Obsidian’s eagerly awaited sequel, The Outer Worlds 2, is set to expand its combat and gameplay, while staying true to its RPG roots. 
In a recent IGN Live appearance, Marcus Morgan, Obsidian’s VP of Operations, shared exciting details about the upcoming release, slated for October 29, 2025.
According to Morgan, the team is focused on deepening the RPG experience. “Obsidian is known for RPGs, and we want to continue evolving with Outer Worlds,” he said. Morgan emphasized that, while some may label the game as part RPG, part FPS, he firmly believes that it should be regarded solely as an RPG.
Feedback from fans highlighted a desire for more evolved gunplay and combat, and Obsidian is responding with plenty of new weapons. One of these, the goo pistol, uses a biomass canister that you load into the gun and then discard the canister after firing. “It’s one of my favorite weapons,” Morgan joked, adding that while he doesn’t condone littering in real life, this particular weapon is undeniably fun.
For fans of science fiction weaponry, Morgan teased a melee weapon that amplifies damage when used in time with a rhythm. The team hopes these new features will enhance the experience, all while preserving the core RPG elements.
The new setting for the sequel will be the Arcadia colony, along with a fresh cast of characters. For those who missed the first game, Morgan assures that they won’t be lost in the new story. The Earth Directorate, the organization players will be part of, is described as the “space rangers” of the universe. They are dedicated to protecting against capitalism, authoritarianism, and extreme religious factions.
Another intriguing addition is the Flaws system. Morgan explained that this system adds humor to the traditional level-up process. For example, a flaw called “The Sungazer Flaw” lets you regain health by staring at the sun, but it blurs the world around you. There’s also a flaw for players who never run out of ammo – but if you do run out, there’s a temporary penalty.
In keeping with the first game’s dark humor, players who choose the Psychopath Perk can still complete quests even after killing the quest giver. Alternatively, players can opt for a pacifist route, avoiding combat and using dialogue to progress through the game.
When asked about bugs, Morgan assured fans that the team is already in the bug-fixing phase, earlier than ever before in the development process.
Fans can also look forward to new planets, such as Cloister, an ice world home to a supercomputer working on complex calculations. The supercomputer is powered by the religious fanatics who believe they can predict the future using math. The choice of an ice planet, Morgan explained, was an important narrative decision to match the story’s setting.
As for the game’s difficulty, Morgan mentioned that the team is leaning into fun options like the Dumb mode from the first game. The game will even suggest difficulty adjustments based on player behavior.
The Outer Worlds 2 will be available for $80 when it launches on October 29, 2025, marking Microsoft’s first game at that price point.