The Outer Worlds 2 is one of the many major releases scheduled for this year, as eager fans wait to see what's in store for the next chapter of Obsidian Entertainment's sci-fi adventure. The developer is set to have a strong year. Avowed kicked off 2025 back in February, and the impending arrival of The Outer Worlds 2 sets up Obsidian for a fun one-two punch in the RPG genre.
Right now, The Outer Worlds 2 has yet to lock in an official release date, but the wait for such an announcement might be over soon. On June 8, the Xbox Games Showcase will be followed by an in-depth look into what The Outer Worlds 2 has to offer. There is bound to be more gameplay footage and plot details, but there will also hopefully be a confirmed release date announced, too. As June 8 inches closer, a fresh look at The Outer Worlds 2 is exciting, but it also has a more difficult job to do than Avowed did at launch.
10 Sci-Fi RPGs to Play While Waiting for The Outer Worlds 2
With anticipation for The Outer Worlds 2, gamers can enjoy other sci-fi RPGs in preparation, including Deus Ex and the original The Outer Worlds.
Avowed's Newness Was a Big Benefit, But The Outer Worlds 2 Already Has Set Expectations to Meet
The Outer World's High Bar
Back in 2019, The Outer Worlds offered RPG and sci-fi fans a compelling and humor-filled world that truly felt unique. The game launched to strong reviews from both critics and players, and that makes the promise of another game far more challenging than the launch of Avowed. Avowed players didn't really have much else to draw from for comparison. Of course, there were other first-person fantasy RPGs to use for reference, but not from Obsidian. Avowed may be set in the Pillars of Eternity universe, but the former's new approach sets it so apart that it's difficult to compare the two.
The Outer Worlds was nominated for Game of the Year at the 2019 Game Awards.
Avowed was allowed to be a blank slate, but The Outer Worlds 2 has already set a standard that it, at the very least, has to meet. Even if it meets that standard, it still may not be enough. A lot of players expect sequels to be bigger and better across the board, for the most part, so The Outer Worlds 2 has to one-up itself, and that's no easy task.
What's even more daunting, though, is that The Outer Worlds 2 doesn't just have to bring more to the table in terms of gameplay. Being an RPG, it has to bring more to its world, and that's truly one of the biggest challenges. Crafting a new and unique world that stands on its own is an impressive feat, and the first chapter of The Outer Worlds succeeded. Taking that type of world-building to the next level is far from simple.
The Outer Worlds offered RPG and sci-fi fans a compelling and humor-filled world that truly felt unique.
In addition to the Xbox and PC, The Outer Worlds 2 will also be coming to the PS5.
After Starfield, The Outer Worlds 2 Can Hopefully Scratch the Sci-Fi RPG Itch
- The Outer Worlds 2's biggest competitor, Starfield, launched in 2023 to mixed reviews.
- Much of the criticism surrounding Starfield has centered around the world feeling far more empty than past Bethesda games.
After the first Outer Worlds, Starfield was set to be the next big space-faring RPG, but it's had a rock legacy, so far. For The Outer Worlds 2, bringing a life-filled world to players is of the upmost importance. Not only can a richer world one-up its predecessor, but it can further prove Obsidian is a major competitor within the RPG genre.
Now that June 8 is on the horizon, it's exciting to speculate on what The Outer Worlds 2's deep dive will entail. The Xbox Games Showcase is likely to hold plenty of intriguing announcements, and the confirmation of an official release date will hopefully be among them.
The Outer Worlds 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- October 29, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
