The Outer Worlds 2 Launches at $80, Joining a New Trend in Gaming

CNET

2 days ago

The Outer Worlds 2, from developer Obsidian Entertainment, is the follow-up to its 2019 sci-fi action RPG that felt like a slightly shallower version of Fallout 4, but in space. There are a few differences between the two games, but one very glaring discrepancy is the price.
When The Outer Worlds 2 launches on Oct. 29, it will carry a price tag of $80 for both the PC and Xbox versions -- a $20 increase from the original game's $60 launch price in 2019. It's the second major title confirmed at this higher price, following Mario Kart World for the Switch 2.
Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about the price of The Outer Worlds 2.
Back in May, Microsoft announced it was raising prices for its Xbox Series consoles and accessories. While the Xbox Series console price increase can be clearly attributed to tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump back in April -- since the system is primarily manufactured in China -- pricing for digital products isn't affected by those tariffs. Also, in the case of Mario Kart World, the game is available on a physical cartridge, which can have an increased cost due to the expense that comes with physical storage.
In that same announcement, the company said it was also going to increase the price of its first-party games.
"We understand that these changes are challenging, and they were made with careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development," Microsoft said in its announcement about the price increases. "Looking ahead, we continue to focus on offering more ways to play more games across any screen and ensuring value for Xbox players."
Developing a AAA game like The Outer Worlds can be expensive. The first Outer Worlds was speculated to cost between $30 million and $40 million and was noted for having a constrained budget, as team members mentioned in the documentary about the making of the game. In just a matter of a few years, developing the same game can cost double that amount.
As the price of labor increases and the time for development continues to lengthen, the cost of making games will continue to rise. Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 reportedly has a budget of more than $1 billion, partly due to the game being in development for five to seven years. Due to that huge budget, some experts warn not to be surprised if GTA 6 costs $100.
Fortunately, The Outer Worlds 2 will be available on Xbox Game Pass at launch, and Microsoft has given no indication that it plans to increase subscription prices anytime soon.