The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Most Avowed problems on PC can be narrowed down by working from the outside in: confirm the hardware and Windows baseline, update the graphics stack, repair the game installation, then isolate heat, firmware, graphics features, and input layers. Do the checks in that order so you do not spend an hour changing settings when the installation or driver is the real cause.
This guide covers the official requirements and Obsidian’s documented recovery steps, plus a reproducible method for separating frame-pacing problems from general low performance and for diagnosing controller failures across Steam, the Xbox app, Bluetooth, and USB.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check that your PC meets Avowed’s requirements
Obsidian Entertainment’s published requirements were last updated on February 28, 2025. They apply to the Windows PC version and specify DirectX 12 and 75 GB of storage for both tiers. Meeting the minimum is a starting point, not a guarantee of a fixed frame rate or stutter-free play; more headroom above the minimum gives the game more room for demanding scenes.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 or Windows 11 with the latest updates | Windows 10 or Windows 11 with the latest updates |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel Core i7-10700K |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| GPU | AMD RX 5700, NVIDIA GTX 1070, or Intel Arc A580 | AMD RX 6800 XT or NVIDIA RTX 3080 |
| Graphics API | DirectX 12 | DirectX 12 |
| Storage | 75 GB | 75 GB |
Check your specifications in Windows before changing game settings. Press Windows key + R, enter dxdiag, and select Save All Information if you need a complete system report. Compare the processor, installed memory, and display adapter with the table, and make sure the drive has more than the stated free space so updates and temporary files are not forced into a nearly full volume.
#1 Best Overall
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Use this order for crashes and startup failures
Changing several variables at once makes a crash impossible to diagnose. Complete each step, launch the game, and record whether the symptom changes before moving on.
- Confirm the baseline. Check the requirements table, install all pending Windows updates, and restart. A restart matters after an operating-system or driver update because the new kernel and graphics components may not be active until boot.
- Install a current GPU driver. Use the driver package for your graphics-card manufacturer. If ordinary installation does not resolve a graphics-related crash, run the package’s clean-install option, then restart Windows again. Do not judge the result while an installer is still using a partially updated driver stack.
- Repair the game files. The Xbox app procedure is described below. Steam has its own Verify integrity of game files command in the game’s properties; allow it to finish, then restart the launcher before testing.
- Check temperature and stability. Inspect dust buildup, fan operation, and case airflow. Remove any CPU or GPU overclock, undervolt, or aggressive memory profile temporarily. Obsidian notes that CPU or GPU overheating can produce random crashes, so watch temperatures during the same scene in which the failure occurs.
- Check firmware on certain Intel systems. Owners of 13th- and 14th-generation Intel CPUs should install the latest BIOS supplied by their motherboard or system manufacturer. Obsidian warns that an outdated BIOS can cause crashes and instability on these processors; Intel microcode
0x12Bor later is the advanced check mentioned in its support guidance. - Use the launch-recovery option if the game will not start. Add
-noraytracingto the game’s launch options, start the game, and use the graphics procedure in the next section to choose stable settings. - Escalate with evidence if the same failure remains. Capture the exact sequence, a screenshot or clip, a save from before the issue, and your system report rather than repeatedly reinstalling without new information.
If Avowed crashes before reaching the menu
A launch failure can be caused by a graphics feature that is initialized before you can reach the settings screen. In Steam, open the game’s properties and enter -noraytracing in the launch-options field. Start the game with that temporary option. If it reaches the menu, open the graphics settings, turn off ray tracing, upscaling, and NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency, apply the changes, exit normally, and launch again without relying on the workaround.
The option is a recovery path for a game that cannot start; it is not a promise that ray tracing is incompatible with every PC. If the game still fails with ray tracing bypassed, return to the general sequence: verify the installation, check the driver clean install, inspect temperatures and overclocks, and check BIOS on the affected Intel generations.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #2
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Repair an installation through your launcher
Xbox app for PC
- Open the Xbox app and select My Library.
- Select Avowed, open More options, and choose Manage.
- Open the Files tab and select Check for updates.
- If no update is available, choose Verify and Repair and wait for the process to complete.
- Close and reopen the Xbox app before launching the game.
A repair can replace missing or damaged files without deleting your save data. If the option is unavailable or the process reports an error, record the message and include it when contacting support rather than repeatedly starting the same repair.
Steam
In Steam, open the game’s properties from your Library and run Verify integrity of game files (the exact tab label can vary with the current Steam client). Steam compares the local installation with its servers and reacquires files that fail the check. Let downloads finish, restart Steam, and then test from a clean launch.
How to diagnose stuttering and uneven frame pacing
Stutter is not always the same as a low average frame rate. A game can report a high average while producing irregular frame times, or it can run consistently at a lower rate because the GPU is simply at its limit. Treat the investigation as a controlled measurement.
Rank #3
- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
- Choose one repeatable location, route, or camera turn that reliably exposes the problem.
- Keep resolution, graphics preset, display mode, and frame-rate cap unchanged while establishing a baseline.
- Use a frame-time graph or other consistent monitoring tool, not only the instantaneous FPS counter. Note whether the spikes occur during traversal, combat, entering a new area, or at regular intervals.
- Change one setting or system variable at a time, restart Avowed, and repeat the same route. Record the result in a small table or notebook.
- Return a setting to its original value before testing the next one. This prevents two changes from hiding or creating the symptom.
Before tuning individual options, complete the baseline checks: requirements, current GPU driver, Windows updates, file verification, and thermal inspection. Those checks address system-wide causes that no in-game preset can correct.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Graphics features to test first
Obsidian identifies three graphics interventions that may help stability and/or performance: ray tracing, upscaling, and NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency. Disable all three for an initial controlled test if you are seeing severe stutter or instability, apply the changes, exit the game, and restart it. If the result improves, re-enable one feature at a time and repeat the same route to identify which change matters on your hardware.
| Test | What to change | How to interpret the result |
|---|---|---|
| Ray-tracing test | Turn ray tracing off, restart, and repeat the baseline route. | If frame-time spikes disappear, leave it off or re-enable it only after testing other variables. |
| Upscaling test | Disable upscaling, restart, and compare the same scene. | A change points to the upscaler mode or its interaction with the driver; it does not prove that native rendering is faster everywhere. |
| Reflex test | Turn NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency off, restart, and repeat the measurement. | If the irregularity changes, keep the setting off while you test the rest of the graphics configuration. |
These are troubleshooting interventions, not universal fixes. A setting that helps one GPU, driver version, or launcher may have no effect on another. Keep the same scene and change one variable so your conclusion is tied to an observable result.
Rank #4
- BREAKER SERIES — Hold nothing back. Ice Breaker keeps it forever fresh with a mix of iced and frosted blues. Part of the collective debut of the Breaker special edition series.
- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- UP TO 40 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Get up to 40 hours of battery life so you can keep playing without stopping to recharge.
- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Overheating, overclocking, and BIOS checks
Temperature and airflow
Random crashes under load often warrant a physical inspection. Shut down the PC, clear accumulated dust from filters and heatsinks, confirm that every fan spins, and make sure intake and exhaust paths are not blocked. During a test run, watch CPU and GPU temperatures and note whether the crash happens only after the system has been hot for several minutes. If the problem disappears after restoring normal cooling, leave the overclock disabled and address the airflow or cooler issue before returning to higher settings.
Overclock and memory stability
Return CPU, GPU, and memory settings to the motherboard or graphics-card defaults for diagnosis. A profile that is stable in a short benchmark can still fail in a long DirectX 12 session. Test Avowed at stock settings first; reapply one profile only after the game has remained stable long enough to establish a baseline.
13th- and 14th-generation Intel processors
For these CPU generations, visit the motherboard or system manufacturer’s support page and install the current BIOS using its documented procedure. Obsidian specifically associates outdated BIOS versions with crashes and instability and points to Intel microcode 0x12B or later as an advanced verification point. Do not interrupt a BIOS update, and do not assume that a Windows reinstall substitutes for firmware maintenance.
Best Value
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
Fix controller detection and wrong buttons
Avowed supports full customization of controller keybinds, but customization does not guarantee that every launcher and connection path exposes the same device in the same way. Separate the variables instead of changing several remapping tools at once.
- Confirm Windows sees the controller. Test it in Windows’ game-controller panel or another known-working game. If it is absent there, troubleshoot the cable, Bluetooth pairing, battery, USB port, or device driver before opening Avowed.
- Check the launcher path. Record whether you started through Steam or the Xbox app. Their input layers are different, so a controller that works in one path may need a different configuration in the other.
- Test a direct USB connection. Use a known-good data cable and a different USB port. This removes Bluetooth interference and wireless power-saving behavior from the first comparison.
- Remove duplicate remapping layers. Temporarily disable third-party remappers and avoid stacking a launcher-level mapping layer with a controller manufacturer’s profile. Leave one input path active while testing.
- Check Avowed’s keybinds. Restore the affected action to its default, then create one custom binding and test it. If the game recognizes the controller but buttons are wrong, this distinguishes a binding problem from device detection.
- Compare connection modes. Test wired USB, Bluetooth, and any launcher input translation separately. Record which mode produces the failure rather than describing the controller as simply “broken.”
| Symptom | Most useful comparison | Evidence to record |
|---|---|---|
| Controller is not listed at all | Windows detection versus launcher detection; then USB versus Bluetooth | Controller model, cable or wireless mode, and whether another game detects it |
| Buttons work but are mapped incorrectly | Default Avowed bindings versus one custom binding, with remappers disabled | Action affected, displayed prompt, and active launcher |
| Input works intermittently | Direct USB with a known-good cable versus Bluetooth | When disconnects occur, battery state, USB port, and any reconnect sound |
| Two inputs appear at once | Disable one launcher or remapping layer and retest | Which layers were active and whether duplicate movement or menu actions stopped |
There is no single controller fix established for every launcher, model, and connection type. A precise report containing those variables is more useful than repeated keybind resets.
Build a useful support report
When the sequence above does not resolve the issue, Obsidian asks for a brief summary, a screenshot or video clip, reproduction steps, a save file from before the problem, and system specifications. Include the launcher, game version if shown, GPU driver version, whether the issue occurs at stock settings, and the exact graphics or controller changes you tested.
Collect the required files
- System report: press
Windows key + R, typedxdiag, and select Save All Information. - Windows save files: open
%USERPROFILE%Saved GamesAvowedand copy the save from before the issue. Preserve the original and send a copy if support requests one. - Crash logs: check
C:Users%username%AppDataLocalAlabamaSavedCrashes. - Reproduction notes: write the shortest repeatable sequence, such as the location, action, time to failure, and whether restarting changes it.
Compress large logs only if the support form requires it, and remove unrelated personal files. A clip showing the exact input or visual failure is more informative than a general statement that the game “doesn’t work.”
Choose the next step from the symptom
| What you observe | Next action |
|---|---|
| Crash occurs immediately on launch | Use -noraytracing, then disable the three documented graphics features if the menu opens. If it still fails, verify files and continue with driver, thermal, and BIOS checks. |
| Crash appears after playing for a while | Monitor temperatures, restore stock clocks, inspect airflow, and check crash logs. A time-dependent failure deserves thermal and stability checks before graphics tweaking. |
| Game runs but has periodic hitching | Measure frame times in one repeatable location, then test one graphics feature at a time with a restart between tests. |
| Only one launcher has the problem | Repair files in that launcher and keep the launcher name in your report. Do not assume a controller or installation issue reproduces across both distribution paths. |
| Controller is detected but actions are wrong | Disable duplicate mapping layers, restore the affected Avowed binding, and test one custom keybind. |
| No improvement after all controlled tests | Send the dxdiag report, save, crash logs, clip, reproduction steps, launcher, hardware, and connection details to Obsidian support. |
What a successful diagnosis looks like
You should be able to state which variable changed the outcome: a repaired file, a clean driver installation, restored cooling, a BIOS update, a disabled graphics feature, or a specific controller path. If no single change is reproducible, keep the system at known-good defaults and submit the evidence rather than cycling through random presets. That approach gives support a testable case and protects your saves while you continue troubleshooting.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
