Summary
AsThe Outer Worlds 2drew attention with its $80 price tag, the game’s director stepped in to address the chatter, stating that the studio doesn’t set the price for its games. The comment followed the recent Xbox Games Showcase, during which Obsidian offered a closer look atThe Outer Worlds 2. Fans got their first introduction to new companion Inez, plus a deeper dive into the game’s three major factions and its familiar focus on choice-driven storytelling.
The biggest headline, though, was thatThe Outer Worlds 2is now officially the first Xbox title to use Microsoft’s new $79.99 pricing model. A $99.99 Premium Edition was also revealed, packing in-game extras, a digital art book, and access to two upcoming story expansions. The pricing caught plenty off guard, thoughMicrosoft had already confirmed back in May that first-party Xbox gameswould be moving to this model starting in the 2025 holiday season.
According toGamesRadar+,The Outer Worlds 2director Brandon Adler addressed the price tag during an interview at Summer Game Fest. When asked about it, Adler made it clear that pricing isn’t something the dev team controls. He shared that he personally wants as many people as possible to play the game, but thosedecisions ultimately come from the Xbox side. He also chose not to delve into his personal opinions on the matter during the interview.
Players React to $80 Price Tag for The Outer Worlds 2
The reaction from players online hasn’t been the most positive. One Twitter user saidThe Outer Worlds 2“is not the game to be doing this” when it comes to raising the price. Others chimed in with similar frustration, calling the first game underwhelming and saying they wouldn’t even pay $50 for the sequel. While time will tell how the pricing impacts launch day turnout, the odds are high that other big-nameXbox Game Studios titles likeGears of War: E-Daywill follow the same pricing route.
The Outer Worlds 2is officially set to launch on July 22, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S, PC, and PlayStation 5, and plenty of details are already out there.The Outer Worlds 2 players will step into the shoes of an Earth Directorateagent, with the option to customize their background. They’ll also be able to recruit companions across the colony of Arcadia, which serves as the central hub. As for pre-orders, those who jump in early will get in-game items like Zane’s Uniform Armor, Ed’s Pet Drone, and both Zane’s Pistol and Dagger.
The Outer Worlds 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions—your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.EXPLORE A NEW FRONTIERThe Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink!YOUR COMMANDER, YOUR WAYBuild your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own—whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb!ENLIST YOUR COMPANIONSRecruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.
