong here, clearly. Even if it's not malicious, it can be clearly seen as either an oversight or misleading, but nothing like what you say. If a user buys the advance pass, not the full version, it's so that they can play the game on Game Pass a certain number of days early. If the user plays solely on Xbox Cloud Streaming (Beta), because "Everything is an Xbox", and pay for advanced access, what do you think they'll feel when they can't play the game early?
    Reply
  • GraniteStateColin
    fatpunkslim said:
    Lol, of course, it had to be you to jump on this kind of news. Once again, negative speculations for a simple mistake that will be corrected in a few days. We look forward to the update of your article in a few days to say that, in the end, it was an article about nothing! Lol, classic Jez, at least we can say you're consistent, always in panic mode!

    Update from my previous comment:At the same time, thinking it over, there's one thing I don't understand: the premium version doesn't mention early access to the cloud:
    Avowed Base Game
    Five Days Early Access To Avowed
    Two Sets Of Skins For Each Companion
    Avowed Digital Artbook
    Avowed Original Soundtrack- However, cloud access depends on your Game Pass Ultimate subscription, right?
    - So cloud access will be on the launch day in Game Pass, right?
    - Avowed comes to Game Pass in just 4 days, right?
    - So, cloud access will only be available in 4 days, correct?
    - And only for those who are subscribed to Game Pass, right?
    Basically, how can one say that the premium version should give access to Xbox Cloud Gaming right now if:
    It wasn't included in the premium version
    It is only available to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers
    It is scheduled to be available on Game Pass in 4 days?
    Unlike GeForce Now, which is a standalone service, Xbox Cloud Gaming is included in Game Pass Ultimate.
    You're talking about Xbox Cloud Gaming as a standalone service, but it's not, right ? How can you compare it to GeForce Now under these conditions, especially since it's still in beta?

    You could even say that we don't really pay for xCloud currently, and when it exits beta, there will probably be a specific cloud subscription.

    It's the same for the "Play on Cloud Your Own Games" service, which is part of Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) and is included with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This means that to access this service and play your own Xbox games via the cloud, you need to be subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate.

    And so the xCloud service will be accessible on the launch day in Game Pass, quite simply.

    In fact, I don't understand @Jez Corden point. It seems to me there's something inconsistent in his statement, or maybe I missed something.

    But if I'm right, it's further proof that Jez seeks negativity in ideas that are false and inconsistent.

    I'm usually too long-winded, but this one is simple: Microsoft offers the game and cloud access via its own cloud service. If a user paid extra through the MS service for 5 days' early access and can't get it through MS, only through a competing service, that's a failure on Microsoft's part to provide the service. Jez is correct.

    To your point, hopefully MS does correct this quickly and then this issue partially goes away. But even if they do fix this quickly, the fact that once again MS screwed up in a way that hurts their most devoted customers is absolutely par for the course with MS. They constantly communicate through actions like this that their fans should not trust them. That's just really bad business and strategy, something I say with sadness as a definite Microsoft fan who wants nothing more here than for MS to be successful in the consumer and gaming space (I have other strategic objectives for MS too, but not relevant here).
    Reply
  • fatpunkslim
    Okay, so logically, Game Pass Ultimate subscribers who purchased the premium version of the game should have had access 4 days earlier in the cloud, right? Knowing they already have early access on PC and console? And that means those who bought the premium game but aren't subscribed to Game Pass Ultimate don't have early access in the cloud?

    Was it the case for Indiana Jones, for example? Did we have early access in the cloud for those who bought the premium version? Sorry, I ask because I never buy premium versions, so I really don't know!

    But all this seems quite complicated for Xbox to manage technically, as it involves a lot of different conditions and cases.

    Besides, making a big deal out of a 4-day delay seems a bit disproportionate to me!
    Reply
  • Gabe Szabo
    That's the point. People are paying for 4 days early access and you're saying they should just "wait a few days" for Microsoft to figure it out? Have you ever tried flushing money down the toilet? At least you weren't expecting anything in return if so.

    I believe Indy was available on xCloud on advance access day 1, but I might be wrong (I don't pay for, or play, early access either).

    It might seem complicated to you, but it's not your problem to solve. It's Microsoft's. I don't believe it's any more complicated than flipping the proverbial switch, though. xCloud has the same licence checks I assume Xbox itself has on the hardware, so I don't assume it's complicated at all. And Microsoft indeed should be called out when something like this happens and their loyal customers get the stick instead of the carrot...

    And I don't mean to overstep, but please, try to be a bit more civil regarding your opinion of Jez (I mean across these forums, you're pretty vocal about pointing out how Jez is trying to be negative about Xbox, whereas I believe he has a right as a "not-journalist-blogger" to voice his opinions just as much). He's passionate about this, and his views change over time; he listens to people and reconsiders his points. Like an adult person, not like a jaded fanatic football fan or something. Also, Phil Spencer seems to constantly react to points raised by @Jez Corden too. Just lately, on Gamertag Radio, he essentially confirmed that he was the one who pushed them to market Xbox Play Anywhere at the last Dev_Direct, and I assume it was because Parris Lily and Jez are pretty loud about trying to push this. We should very much call them out on EVERY mistake they make. It's OUR money and OUR time we invest in their products, after all.
    Reply
  • fatpunkslim
    Gabe Szabo said:
    That's the point. People are paying for 4 days early access and you're saying they should just "wait a few days" for Microsoft to figure it out? Have you ever tried flushing money down the toilet? At least you weren't expecting anything in return if so.

    I believe Indy was available on xCloud on advance access day 1, but I might be wrong (I don't pay for, or play, early access either).

    It might seem complicated to you, but it's not your problem to solve. It's Microsoft's. I don't believe it's any more complicated than flipping the proverbial switch, though. xCloud has the same licence checks I assume Xbox itself has on the hardware, so I don't assume it's complicated at all. And Microsoft indeed should be called out when something like this happens and their loyal customers get the stick instead of the carrot...

    And I don't mean to overstep, but please, try to be a bit more civil regarding your opinion of Jez (I mean across these forums, you're pretty vocal about pointing out how Jez is trying to be negative about Xbox, whereas I believe he has a right as a "not-journalist-blogger" to voice his opinions just as much). He's passionate about this, and his views change over time; he listens to people and reconsiders his points. Like an adult person, not like a jaded fanatic football fan or something. Also, Phil Spencer seems to constantly react to points raised by @Jez Corden too. Just lately, on Gamertag Radio, he essentially confirmed that he was the one who pushed them to market Xbox Play Anywhere at the last Dev_Direct, and I assume it was because Parris Lily and Jez are pretty loud about trying to push this. We should very much call them out on EVERY mistake they make. It's OUR money and OUR time we invest in their products, after all.
    Don't you think you're exaggerating a bit? People are not only paying for 5 days early access on Xcloud. They still have:

    5 days early access on PC and console
    Two Sets Of Skins For Each Companion
    Avowed Digital Artbook
    Avowed Original SoundtrackAnd what percentage of players bought the premium version specifically for 5 days early access on Xcloud? In my opinion, it's not that many.

    So, it comes back to what I said from the beginning, it's a lot of noise for not much and not many people!

    Regarding my opinion on Jez, I respect his opinion, and I would ask you to respect mine as well and not position yourself as a lesson-giver; and I am far from the only one who thinks that he tends to always see the glass half empty rather than half full, often speculating negatively, and often stubbornly sticking to things that are factually incorrect. Also, when you read his articles, they are often biased, and he tends to present his opinions as absolute truths, which demonstrates a certain arrogance and a lack of humility.

    That said, I acknowledge his tolerance and intelligence, if only for responding to people who don't necessarily agree with him, and for that, he has all my respect.
    Reply
  • Gabe Szabo
    I'm sorry if my comment came off as condescending or lecturing to you, it wasn't my intention. You were asking questions, and I was trying to answer to the best of my ability. I just wanted to point out that I didn't agree with your view, that's all.

    I wasn't exaggerating. I was talking hypothetically, about those who generally buy advance access. Not this particular case, but any case. Their reason to buy the package, especially early on, is obviously because they want to play earlier than others, bacause of FOMO. And in this case, they might be paying for the early access and not care about the other stuff. You can't know.

    However small the percentage of people might be who are affected, and I'm not even saying there *are* any, your argument to me seems like was "they shouldn't expect" cloud streaming as part of their premium upgrade, and they should very well be content with whatever else the upgrade gives them. I think you're missing the point here. The problem is not that these (theoretical) people should or shouldn't have advance access to the game. It's that Microsoft provides advance access through GFN but not their own streaming service. I'm not sure you're intentionally missing the point or not, but whichever the case may be, I think saying that the minority's voice should not matter because they are fewer, is pretty unempathetic. Especially given that seeing what happened with other Microsoft consumer products, it was always the most hardcore that suffered from Microsoft's actions. It might be the minority, yeah. It doesn't make it any better.

    I know Jez's articles are biased. He knows his articles are biased. I don't understand what's wrong with acknowledging that and don't understand why do you have to call that out at all. He's not denying it or even trying to hide it. He can be sometimes overly negative and overly positive, sure. But I NEVER once heard or read him present his opinions as absolute truths, and I've listened to quite a few of his podcast episodes with Rand and read many if not most of his articles.

    Although, I'm not trying to convince you either way and not trying to argue. You can have your opinion on the matter of course. I aired my concerns, thanks for reading.
    Reply