Xbox Games Showcase: The Outer Worlds 2 Is Taking Cues From Fallout: New Vegas

CNET

4 hours ago

Obsidian Entertainment's particular flavor of sci-fi corporate dystopia returns in The Outer Worlds 2, and we got an in-depth look at its latest first-person shooter RPG during a special feature segment at the end of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025.
The Outer Worlds 2 is a much bigger game than its predecessor, even though it's limited to only one planet (the first Outer Worlds had two planets and a handful of smaller asteroid and space station locations). Obsidian is redoubling its commitment to a prestige RPG experience and borrowing the best parts of its signature hit game, Fallout: New Vegas, to do so.
Outer Worlds 2's planet Arcadia is a dangerous place, with landscapes and propaganda inspired by World War I-era battlefields. It'll take all of your wits (and a proper build and loadout) to survive as you step into a war between megacorporate giants on the frontier world.
Here's what you have to look forward to when The Outer Worlds 2 comes out on Oct. 29.
Players will be able to augment their build in ways that completely change how they approach quests throughout the game.
Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNET
Classic Obsidian RPG elements are returning in a big way
The Outer Worlds encourages players to put skill points into certain forms of combat and skills, but the sequel is leaning hard into specializing your character build.
This time around, your character is an agent for the Earth Directorate, who's stepping into the middle of a war on Arcadia as the de facto "good guy." But there are three big choices you make when creating your character that will completely change the way you play the game.
Even though you're a law enforcer, you get to choose your character's background, which will change some of your approaches to problem-solving throughout the game. You can be a by-the-books officer, a bad cop or a lazy louse a la Disco Elysium.
You'll also get a chance to choose positive and negative traits that will change your dialogue options and give you passive buffs and debuffs that affect your build.
Finally, you assign your skill points. The skill tree in The Outer Worlds 2 has been condensed down into fewer options from the first game, but each skill point you spend is more impactful. This is a system that Obsidian Entertainment has completely "borrowed" from Fallout: New Vegas, so it will be very familiar for fans of that particular ARPG.
Your buildcrafting doesn't end when you leave the character creation screen. Some of the wackiest skills in the game are character flaws that get offered to you based on your gameplay style. If you're crouching around often, you'll get a permanent movement speed buff, but your bad knees will crack when you stand back up, alerting nearby enemies. If you can't help but steal from vendors, you'll get bonus cash when you fence your items, but your character will occasionally automatically loot whatever item you hover over.
These flaws might make you develop cataracts, gain debuffs for firing off an entire magazine without reloading and more, and they're just one example of how your build and roleplaying experience will evolve throughout the game.
One of the friendly faces you meet is a victim of experimentation with animal limbs. Godrick the Grafted sends his regards.
Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNET
New planet, pals and corporate propaganda
While the original Outer Worlds game took place across several confined vignettes in the Halcyon star system, Outer Worlds 2 focuses on a single planet embroiled in a three-way conflict between the authoritarian Protectorate, the altruistic Order and the ruthless Auntie Cleo's corporation.
While Auntie Cleo's has a firm grasp on Arcadia, dangerous fractures in space called the warp are threatening the corporation's bottom line. All three factions want to solve the warp for their own selfish reasons, but they won't work together to do so. Instead, they're vying for the player's support in order to win the power struggle.
You won't just be dealing with faceless factions as you gallivant across Arcadia. Six new companions are scattered throughout the world, each outfitted with special gear, skills and character questlines.
One of my favorite parts of the showcase was the Judge Dredd-like companion Tristan. Players can encourage his extrajudicial brand of justice or curb his murder-y machinations.
It might be worth it to find an alternative way across the bridge just to avoid dealing with these guys.
Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNET
Different approaches to solving problems
If you aren't looking to shoot your way out of every situation, you won't have to. Obsidian is committed to allowing you to shoot, stealth and talk your way out of problems throughout the game. And in certain scenarios, you may even figure out more unorthodox ways to complete the task at hand.
The Outer Worlds showcase used an example from early in the game, where players will have to cross a bridge under the Protectorate's jurisdiction. They have a raptor problem, and no one is allowed to pass by until it's dealt with. The most straightforward way to gain access to the bridge is to help the soldiers wipe out the raptors, but there are clever (and unethical) solutions as well.
Players can just as easily find hoverboots to fly over the chasm, circumventing the need for the bridge entirely. The most evil and self-serving players can toss their new companion down to the raptors and let them get torn to shreds, creating a distraction that lets them avoid the danger themselves.
If you use your brain and engage with your character build, you'll always be able to find a way to progress. It's another key takeaway from the Fallout: New Vegas design philosophy.
Guns have a bit more character to them this time around, with special reload animations and tuned-up sound design.
Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNET
First-person shooting isn't taking a backseat
Obsidian games generally focus on the RPG elements first and foremost. The gunplay isn't an afterthought, but it isn't usually anything to write home about. In The Outer Worlds 2, guns are getting mechanical and vibes-based upgrades that will help the moment-to-moment gameplay feel a lot more responsive and exciting.
Aiming down sights is now a smoother experience, allowing players to more reliably take crack shots at enemies down range. And new animations for weapon swapping, reloading and other gun interactions will help improve arsenal management.
Weapon recoil has been mitigated to make more guns feel like satisfying bullet hoses, and the sound design has been retuned so that more weapons sound crunchy and impactful.
There are also far more weapons to choose from in The Outer Worlds 2, including the introduction of throwables like frag grenades and noisemakers to help flush enemies out of cover.
Returning science weapons are getting buffs to bring them in-line with the roster of new gadgets and guns.
Obsidian Entertainment/Screenshot by CNET
A wacky array of weaponry
There are conventional weapons, laser rifles and explosive launchers in The Outer Worlds 2, and lots of them. But players are really going to want to hunt down the special science weapons that have unique firing modes and effects.
Some science weapons are returning from the first game with buffs that make them even more viable, such as the Shrink Ray, which no longer wears off on enemies (and you can walk over and squish them like bugs this time around).
Other science weapons are totally new treats that you can add to your arsenal. There is a tumor gun that fires exploding pustules, a gun that shoots arms that latch onto and maul enemies, a legally distinct BFG that shreds foes with warp energy and a sword that does more damage when you strike enemies to its beat.
Science armors are making their debut as well. We saw one nasty fleshy bodysuit in the showcase, which will lash out at nearby enemies in the midst of combat. The Outer Worlds 2's new third-person camera mode will let you see these armor pieces in all their glory for the first time ever.
The Outer Worlds 2 will be released on Oct. 29 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.