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 its newest first-person shooter RPG throughout a particular function section on the finish of the Xbox Video games Showcase 2025.
The Outer Worlds 2 is a a lot greater sport than its predecessor, though it is restricted to just one planet (the primary Outer Worlds had two planets and a handful of smaller asteroid and house station areas). Obsidian is redoubling its dedication to a status RPG expertise and borrowing one of the best components of its signature hit sport, Fallout: New Vegas, to take action.
Outer Worlds 2’s planet Arcadia is a harmful place, with landscapes and propaganda impressed by World Battle I-era battlefields. It will take your whole wits (and a correct construct and loadout) to outlive as you step right into a conflict between megacorporate giants on the frontier world.
This is what it’s a must to stay 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 strategy quests all through the sport.
Traditional Obsidian RPG parts are returning in an enormous manner
The Outer Worlds encourages gamers to place ability factors into sure types of fight and expertise, however the sequel is leaning laborious into specializing your character construct.
This time round, your character is an agent for the Earth Directorate, who’s moving into the center of a conflict on Arcadia because the de facto “good man.” However there are three huge decisions you make when creating your character that can utterly change the best way you play the sport.
Though you are a regulation enforcer, you get to decide on your character’s background, which can change a few of your approaches to problem-solving all through the sport. You generally is a by-the-books officer, a nasty cop or a lazy louse a la Disco Elysium.
You may additionally get an opportunity to decide on constructive and unfavourable traits that can change your dialogue choices and provide you with passive buffs and debuffs that have an effect on your construct.
Lastly, you assign your ability factors. The ability tree in The Outer Worlds 2 has been condensed down into fewer choices from the primary sport, however every ability level you spend is extra impactful. This can be a system that Obsidian Leisure has utterly “borrowed” from Fallout: New Vegas, so it will likely be very acquainted for followers of that specific ARPG.
Your buildcrafting would not finish while you go away the character creation display. Among the wackiest expertise within the sport are character flaws that get supplied to you primarily based in your gameplay type. Should you’re crouching round usually, you may get a everlasting motion pace buff, however your unhealthy knees will crack while you stand again up, alerting close by enemies. If you cannot assist however steal from distributors, you may get bonus money while you fence your objects, however your character will often mechanically 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, they usually’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 sport passed off throughout a number of confined vignettes within the Halcyon star system, Outer Worlds 2 focuses on 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 house referred to as the warp are threatening the company’s backside line. All three factions need to remedy 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 in an effort to win the ability wrestle.
You will not simply be coping with faceless factions as you gallivant throughout Arcadia. Six new companions are scattered all through the world, every outfitted with particular gear, expertise and character questlines.
One among my favourite components of the showcase was the Choose Dredd-like companion Tristan. Gamers can encourage his extrajudicial model of justice or curb his murder-y machinations.
It may be value it to search out an alternate manner throughout the bridge simply to keep away from coping with these guys.
Totally different approaches to fixing issues
Should you aren’t trying to shoot your manner out of each scenario, you will not should. Obsidian is dedicated to permitting you to shoot, stealth and discuss your manner out of issues all through the sport. And in sure situations, you could even work out extra unorthodox methods to finish the duty at hand.
The Outer Worlds showcase used an instance from early within the sport, the place gamers must cross a bridge beneath the Protectorate’s jurisdiction. They’ve a raptor downside, and nobody is allowed to go by till it is handled. Essentially the most easy strategy to achieve entry to the bridge is to assist the troopers wipe out the raptors, however there are intelligent (and unethical) options as properly.
Gamers can simply as simply discover hoverboots to fly over the chasm, circumventing the necessity for the bridge fully. Essentially the most evil and self-serving gamers can toss their new companion right down to the raptors and allow them to get torn to shreds, making a distraction that lets them keep away from the hazard themselves.
Should you use your mind and have interaction together with your character construct, you may at all times be capable to discover a strategy 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 give attention to the RPG parts at the start. The gunplay is not an afterthought, however it is not often something to jot down residence 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 crack photographs 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 deliver them in-line with the roster of recent devices and weapons.
A wacky array of weaponry
There are typical weapons, laser rifles and explosive launchers in The Outer Worlds 2, and many them. However gamers are actually going to need to seek out the particular science weapons which have distinctive firing modes and results.
Some science weapons are coming back from the primary sport with buffs that make them much more viable, akin to the Shrink Ray, which now 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 that you would be able to 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 vitality and a sword that does extra injury while you strike enemies to its beat.
Science armors are making their debut as properly. 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 digital camera 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 Sequence X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
