Intro
Obsidian Entertainment’s announcement of ‘The Outer Worlds 2‘ promises a new voyage across uncharted star systems, raising anticipation and speculation about its direction and Xbox exclusivity.
Key Takeaways
- Anticipation for ‘The Outer Worlds 2’: Despite the success of its predecessor, details on the sequel remain scarce, with development hinted to be in early stages.
- Release Date Speculation: With Obsidian focused on other projects, ‘The Outer Worlds 2‘ is projected for an early 2026 release, pending the completion of ‘Avowed.’
- Xbox Exclusivity: Following Microsoft’s acquisition of Obsidian, the sequel will be available exclusively on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PCs, marking a significant shift from its multi-platform predecessor.
- Game Direction: The sequel will explore a new star system and emphasize the impact of player choices on the narrative and companion roles, suggesting a deepened gameplay experience.
The Outer Worlds 2 : All You Need To Know in Video
It might have not reached the heights of the most influential RPGs of the past decade like Skyrim, but Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds was a darn good voyage across space. So much so in fact, that two years and four million units sold later, Obsidian announced that The Outer Worlds 2 is happening.
The original game was Borderlands‘ quirky visuals and gunslinging mixed with a pint of the Fallout fashion, which is fitting since it actually is made by the creators of Fallout. The story so far has been a comical ride, and while many of us didn’t expect to hear about its future so soon, The Outer Worlds 2 is in development over at Obsidian, though it has been a minute since we’ve heard any updates.
At the moment the world seems to be busy with another massive space game called Starfield. But that’s not why you’re here. Since there isn’t much to go on about the sequel, you likely won’t find all the answers you’re looking for. That said, here’s everything we do know, along with a bunch of educated guesses — I hope.
Is The Outer Worlds 2 Release Date Near?
The Outer Worlds 2 was confirmed to be in development during E3 2021. A satirical announcement trailer for the game was revealed in which the narrator stated that Obsidian has decided on a sequel, but they still haven’t completed anything about it except for the name — and the announcement trailer it seems.
That was then, and over two years have passed. You’d think Obsidian would’ve given an update or two already, but unfortunately, no such luck. Though that is understandable. These days AAA games take about 5 years to ship, and if it’s a bigger project, then way longer. Presently Obsidian’s got its hands full with Avowed which is reportedly their in-house take on Skyrim. And remembering that the studio also shipped Grounded and Pentiment in 2022, that adds up to more time in the pipeline for The Outer Worlds sequel.
The announcement trailer made sure to not set up any expectations. It literally said:
“We see the silhouette because the developers haven’t yet finished the design, Or finished the story. Or finished any gameplay that’s actually ready to show. In fact, the only thing they have finished is the title.”
Translated into gamer terms, that means “Hey, this will happen someday but don’t ask when”. You can rest easy knowing the franchise will continue. However, we aren’t anywhere near The Outer Worlds 2’s release date, so buckle up for the long haul.
The Outer Worlds 2 Release Date Speculation: A Weary Wait
The Outer Worlds 2 does not have a release date right now. As you’ve read above, Obsidian’s busy burning the midnight oil with Avowed. Until that game is behind them, it’s likely they won’t let us in on the release date for their sci-fi RPG sequel.
Looking back, the E3 2021 announcement was quite long ago, and if nothing else, The Outer Worlds 2 should be in pre-production, with full-scale development set to begin soon after Avowed hits PCs and Xbox Series consoles in 2024. Assuming that it follows a normal development cycle for a game of its scale, The Outer Worlds 2’s release date should fall somewhere in early 2026.
This isn’t the first time developers have announced a game too early and it won’t be the last either. Bethesda announced The Elder Scrolls 6 in 2018, yet we’re as far from playing it today as we were when Skyrim came out.
Obsidian has pulled a similar stunt. Maybe the intention was to keep the franchise relevant for years to come while they were busy on other stories, or perhaps it was to build substantial hype. None appear to be working, though what they did prove is that it’ll be a weary wait.
Xbox Exclusivity: A New Era for The Outer Worlds 2
With the recent news from the official website, it’s clear that The Outer Worlds 2 is charting a new course exclusively on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Game Pass, and PCs.
This strategic move by Microsoft, following their acquisition of Obsidian, highlights a shift in the gaming landscape.
While the original game graced platforms including PS4 and Xbox One, and even saw a PS5 release in early 2023, the sequel is set to break tradition.
This exclusivity not only means that PS5 enthusiasts will miss out on this interstellar adventure, but it also suggests a more streamlined production process for Obsidian. With no need to develop additional ports for other consoles, the focus is solely on delivering The Outer Worlds 2 to Xbox and PC players.
Adding to the excitement, fans can anticipate a day one release on Game Pass, making the game readily accessible to subscribers and further cementing Xbox’s commitment to its gaming community.
Where The Outer Worlds 2 Is Headed Next: New Star System, Good Old Reasons To Play
Obsidian is keeping details about The Outer Worlds 2 close to its chest, yet with the announcement, the team did mention that the sequel will feature a new star system, alongside many other things. Sadly, that means players will have to say farewell to the Halcyon Colony where the adventure so far has taken place.
Going forward, every Outer Worlds game may be unrelated to each other, with an original story and cast, but still sticking to the core principles of why the franchise is so fun, similar to the Final Fantasy series. Perhaps it was the higher-ups at Xbox wanting the franchise to turn a new leaf post-acquisition. The studio didn’t say why, but ah well, as long as it’s still fun.
Besides a new star system, and the typical upgrades to terrain, weapons, and locations, companions will play a far more prominent role than ever before. In the original, your crew definitely mattered on the battlefield since each of them had a unique way of supporting your play style. However, when it came to the narrative, they had less of a major impact.
Whatever crew member or narrative decision you chose, you weren’t ever punished or overly rewarded. So with The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian is aiming to amplify the effects of your choices tenfold.
And that’s as far as we know about The Outer Worlds 2 at present. It’s a bummer we don’t have more to go on, and with the game still years away, the long hype cycle might do more harm than good. The last time we had to wait for a game this long, it came out broken on launch — Cyberpunk flashbacks — but Obsidian has a strong track record, so we’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. The best move on the board right now is to wait until the next Xbox Showcase since that’s where we’ll likely get a new trailer. But that too won’t be any sooner than July 2024, so sit tight.