Over the weekend, I found myself utterly captivated by Microsoft’s “Not-E3” presentation, where they unveiled an abundance of exciting news about upcoming Xbox games, their new handheld hardware, the Xbox Ally, and much more. The pièce de résistance, in my opinion, was a comprehensive look into The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian Entertainment, which offered a wealth of insights into what players can anticipate from the RPG sequel. However, the $80 price tag announced for The Outer Worlds 2 has sparked quite a bit of debate among fans.
As a fervent gaming enthusiast, I must admit that the news about the price isn’t shocking to me, considering Nintendo paved the way with Mario Kart: World and Microsoft’s recent decision to raise Xbox prices in response to economic challenges. However, it’s undeniably an unpleasant development, hinting at a new normal for $80 game releases. This trend doesn’t sit well with me either, especially when it comes to The Outer Worlds 2, as expressed by its director, Brandon Adler.
In an exclusive chat during this summer’s Game Fest (a big thank you to GamesRadar+ for the opportunity), I was inquired about the game’s price point. To clarify, it’s not a decision I make at Obsidian, but let me tell you, I genuinely wish that everyone could experience the RPG masterpiece I’ve poured my heart and soul into crafting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ_PNu2c87A
As a game creator, we take great joy in crafting engaging experiences. However, it’s important to clarify that we don’t decide the prices for our games. On a personal note, as a developer, I yearn for everyone to enjoy my creations, as that’s the essence of why I do what I do.
In the end, Microsoft opted to set The Outer Worlds 2 at a price of $80, yet Adler mentioned that only they can explain the reasoning behind it: “However, to understand why the game costs $79.99, you’d really need to discuss it with the Xbox team.
Adler declined discussing his personal opinions on the topic, but it appears he yearns for a lower price point on The Outer Worlds 2. Given the challenges of escalating production costs, inflation, and economic instability due to geopolitical events within the industry, however, the game’s price might have been an unfortunate necessity.
In a similar vein, The Outer Worlds 2 isn’t blazing a new trail in this regard, but it is the initial title from Microsoft that’s venturing down this path. Similarly, Mario Kart World and potentially Gearbox’s future Borderlands 4 are priced at $80 as well. Adler’s reaction to this, however, stands leagues ahead of Randy Pitchford suggesting that if you’re a “true fan,” you’ll manage to cough up $80.
It’s worth mentioning that you can bypass the $80 entry-barrier completely by opting for Obsidian’s sequel through Microsoft’s $20 per month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate service. This service grants access to a vast library of games, including new first-party Xbox titles on their release day. It’s intriguing to speculate whether the intention behind pricing The Outer Worlds 2 was to foster Game Pass subscriptions; if it was, I believe the strategy will prove successful.
Exciting news! Obsidian’s third game of this year, titled Grounded 2, is set to debut in Early Access for $29.99. Notably, it will also be accessible via Xbox Game Pass. The sequel to the innovative 2020 survival game is slated for release on July 29. Players can look forward to a variety of fresh gear and mutations, rideable “buggy” creatures, and an expansive new park map that surpasses the original game’s Backyard zone in size.
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2025-06-12 21:39