Outer Worlds 2 Gets Permanent Price Cut Months Before Launch

The Outer Worlds 2 will not cost $80 after all, as Obsidian Entertainment has announced a permanent price cut. The game was already breaking new ground by being the first Microsoft property to reflect the emerging $80 standard set by Mario Kart World, but things have suddenly shifted. Now, The Outer Worlds 2 will be notable for permanently reducing its price several months before it's even out.

Game pricing has been a contentious issue lately. Uncertainty and controversy have surrounded titles like Borderlands 4 and Grand Theft Auto 6 as companies hope to recoup rising development costs, but gamers call for affordability and criticize corporate greed. Obsidian found itself in the middle of this contention when it revealed The Outer Worlds 2 would launch at $79.99 after the Xbox Games Showcase, and it seems to have taken the feedback seriously.

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By J. Scott Thurlow

On July 23, Obsidian posted across its socials to announce that The Outer Worlds 2 will now cost $69.99. The new price is more in line with what gamers have come to expect from AAA titles over the past few years and may signify a willingness on Microsoft's end to make some concessions with the studios making its games. Director Brandon Adler had previously clarified that Obsidian didn't control The Outer Worlds 2's $80 price tag, as Xbox has the ultimate authority on the matter. The announcement's language also makes it sound like the cut has come from discussions between the two companies, potentially suggesting Obsidian has argued on behalf of the players for a lower price.

The Outer Worlds 2 Drops Its Price to $70 Ahead of October Release

Dear Galactic Citizens! We have received your SOS via skip drone about the pricing. As an organization devoted to making sure that corporations do not go unfettered, we at the Earth Directorate have worked with [REDACTED] to revise the price of The Outer Worlds 2. — Obsidian (@obsidian.net) 2025-07-23T14:02:33.084Z

Technically, there was already a way for fans to play the game without paying the full $80. An earlier announcement confirmed that The Outer Worlds 2 would be a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass, but now gamers won't need an Ultimate subscription to get it slightly cheaper. Anyone who pre-ordered the game at its previous price should be able to claim a $10 refund, too, given the change. Alternatively, people can always refund the pre-order entirely and order it again at the new price.

This does not necessarily mean all Microsoft-published games will cost $70 or less from here on out. In May, Xbox announced first-party AAA games would cost $80 starting in the 2025 holiday season. Dialing things back for The Outer Worlds 2 may mean the company is willing to push back price increases for other titles, too, but the broader trend suggests the new $80 standard will arrive eventually. For now, though, Outer Worlds fans can rest knowing that at least this game will still be $70.

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