Across all of Xbox Game Studios' planned releases, The Outer Worlds 2 from Obsidian Entertainment has a strong chance of being one of the more ambitious titles on the horizon. After being acquired by Microsoft in 2018, the studio has shown that it is more than willing to deliver RPGs of AAA quality such as its first-person, Fallout-like The Outer Worlds. Gamers have spent many years diving deep into Obsidian's player-driven stories, but The Outer Worlds 2 is a sequel in an entirely original universe and can focus on unique character designs that add greater detail to its retrofuturistic setting.
The Outer Worlds, first released in 2019, was actually a project that predated the developer's buyout, but it did establish a colorful, dystopian slant of sci-fi that bucked the trend of popular fantasy settings in the genre. It's rare to see Obsidian Entertainment getting the chance to develop its own RPG series, as it is mostly known for creating sequels and spin-offs in other major franchises like Fallout and Star Wars. Now having another star system to play in, The Outer Worlds 2 promises new companions and quests from the first entry, which could be a departure that is reflected in its characters as well.
The Outer Worlds 2 Promises an Entirely New Cast of NPCs
At present, there are not many details on The Outer Worlds 2's new star system, although the previous game in the series suggested that other colonies may be faring differently from the corporate-owned Halcyon Colony. Additionally, it has been confirmed that players will have an entirely new crew to recruit aboard their ship. From the loyal Parvati to the high-strung preacher in Vicar Max, each companion was designed around different facets of Halcyon society. Depending on the premise Obsidian has planned, a variety of stories can be told to bring the sequel's worldbuilding to the forefront.
One type of character that was lacking in the original entry, and for good reason, was aliens. The Outer Worlds thus far has focused on purely human conflicts, only exploring mutated fauna that came as a result of faulty terraforming. The absence of a hyper-intelligent alien species does help in the sense that it doesn't distract from all the other variables that affect these colonies' survival. However, a future game could explore how people come to domesticate alien animals on these frontier worlds without removing the agency of humans in the story. Alien companions might fit into The Outer Worlds 2 as either beasts of burden or even guards trained to protect wandering spacers.
Obsidian Has the Chance to Differentiate The Outer Worlds 2 From Its Predecessor
Other than allies, Obsidian's new star system might hold some unique themes to contrast with the original's Western, Art Deco style. A more industrialized colony may have the opportunity to present heavily armored characters that appear less rustic than the settlers of Halcyon. The reveal trailer of The Outer Worlds 2 seems to hint at such character designs, with soldiers clad in metallic gear and glowing, circular insets. Nevertheless, the sequel will still have to retain recognizable elements of an alternate future dominated by pulp sci-fi technology.
Characters are some of the most important elements of an RPG, so fans are bound to be interested in how The Outer Worlds 2's encounters will carry out - whether it's in dialogue or combat. While players get to make decisions about their own characters, NPCs can be a reflection of the world and the diverse perspectives contained within. Obsidian Entertainment has a wide-open universe to work with if the first game is any indication, and that fictional sandbox could become even more grandiose if Xbox can support the team's ambitions throughout development.
The Outer Worlds 2 is in development.