5 reasons why The Outer Worlds 2 looks like the Fallout: New Vegas sequel we never got

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2010’s Fallout: New Vegas by Obsidian Entertainment, often hailed as one of the greatest role-playing games ever created in video gaming, has proven its worth over time, even with its outdated graphics and infamous technical issues. Remarkably, it continues to be a remarkable game that many Fallout enthusiasts revisit frequently. This is because numerous fans found Bethesda’s Fallout 4 and Fallout 76 disappointing as they seemingly deviated from the franchise’s traditional RPG foundation.

A game similar in style to classic Fallout, particularly regarded as a spiritual successor to New Vegas, is The Outer Worlds by Obsidian, released in 2019. While the sci-fi RPG received positive reviews and offered a taste of something akin to New Vegas for fans, many found it lacking in the intricate roleplaying elements and subtle storytelling that made their Fallout title stand out. Personally, I’ve revisited it fewer times than I have with New Vegas due to this reason.

As an analyst, I recently had the privilege of gaining a comprehensive sneak peek into Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming sequel to The Outer Worlds – The Outer Worlds 2 – during the Xbox Games Showcase. What I saw left me feeling assured that this second installment in the series will significantly surpass its predecessor. In fact, it appears as though we are finally getting the Fallout: New Vegas sequel we‘ve longed for, and here are five key aspects that lead me to this conclusion, which I’ll delve into further below.

It’s got New Vegas-style character building

As an analyst reflecting on Fallout: New Vegas, I find that, although its character customization features may seem outdated compared to contemporary RPGs, the impact they have on gameplay is remarkable and even exceeds many modern games in this regard. The S.P.E.C.I.A.L. stats defined my character’s inherent strengths and weaknesses in a broad sense, with skills further honing my abilities and perks granting unique bonuses or capabilities.

There were also traits, which I describe as idiosyncrasies that provided me with distinct advantages at the expense of certain penalties. For instance, Trigger Discipline, a trait I often choose during repeated playthroughs, boosted my weapon accuracy by 20%, but simultaneously reduced their rate of fire by 20%.

In contrast to the original The Outer Worlds, its follow-up draws more inspiration from Obsidian’s classic RPG style. It features a nearly identical perk system, offering many more options, and introduces a background selection for your character at the outset, which not only positions them within the game world but also opens up unique gameplay possibilities.

In The Outer Worlds 2, it seems that flaws will be the main attraction, or rather, the central feature. These flaws, which were present in the original game but served as a means to earn additional perk points, have been transformed into something more akin to New Vegas traits. Obsidian Entertainment has truly showcased their creativity in designing both the beneficial and detrimental effects these flaws will have on the gameplay.

One amusing quirk known as “Bad Knees” grants a permanent speed boost, but your knees crack loudly whenever you rise from a crouched stance, significantly compromising stealth. The other one is called “Foot-in-Mouth,” which provides a flat +15% experience bonus throughout the game, yet compels you to select dialogue options swiftly; otherwise, a random option will be automatically chosen for you. These types of characteristics appear to be an advancement of the traits from the original Fallout games, and I’m eager to experiment with them!

Player freedom and agency are at its core

One standout feature of New Vegas was its flexibility, allowing players to explore the narrative, quests, and game world in whichever manner they preferred. With numerous possibilities for resolutions and outcomes, the game offered a multitude of paths for every aspect. Incredibly, it was possible to complete the entire adventure by engaging in something extraordinarily radical, such as eliminating every character you encountered, and the game’s design accommodated this – an uncommon trait in today’s RPGs, where main characters often possess immortality.

In The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian aims to broaden the range of choices and possibilities for players, enhancing the freedom in quests and encounters. They are striving to provide a multitude of solutions for each situation to cater to every character build and playstyle. Additionally, they are working on making your character’s abilities more significant by introducing additional options and delving deeper into their impact.

For example, similar to how an explosives specialist could apply explosive goo on a locked door and then blow it up as a means to enter, in most games, the usual methods of picking the lock or hacking a computer would be your choices for gaining access. However, you might also find yourself stealing a keycard from a guard using classic thief tactics, or perhaps you can charm your way inside with some smooth talking.

In the words of a developer at the The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, they emphasized, “As you craft your character according to your preferences, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our aim is to offer you the exact experience you desire from this game.

The story has factions woven deeply into it

In The Outer Worlds, the various factions were primarily confined to side missions, and while I admired their immense contribution to the game’s world-building, I sometimes yearned for a closer connection to the main storyline about the survivors on board the stranded colony ship Hope. However, with The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian is dedicated to creating a narrative where the sequel’s primary factions will have much more significant roles and will be intricately intertwined within the plot.

The fundamental theme revolves around a crucial predicament involving skip drives, reminiscent of Star Wars’ hyperdrives, which are tearing catastrophic rifts across the cosmos. Consequently, Earth Directorate authorities dispatch you, an agent, to Arcadia, the birthplace of these inventions.

As a tech-loving explorer, I swiftly realize that our world is caught in a three-cornered conflict:

1. The authoritarian Protectorate, who are behind the development of skip drives and demand personal liberties in exchange for advanced, fortified security measures.
2. Auntie’s Alliance, comprising Auntie Cleo and Spacer’s Choice from the initial game, who are aggressively seeking to overthrow the Protectorate to gain control.
3. The Order of Ascendancy, a selfless yet fervent group with a religious belief in science, striving to foresee the future to ultimately improve humanity.

Just like the NCR, Caesar’s Legion, and Mr. House in New Vegas, Obsidian promises that these factions will significantly shape and drive the storyline in a direct and interactive manner. This should result in a more unified and less fragmented narrative compared to The Outer Worlds’ original version.

Obsidian is making reactivity to your choices a priority

One significant factor that strengthened the narrative in New Vegas was the deep integration of its factions, but it wasn’t the sole reason. Another crucial element contributing to the game’s engaging writing and overall enjoyment during gameplay was its reactiveness – how various groups and NPCs responded dynamically to actions and decisions made throughout your gaming experience.

In New Vegas, both small choices during side missions and crucial story events could impact your reputation, earning you either Fame or Infamy among communities and companions. This reputation determined how these groups felt about you, ranging from admiration to disdain. Depending on your standing with a faction, unique dialogue options, quest opportunities, special perks, and more became accessible. In some instances, factions might even offer aid when they liked you immensely, or hunt you down if their dislike turned into open hostility.

There seems to be some ambiguity about whether The Outer Worlds 2 will follow a similar format or not, but what’s been made clear is that the world of Arcadia and its characters will be highly responsive to your decisions. Similar to Fallout games, it’ll feature a radio system, and tuning into a faction’s station will allow you to hear their reactions to your gameplay actions. Your companions in this game also react dynamically based on their backstory and values, and can be substantially influenced over the course of play.

It’s adding tons of wild new weapons

In the game New Vegas, as well as throughout the Fallout series, some of the most iconic weapons were the quirky and absurd ones that perfectly fit the game’s satirical and humorous tone. Ranging from a toy ray gun capable of summoning colossal laser strikes from space to a BB gun with crit damage surpassing that of a sniper rifle, electric devices that temporarily disable targets, and golden boxing gloves dealing minimal damage but knocking enemies senseless almost instantly, New Vegas is brimming with such whimsical weaponry. The same can be expected in The Outer Worlds 2.

As a researcher delving into the intriguing details of Obsidian’s upcoming sequel, I’ve been captivated by the unconventional arsenal on display. For instance, there’s a formidable weapon that ejects explosive growths akin to tumors, which interestingly enough can be consumed for health restoration. There’s also a rifle that escalates in power as you progress through the game, forming a bond with it over time. A comedic sidearm that dispatches corporate propaganda drones, momentarily diverting enemies, is another unique addition. Lastly, a distinctive sword amplifies its damage when swung rhythmically to the beat of the song it emits.

Here are some of the extraordinary weapons you’ll come across on Arcadia, and it’s fantastic that Obsidian is fully committed to such equipment. These weapons provided plenty of chances for creating distinctive and exceptional builds in New Vegas, and combined with the attributes, skills, and flaws you can choose during character creation and development, I have no doubt they will offer the same potential in The Outer Worlds 2.

The sequel to “The Outer Worlds,” titled “The Outer Worlds 2,” is set to debut on October 29, 2025, across multiple platforms including Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox PC), PS5, and Xbox Cloud Gaming. With its promising potential, this game could be one of the top Xbox games and PC games of the year. Notably, as a first-party Xbox production, it will be accessible on day one for subscribers of PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

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2025-06-18 00:40