Obsidian Entertainment today debuted the special The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, revealing a planet-sized presentation filled with gameplay, including new details about the 2025 sequel.
The 30-minute showcase jokes to players about how Obsidian is built on the basis that the original 2019 Space Adventure RPG has tweaked to existing mechanics and completely new gameplay features. It was also hosted by comedian and voice actor Ben Schwartz of Sonic’s hedgehog film. Ben Schwartz kept Outer World 2 directly, directly with plenty of skits between Nittigritique details.
From quirky new flaws and planets to fresh perspectives on player choice, we’ve gathered all the highlights from today’s The Outer Worlds 2 and shared them below. Also, as announced at the 2025 Xbox Games Showcase, The Outer Worlds 2 will have a release date of October 29th, 2025. Everything announced at that show here.
Explore space as Earth Director
The player will be dropped into Earth World 2 as the Earth Director. Obsidian describes these do-gooders as “space cowboys or space sky marshalls” or “good guys who go to places and fix everything that’s wrong.” However, how you build your characters and experiences from here is up to you.
Filling out the character’s story means choosing things like backgrounds and traits, the latter setting the basis for how you approach gameplay throughout the story. If that’s about you, you’re wonderful, heroic, innovative and fortunate.
This time, there are also perks that are deeply inspired by the sophisticated skills and the New Vegas system used in Fallout. One example of perks shown between them directly is assassins. This is the ability to grant exercise bonuses after stealth skills.
More guns, more choices
Outer World 2 is about the expansion of Universe Obsidian, created in 2019, which means introducing significant improvements to the full gameplay. Here there are more guns with more unique animations, many of which are shown in person between them.
It’s all very borderlands, as some weapons have unique features. The rookie rewards are a great example of what you’ll find in store as this firearm slowly levels up as it is used throughout the game, celebrating each new level with confetti and fireworks shows. There’s also a pop-up gun. Pop-up guns deflect enemies with pop-up ads projected by nasty drones. Another highlight is the sword that hits the music, rewarding players who slam their enemies into the beat of the song.
Much of this creativity has been passed down to new, throwable tools. For example, a hand rena bullet can cause a simple explosion, and players can use a science hand rena bullet that hangs enemies with zero gravity technology.
As for movement, Obsidian says it has revamped its approach to exploration. It means freedom to run, jump, slide and parkour around Arcadia as you find valuable booty. Also, you can take advantage of both first person and three-person perspectives after the options were missing from the original game.
The flaws are back, better (and worse) than ever
One of the beloved elements of the original The Outer Worlds was a flaw. This is a feature that gives players the option to assume negative attributes in exchange for other perks. We were able to see four flaws as part of today’s presentation. Knee, Kleptomaniac, Songaiser, overprepared.
Poor knees can give players a bad knee and move faster in exchange for pop (and warning enemies) when leaving their crouch position. Kleptomaniac grants higher selling value for stolen items and sometimes forces players to nick some items against their will, while Sungazer causes permanent vision damage in exchange for increased daytime healing passives and weapon spread. Overplaying is a flaw in the type of player that you’re always reloading carefully, increasing the size of the magazine with a penalty if the clip organically runs out of ammunition.
Factions and friends
No one will be surprised, but Outer World 2 is home to military forces of major factions and individuals to help and stop your journey. For example, guardians are described as authoritarian groups in the isolated colonies of Arcadia.
“Their dictatorship is based thematically on the question of how much freedom people give up for security and luxury,” explains Obsidian. “Unfortunately, for parent subjects, the answer is ‘everything.’ ”
There is also an ascendant order. This is a derivative of scientific research orders from the original outside world that have past connections with protectors. These major factions, etc., are designed to be closely related to the story and themes of Outer World 2. Additionally, players can expect to hear fallout. It is a new Vegas-esque radio system featuring each major faction station, each featuring 20 original songs.
The faction has been fleshed out and improved for Outer World 2, and Obsidian says that his six-person ally has received the same treatment. Niles, the Earth Director, who can shape the story through player action, is the first companion you will meet. Today’s director introduced the “somewhat cute” autoc drone in support of Niles named Val and Tristan, a combat medic who survived an experiment named Marisol and Mathematician named Kartoristoza, and Tristan, a heavy armored reserve arbiter who survived the experiment named Inez.
bridge
Obsidians wants players to know that they have options when it comes to how to experience Outer World 2, and the best example of a player’s choice is an early mission called Bridge. It’s all about finding a way to lower the bridge, and players can convince their guardians to lower the bridge itself, and take easier options like sneaking into the control room or riding a gun.
However, Obsidian takes the option a step further, offering players the option to avoid dangerous areas with shields that protect them from poison gas, or use jump boots that offer more traversal options. You can also sacrifice your allies to gain bridge clearance. This is like the freedom that teams say players can expect from the outer world 2.
As today’s Direct approaches its conclusion, Obsidian shared his thoughts on the sequel, saying, “Outer World 2 is truly the biggest game I’ve ever made.” As we approach the newly announced release date, it’s easy to see why. You can read more about Outer World 2 Announcement of October Release Date. Also, please see more information about its pricing. It has been confirmed to be $80and also talks with Obsidian’s Marcus Morgan on Passthecontroller Live.
Michael Cripe is a freelance contributor to Passthecontroller. He is best known for his work on sites such as Pitch, Fugitive, Only sp. Be sure to provide him with followers on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@mikecripe).
