Obsidian Entertainment’s explicit taste of sci-fi company dystopia returns in The Outer Worlds 2, and we bought an in-depth have a look at its newest first-person shooter RPG throughout a particular function phase on the finish of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025.The Outer Worlds 2 is a a lot larger sport than its predecessor, despite the fact that 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 the very best elements 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 War I-era battlefields. It’ll take your whole wits (and a correct construct and loadout) to outlive as you step right into a battle between megacorporate giants on the frontier world.Here’s what you need to look ahead to when The Outer Worlds 2 comes out on Oct. 29. Players will have the ability to increase their construct in ways in which utterly change how they strategy quests all through the sport. Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNETClassic Obsidian RPG components are returning in a giant mannerThe Outer Worlds encourages gamers to place ability factors into sure types of fight and abilities, however the sequel is leaning arduous 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 battle on Arcadia because the de facto “good guy.” But there are three huge decisions you make when creating your character that may utterly change the best way you play the sport.Even although you are a legislation enforcer, you get to decide on your character’s background, which is able to change a few of your approaches to problem-solving all through the sport. You generally is a by-the-books officer, a foul cop or a lazy louse a la Disco Elysium.You’ll additionally get an opportunity to decide on optimistic and adverse traits that may change your dialogue choices and offer you passive buffs and debuffs that have an effect on your construct.Finally, 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 is a system that Obsidian Entertainment has utterly “borrowed” from Fallout: New Vegas, so will probably be very acquainted for followers of that specific ARPG.Your buildcrafting would not finish once you go away the character creation display screen. Some of the wackiest abilities within the sport are character flaws that get provided to you primarily based in your gameplay fashion. If you are crouching round typically, you may get a everlasting motion velocity buff, however your unhealthy knees will crack once you stand again up, alerting close by enemies. If you’ll be able to’t assist however steal from distributors, you may get bonus money once you fence your gadgets, however your character will sometimes robotically loot no matter merchandise you hover over.These flaws would possibly make you develop cataracts, achieve debuffs for firing off a complete 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 the pleasant faces you meet is a sufferer of experimentation with animal limbs. Godrick the Grafted sends his regards. Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNETNew planet, friends and company propagandaWhile 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.While Auntie Cleo’s has a agency grasp on Arcadia, harmful fractures in house known 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. Instead, they’re vying for the participant’s help to be able to win the ability battle.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, abilities and character questlines.One of my favourite elements of the showcase was the Judge Dredd-like companion Tristan. Players can encourage his extrajudicial model of justice or curb his murder-y machinations. It is likely to be value it to search out another manner throughout the bridge simply to keep away from coping with these guys. Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNETDifferent approaches to fixing issuesIf you are not seeking to shoot your manner out of each scenario, you will not must. Obsidian is dedicated to permitting you to shoot, stealth and discuss your manner out of issues all through the sport. And in sure eventualities, chances are you’ll even determine extra unorthodox methods to finish the duty at hand.The Outer Worlds showcase used an instance from early within the sport, the place gamers should cross a bridge underneath the Protectorate’s jurisdiction. They have a raptor drawback, and nobody is allowed to move by till it is handled. The most easy approach to achieve entry to the bridge is to assist the troopers wipe out the raptors, however there are intelligent (and unethical) options as effectively.Players can simply as simply discover hoverboots to fly over the chasm, circumventing the necessity for the bridge completely. 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.If you utilize your mind and interact along with your character construct, you may all the time have the ability to discover a approach to progress. It’s one other key takeaway from the Fallout: New Vegas design philosophy. Guns have a bit extra character to them this time round, with particular reload animations and tuned-up sound design. Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNETFirst-person capturing is not taking a backseatObsidian video games usually give attention to the RPG components initially. The gunplay is not an afterthought, nevertheless it is not often something to write down residence about. In The Outer Worlds 2, weapons are getting mechanical and vibes-based upgrades that may 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 much 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 convey them in-line with the roster of recent devices and weapons. Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNETA wacky array of weaponryThere are typical weapons, laser rifles and explosive launchers in The Outer Worlds 2, and plenty of them. But 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, comparable to the Shrink Ray, which not wears off on enemies (and you may stroll over and squish them like bugs this time round).Other science weapons are completely new treats that you would be able to add to your arsenal. There is 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 once you strike enemies to its beat.Science armors are making their debut as effectively. We noticed one nasty fleshy bodysuit within the showcase, which is able to 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 will likely be launched on Oct. 29 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
More