The Outer Worlds 2is set to blast off later this Fall, on October 29. For the sequel, developer Obsidian Entertainment has taken a close look at what worked well in the 2019 original while also focusing on the areas that could useimprovement inThe Outer Worlds 2. The title’s general framework and genre bear some strong resemblances to Bethesda Game Studio’sStarfield, and it’s only natural that many have drawn this comparison ahead ofTOW2’s launch.
Bethesda and Obsidian have shared a close history and relationship, and both studios have also been under Microsoft’s banner for a couple of years now. Obsidian previously produced the popularFallout: New Vegasafter BGS took over the IP and releasedFallout 3,with a number of Obsidian developers having worked on the franchise before BGS’s acquisition, andNew Vegasoften topsFO3in fan discussions. Bethesda went on to releaseStarfieldin 2023, which saw and continues to have a somewhat muted reception. And with everything shown about and set up so far forThe Outer Worlds 2, it seems it could very well end up being the sci-fi RPG that many hopedStarfieldwould be but didn’t quite achieve.
The Outer Worlds 2will now cost $70 at launch, down from the original $80 price point.
The Outer Worlds 2 May End Up Outdoing Starfield at its Own RPG Game
Starfield Has Been Mostly Stuck on Cruise Control
After building its success and reputation withThe Elder Scrollsand laterFallout,Starfieldmarked a major move for Bethesda as a brand-new IP channeling the studio’s established vision and design practices. While it did go on to sell well (and was the #11 bestselling game in 2023), this wasn’t always reflected in the player scores and reactions to its experience. One general criticism was that some ofStarfield’s quests could feel underwhelming, and this description can be extended to the massive open-world, which was indeed impressively large, but could feel barren and undercooked at times.
Certainly,Starfieldhas gotten some good updates, but these were often few and far between. The lukewarm reception to its first and so far only major DLC, Shattered Space, also didn’t exactly help matters.Starfieldthus finds itself in a position where the uncertainty surrounding its long-term sustainability and Bethesda’s future plans for it currently puts it in an awkward place, and one thatThe Outer Worlds 2may step in to fill.
How The Outer Worlds 2 Might Nail the RPG Landing That Starfield Struggled With
Beyond the surface similarities between the two titles, Obsidian has long been known to hone in on player choice and freedom, with its worlds and NPCs reacting accordingly to various roleplaying styles and decisions. In an earlier deep dive, developers noted thatThe Outer Worlds 2will be taking heavyinspiration fromFallout: New Vegas, which is likely good news for many fans. Combined with the lessons it learned from the feedback on the first title,TOW2could be poised to deliver in many of the waysStarfieldhas so far been unable to.
The Outer Worlds 2won’t be as massive asStarfieldin terms of the sheer size of its open-world, but that may also be an advantage. And given its more character and story-driven focus along with the interesting choice that players won’t be able torespec inThe Outer Worlds 2, it already appears like it may check some boxes thatStarfieldleft blank. With this more curated philosophy,TOW2has great potential to provide a compelling and deep RPG experience in a similar setting toStarfield’s, but avoiding many of the missteps and “filler” content that the latter was criticized for.
Along with more extensive character options and committed roleplaying opportunities,The Outer Worlds 2’s companionswill also come into play significantly, somethingStarfieldwas hit or miss on. With all of these elements in place and still more yet to be revealed, there are a number of possible ways thatTOW2may show upStarfieldand satisfy fans who were disappointed in the latter while pleasing new and returning players at the same time.
