What really surprised me about both PoE games is how poorly was their setting sold. I don't say there are no good ideas behind it, or the world history is bland. Unfortunately you learn most of the lore through encyklopedia, instead doing so through quests and exploration (like eg. in Dragon Age games). PoE2 was better in that regard, but there, even if I finished the game, I don't remember a single NPC or location from it. Seriously, nothing stuck with me. None. I remember more from PoE, the game I haven't even finished.
So, unless Obsidian finds a solid way to interest me with Eora in Avowed, I feel it will be yet another Obsidian disappointment for me.
Yes, although I think that PoE lore and story is stellar, I do agree that you had to dig for it on your own, there was a lot to absorb actually, and if you as a player did not commit to it - you would just miss it all. Not a good way to present it in a game. But I do remember moments from PoE2... especially that sequence on the bridge during the godhammer bomb explosion and Waidwen. I also liked the subplot of searching for the lost city to find the "wheel". But again, I dived deeper into PoE lore than most, so it was good for me. I expect most players wouldn't care as much - and it is absolutely the game's fault.
Obsidian aren't known for making flawless combat or generally smooth gameplay... as a result I don't really expect much of Avowed, despite my personal interest in Eora, - first person open world from Obsidian screams "janky". Outer Worlds was boring.
Dragon Age 4 on the other hand... for some reason I can't help but have huge expectations for it. I think Dragon Age Inquisition was amazing, but I specifically focused only on main story, lore and quests, completely ignoring the dumb MMO checkboxes - and it turned out to be a decent RPG.
