New details have emerged about Obsidian Entertainment’sOuter Worlds 2, specifically about a dozen of the different skills available to player characters.Outer Worlds 2is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S on July 28, 2025, almost six years after the release of the original game.
With the potential forOuter Worlds 2improving on the flaws of its predecessor, the upcoming RPG is looking to make a major impact when it releases later in 2025. However, the fact that it is the first confirmed Xbox-published game to launch at a higher $80 USD price point could also hamper its reception. It’ll be up to Microsoft and Obsidian to promote the game effectively in the run-up to release, making sure that players know thatOuter Worlds 2will truly warrant the increased cost (or at least the price of a subscription to Game Pass).
One part of that promotional strategy was a dedicated showcase presentation released on June 9, which gave players more to get excited about ahead of the game’s launch. One detail that emerged from the showcase was confirmation of at least 12 playable character skills, based on a screenshot posted by Reddit user MissKatmandu. LikeAttributes in the originalOuter Worlds, skills help determine the outcome of certain actions taken by the player in various situations. For example, stealth skills might increase the chance of success when sneaking past enemies, while conversation-related skills improve a player’s success rate when trying to lie or bluff their way out of danger or interact successfully with NPCs.
List of Confirmed Outer Worlds 2 Skills
Drawn from theOuter Worlds 2showcase stream, the screenshot shows a list of different skills and their levels. The skills appear to have been changed somewhat from theirOuter Worldscounterparts, condensed from 18 skills previously to 12 inOuter Worlds 2. Subcategories like 1-handed and 2-handed melee weapons have been collapsed into a single Melee category. Dialog skills like Persuade, Lie, and Intimidate have also been condensed into a single Speech skill, much like its powerfulFallout New Vegasiteration. New skills were also added, like Observation, which plays a role in detecting hidden objects and secret areas.
Players debated the utility of the skill system changes. A few worried that the condensation of the dialog skills into Speech would make it too “monolithic.” Others wondered how the Sneak skill would figure intothe reworking of stealth gameplay inOuter Worlds 2.One player was particularly amused by the fact that the Science skill, a staple of such games, was made more entertaining by the addition of an exclamation point, making it “Science!”
While it’ll take some actual gameplay to see how the overhaul of skills inOuter Worlds 2will affect the experience, it’s interesting to see the way the game has changed ahead of release. With luck, it won’t negatively impact the game’s buildcrafting potential.
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.
