Obsidian Entertainment released a new trailer for The Outer Worlds 2 during The Game Awards, reminding us that the studio is actually releasing two big RPGs next year (the other being Avowed). Why are you doing this, Obsidian? I only have so many hours in the year to play big choice-driven story-focused RPGs.
The trailer reiterated that The Outer Worlds 2, much like its predecessor, focuses on player choice, allowing you a ton of agency in terms of how you approach individual problems and in how you determine which elements of the story you pursue.
“As a daring, undeniably good-looking, and questionably competent Earth Directorate agent, you’re tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the entire galaxy,” says an Obsidian Entertainment blog post. “The choice of how to deal with the rifts is up to you. ‘Your worlds, your way,’ as we say at Obsidian.”
The blog post goes on to mention that The Outer Worlds 2 will also feature “a factional war between the ‘benevolent rulers’ known as the Protectorate, a rebellious scientific religious order, and a corporate mega power.” Each side is fighting for their own reasons, which you can influence with the choices you make throughout the story. If the game handles these choices anything like the first game, then it will be possible to engage in only one or two of these factions and completely ignore the others. Only time will tell!
The Outer Worlds 2 will launch for Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2025.