Microsoft hosted quite a substantial showcase for The Outer Worlds 2 last night. Not only does the game now have a release date for October, but the game is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC at the same time. It will cost $79.99, marking the first $80 from Microsoft.
The Outer Worlds 2 showcase was filled with new gameplay details and announcements. Not only did we get to see some gameplay, but developer Obsidian shared exactly what players will do and how the overarching story in the game takes place.
In The Outer Worlds 2, players assume the role of an Earth Directorate. The studio says these people are the planet’s good guys and are best described as “space cowboys or space sky marshals”. They are known as the people you call in when you need something fixed.
But of course, in typical Outer Worlds fashion, you can shape your character to whatever personality and life choice you want. Players start off the game picking a foundation that will essentially determine how you play through The Outer Worlds 2. Some of these decisions include “Brilliant, Heroic, Innovative, Lucky, or Dumb.”
Background and Traits determine how players approach dialogue and decisions, whereas skills and perks create the unique gameplay mechanics you’ll use during the everyday. Obsidian says The Outer Worlds 2 includes new skills and perks that give players even more variety and choice when it comes to gameplay. Assassin, for example, was one shown during the video. It provides a movement boost after a silent kill.
Obsidian is also bringing back the “Flaws” system. This negative system lets players choose a “bad perk” in exchange for other perks. So you’ll be able to benefit from some buffs while the negative perk comes with its own permanent gameplay tweak.
Bad Knees, for example, gives players a buff in sneaking around, allowing them to move faster when crouched. However, when they stand up, their knees will pop and make a loud noise, alerting enemies to their position.
Overprepared is also a new Flaw. This perk gives players increased magazine sizes in weapons but comes with the negative mechanic of weapons slowly running out of ammo even when you’re not shooting.
The Outer Worlds 2 is also expanding its weapon system with more guns and more choices. If anything, the game is kind of giving me Borderlands vibes. Unique perks on weapons are only the start of the experience as weapons also seem to have some fun mechanic behind them too.
A Pop-Up Gun, for example, lets players shoot out a pop-up ad that is projected by a drone that flies around. This ad distracts enemies while players either sneak by or use other weapons to take them down.
There’s also a musical sword that plays a tune while you’re in combat. If you melee attack enemies to the beat of the song, you’ll end up dealing more damage. The Outer Worlds 2 has no doubt gone for more creativity when it comes to the weapons and combat.
These perks, of course, tie into the game’s new movement system which has also been completely revamped. Players will now be able to move around faster than before. Parkour move sets also go a long way to enhance exploration and combat. Sliding, climbing, running, and jumping can be tied together to get around in and out of combat.
The Outer Worlds 2 will have six companions that accompany the player throughout the game. The first is Niles, an Earth Directorate who doesn’t have much of a backstory but whose personality can be shaped by the player throughout the game. There’s also Aza, a combat medic, an assassin named Inez, Val, an automech drone, and Tristan, an armoured soldier.
If anything, The Outer Worlds 2 seems to be playing into the original game’s fantastic mechanics while at the same time implementing some rather weird and wonderful new systems that will enhance everything else.
The original game kind of became “samey” after a while, and even the combat didn’t go anywhere. Apart from the story, it didn’t really offer anything incredible. It seems these new systems, such as the crazy weapon perks, flaws, and new skills and perks, will be exactly what we needed.
The Outer Worlds 2 is scheduled to launch on 29 October for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
