Obsidian Leisure’s explicit taste of sci-fi company dystopia returns in The Outer Worlds 2, and we obtained an in-depth take a look at their newest first-person shooter RPG throughout a particular function section on the finish of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025.
The Outer Worlds 2 is a a lot greater recreation than its predecessor, regardless that it is restricted to just one planet (the primary Outer Worlds had two planets and a handful of smaller asteroid and area station areas). Obsidian is redoubling their dedication to a status RPG expertise, and is borrowing one of the best components of its signature hit recreation, Fallout: New Vegas, to take action.
Outer Worlds 2’s planet Arcadia is a harmful place, with landscapes and propaganda impressed by World Struggle I-era battlefields. It will take all your wits (and a correct construct and loadout) to outlive as you step right into a battle between megacorporate giants on the frontier world.
Here is what you must sit up for when The Outer Worlds 2 comes out on Oct. 29.
Gamers will be capable to increase their construct in ways in which utterly change how they method quests all through the sport.
Traditional Obsidian RPG parts are returning in a giant means
The Outer Worlds encourages gamers to place talent factors into sure types of fight and expertise, however the sequel is leaning exhausting into specializing your character construct.
This time round, your character is an agent for the Earth Directorate, who’s getting into the center of a battle on Arcadia because the de facto “good man.” However there are three large decisions you make when creating your character that can utterly change the way in which you play the sport.
Although you are a regulation enforcer, you get to decide on your character’s background — which can change a few of your approaches to downside fixing all through the sport. You is usually a by-the-books officer, a foul cop or a lazy louse a la Disco Elysium.
You may additionally get an opportunity to decide on constructive and unfavorable traits which can change your dialogue choices and offer you passive buffs and debuffs that have an effect on your construct.
Lastly, you assign your talent factors. The talent tree in The Outer Worlds 2 has been condensed down into fewer choices from the primary recreation, however every talent level you spend is extra impactful. This can be a system that Obsidian Leisure has utterly “borrowed” from Fallout: New Vegas, so it is going to be very acquainted for followers of that specific ARPG.
Your buildcrafting would not finish whenever you go away the character creation display screen. A number of the wackiest expertise within the recreation are character flaws that get provided to you primarily based in your gameplay model. For those who’re crouching round typically, you may get a everlasting motion velocity buff — however your unhealthy knees will crack whenever you stand again up, alerting close by enemies. If you cannot assist however steal from distributors, you may get bonus money whenever you fence your gadgets — however your character will sometimes robotically loot no matter merchandise you hover over.
These flaws may make you develop cataracts, achieve debuffs for firing off a whole journal with out reloading and extra, and so they’re only one instance of how your construct and roleplaying expertise will evolve all through the sport.
One of many pleasant faces you meet is a sufferer of experimentation with animal limbs. Godrick the Grafted sends his regards.
New planet, friends and company propaganda
Whereas the unique Outer Worlds recreation occurred throughout a number of confined vignettes within the Halcyon star system, Outer Worlds 2 is specializing in a single planet embroiled in a three-way battle between the authoritarian Protectorate, the altruistic Order and the ruthless Auntie Cleo’s company.
Whereas Auntie Cleo’s has a agency grasp on Arcadia, harmful fractures in area referred to as the warp are threatening the company’s backside line. All three factions wish to resolve the warp for their very own egocentric causes, however they will not work collectively to take action — as an alternative, they’re vying for the participant’s help with a purpose to win the facility wrestle.
You will not simply be coping with faceless factions as you gallivant throughout Arcadia, after all. Six new companions are scattered all through the world, every outfitted with particular gear, expertise and character questlines.
One in every of my favourite components of the showcase was the Choose Dredd-like companion named Tristan. Gamers will be capable to encourage his extrajudicial model of justice or curb his murder-y machinations.
It is perhaps price it to seek out another means throughout the bridge simply to keep away from coping with these guys.
Totally different approaches to fixing issues
For those who aren’t trying to shoot your means out of each scenario, you will not should. Obsidian is dedicated to permitting you to shoot, stealth and speak your means out of issues all through the sport. And in sure situations, you could even determine extra unorthodox methods to finish the duty at hand.
The Outer Worlds showcase used an instance from early within the recreation, the place gamers must cross a bridge below the Protectorate’s jurisdiction. They’ve a raptor downside, and nobody is allowed to move by till it is handled. Probably the most easy method to achieve entry to the bridge is to assist the troopers wipe out the raptors, however there are intelligent (and unethical) options as nicely.
Gamers can simply as simply discover hoverboots to fly over the chasm, circumventing the necessity for the bridge solely. Probably the most evil and self-serving gamers can toss their new companion all the way down to the raptors and allow them to get torn to shreds, making a distraction that lets them keep away from the hazard themselves.
For those who use your mind and interact along with your character construct, you may at all times be capable to discover a method to progress — it is one other key takeaway from the Fallout: New Vegas design philosophy.
Weapons have a bit extra character to them this time round, with particular reload animations and tuned-up sound design.
First-person taking pictures is not taking a backseat
Obsidian video games usually concentrate on the RPG parts at the start. The gunplay is not an afterthought, but it surely is not normally something to write down house about. In The Outer Worlds 2, weapons are getting mechanical and vibes-based upgrades that can assist the moment-to-moment gameplay really feel much more responsive and thrilling.
Aiming down sights is now a smoother expertise, permitting gamers to extra reliably take crackshots at enemies down vary — and new animations for weapon swapping, reloading and different gun interactions will assist enhance arsenal administration.
Weapon recoil has been mitigated to make extra weapons really feel like satisfying bullet hoses, and the sound design has been retuned in order that extra weapons sound crunchy and impactful.
There are additionally way more weapons to select from in The Outer Worlds 2, together with the introduction of throwables like frag grenades and noisemakers to assist flush enemies out of canopy.
Returning science weapons are getting buffs to carry them in-line with the roster of latest devices and weapons.
A wacky array of weaponry
There are standard weapons, laser rifles and explosive launchers in The Outer Worlds 2, and plenty of them. However gamers are actually going to wish to search out the particular science weapons which have distinctive firing modes and results.
Some science weapons are coming back from the primary recreation with buffs that make them much more viable — just like the Shrink Ray, which not wears off on enemies (and you’ll stroll over and squish them like bugs this time round).
Different science weapons are completely new treats you could add to your arsenal. There’s a tumor gun that fires exploding pustules, a gun that shoots arms that latch onto and maul enemies, a legally distinct BFG that shreds foes with warp power and a sword that does extra injury whenever you strike enemies to its beat.
Science armors are making their debut as nicely. We noticed one nasty fleshy bodysuit within the showcase, which can lash out at close by enemies within the midst of fight. The Outer Worlds 2’s new third-person digicam mode will allow you to see these armor items in all their glory for the primary time ever.
The Outer Worlds 2 shall be launched on Oct. 29 for Xbox Collection X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
