Observing the explosions that disintegrate opposing soldiers and instructing my ally to eliminate a giant mechanical foe, I can’t help but notice how significantly improved The Outer Worlds 2 appears to be over its original version.
During my visit to Summer Game Fest 2025, I dropped by Xbox for some scheduled meetings. Following the viewing of this year’s Xbox Games Showcase, I was given the opportunity to try out numerous games and converse with the creators behind them. After spending half an hour playing The Outer Worlds 2 and talking to game director Brandon Adler, it’s evident that there are many appealing aspects, as the team is dedicated to addressing the feedback received for the initial game.
Initially, Adler served as a producer for Obsidian Entertainment, later ascending to the position of Game Director for The Outer Worlds 2. His enthusiasm for the project is palpable, frequently expressing his desire to rectify and enhance aspects that the team felt needed attention.
He expresses, “The first installment of The Outer Worlds serves as an excellent foundation, and I’m a huge fan of the IP. I adore everything about it, but at the same time, I found myself thinking, ‘There are areas where we could make enhancements that would be relatively straightforward for us.’
Prior to releasing the initial game, Adler had already prepared a list of potential points of criticism from both media and fans. This list encompassed aspects such as the confined areas of exploration, recurring load times, and combat mechanics.
“Lo and behold, when we did user research, every single one of those things came up,” he says.
I share similar sentiments about certain aspects of The Outer Worlds. As a compact, swiftly-moving role-playing game (RPG), it was quite enjoyable for me. However, it did present some issues. The gunfights seemed repetitive, with the combat hardly changing after a few hours of play. In contrast, this game has significantly enhanced the sensation of aiming and firing at an adversary, making the experience much more dynamic compared to before.
On the Xbox Series X developer’s kit, specifics about console graphics modes are currently being kept under wraps by the team. However, during the demo, Obsidian presented an intriguing setup that included builds focused on Combat, Dialogue, and Stealth. Initially, I opted for the combat-centric build, and it left me quite astonished with the noticeable improvement.
Certainly, the weapons in this game bear a resemblance to those seen in Insomniac’s Ratchet and Clank series. For instance, I particularly enjoy a quad-barreled ice-encrusted shotgun, while the slow, cumbersome machine gun, which seems to mimic a World War 2 anti-aircraft gun, has also caught my attention.
In response to criticisms about first-person shooting mechanics, Obsidian brought in specialized combat designers. Additionally, the team spent time analyzing what makes games like Bungie’s Destiny enjoyable to play and sought additional guidance from Halo Studios. This advice led to a list of suggestions provided by Halo Studios on how Obsidian could improve the shooting experience for players.
Amidst the gunfire encounters, it’s evident that various abilities come in handy and there are usually multiple ways to tackle a dilemma. However, my character lacked the technical expertise to fix a damaged door, but he managed to overpower it with his raw strength.
For those who enjoy stealthy maneuvers, there’s an abundance of crawl spaces and climbing spots at your disposal. Plus, you’ve got the ability to perform a double jump, making navigating platforms a breeze!
Following the theft of an experimental rift device, which I utilized for an escape from the facility, I promptly began a fresh demonstration using the Speech build.
During my temporary playthrough, I didn’t manage to catch every change, but I did spot some new dialogue choices emerging, along with certain options that remained unavailable since I hadn’t yet fulfilled the necessary conditions by uncovering the true circumstances of the situation.
1. As I stepped out at the conclusion of the demo, unfortunately missing out on the open world sections, Adler is optimistic that these expansive areas will offer a more rewarding exploration experience.
2. A notable area for enhancement? Minimizing loading screens. Although you’ll encounter a significant load when starting a save file, you won’t have to deal with loading screens every time you enter a building. This should make general wandering and moving in and out of various places feel more seamless.
3. While it’s tough to assess many aspects of an RPG after only 30 minutes of play, the noticeable improvement in gunplay has definitely caught my attention. Addressing this major concern was my primary worry beforehand. Now that this issue is resolved, I can’t wait for Obsidian’s next major release.
The release date for The Outer Worlds 2 has been set for October 29, 2025. This game will be available on various platforms including Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, Windows PC (Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox PC), and PlayStation 5. As with other Xbox first-party games, the standard edition will be accessible immediately on launch day for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers and PC Game Pass as well.
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2025-06-16 16:39