Latest news with #BrandonAdler
Forbes
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Obsidian Reiterates $80 ‘Outer Worlds 2' Price Is On Xbox, Not Them
The Outer Worlds 2 Obsidian Obsidian is having a big year of releases between this spring's Avowed and this summer's The Outer Worlds 2, in addition to the reveal of Grounded 2 on top of that. But while Obsidian works hard on all these games, the one thing they do not do is set the price, and that's an issue that's emerged in the wake of the reveal that The Outer Worlds 2 would be Xbox's first $80 game. Microsoft promised that $80 games were coming this year after Nintendo broke the dam with Mario Kart World. Sony does not seem to have hopped on board yet, Ghost of Yotei will be $70 this fall, but Microsoft is eager to get started. The Outer Worlds 2's director, Brandon Adler, had this to say about the pricing when asked about it at SGF: If this were say, Perfect Dark or something along those lines, I don't think we'd be having this same conversation. Rather, it's that this is an Obsidian game releasing at this price point. Not that these games are bad, but just that they're not exactly sprawling a lot of the time compared to their AAA compatriots. The Outer Worlds was released at the then-standard price of $60 back in 2019, and performed well enough to warrant this sequel. This year, Avowed cost $70, and sales of that were…nebulous. Microsoft did not exactly brag about that game's performance very much, be it on Game Pass or the sales front. But while being at the 'standard' price for AAA games has been the norm, this is a bit different as Microsoft has chosen this as a sacrificial lamb for the $80 price point. Well, perhaps that's too extreme. A crash-test dummy? Hm. Outer Worlds Obsidian The situation is more complicated here because of Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers don't care whether the price is $40, $60 or $80 because it will be included day one there regardless. Rather, the price exists for those outside the system, and is Microsoft wants to push more subs, it now can say simply 'three games a year cost exactly the same as a year of Game Pass Ultimate ($240)' when for the lower prices that wasn't the case. Of course, Game Pass prices are no doubt going to go up again at some point, too. Game pricing can be frustrating for developers as like Obsidian says, it's simply not up to them when they're not an independent entity. For a game like say, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, that team can set the price at $50 if they want to (even if that was easily worth $70 or $80 for the experience). Or it also comes up if a game should be free-to-play or premium at baseline. Not going to be up to the developer. Will The Outer Worlds 2 perform well at the $80 price point? When it comes to Xbox, that's a black box at this point. At best, Xbox will brag about 'engagement,' but we won't know sales numbers, plus sales are always low because of Game Pass anyway. But this does seem like a strange game to start this trend with, and I'm not sure how amused the developer is about it. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky and Instagram. Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
The Outer Worlds 2 hits $80, Brandon Adler says we don't set the prices
The release of The Outer Worlds 2 is set to make waves with a price tag of $80, marking it as the first Xbox-published game to carry such a hefty price point. However, in an interview at the Summer Game Fest, Obsidian Entertainment's director, Brandon Adler, was quick to clarify that the developers had no say in the pricing decision. 'The price is set by the platform holders,' Adler said, referring to Xbox, which recently confirmed that several first-party games will carry the same price from this holiday season onward. The Outer Worlds 2, set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 29, is the first example of this price shift. 'I wish everybody could play my game,' Adler continued, acknowledging the challenges the higher price could pose to some fans. 'But for the reasons behind the $79.99 price point, you'd have to talk to the Xbox folks,' he said, carefully deflecting any personal opinions on the matter. This price hike follows a trend seen with other major titles, such as Nintendo's Mario Kart World for the Switch 2, which debuted at the same price earlier this year. With the rising costs of AAA game production, discussions surrounding $80 games have intensified, especially as other publishers like Sony and Nintendo have implemented similar pricing structures. While the high cost of games may continue to be a point of contention, it's clear that the industry is evolving in response to production costs and market trends. Fans of the video game franchise have been voicing their criticisms online. The Outer World 2 trailer being sarcastic about "Capitalism" and whatnot just to launch with the $80 price tag... — Vboy (@The_Vboy) June 8, 2025 "Oh, it's Inflation raising game prices." Yeah, no. Expedition 33 is $50 and was released like 8 weeks ago. It's one of the greatest games I've ever played. And it cost $50 bucks. $80 for Mario Kart and Outer Worlds 2 is PURE GREED. — Fake Wizard (@RealLifeFakeWiz) June 9, 2025 PSA: Do Not buy The Outer Worlds 2 for $80. Instead get it on Game Pass, as it will be on that service at launch. This Xbox $10 price increase feels REALLY bad, especially on games like this. — Joe Vargas (@AngryJoeShow) June 9, 2025 As someone who is insanely hyped for The Outer Worlds 2, $80 is a scam. No, " just get Game Pass" is not a valid counter. I do not want my access to games locked behind a subscription, which keeps getting more expensive. Shame on @Xbox for hurting the hype of this for greed. — 🅁🄴🅃🅁🄾 🏳️🌈🇺🇦 (@totallynotretro) June 9, 2025 Whether The Outer Worlds 2 will become the new norm remains to be seen, but fans of the RPG are already gearing up for its launch, eager to explore the absurd perks that Adler and his team have packed into the new title. The conversation around pricing is set to continue as other upcoming titles, like Borderlands 4, spark heated debates among fans and developers alike. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford, for instance, has faced backlash after suggesting that true fans would find a way to afford the higher price tag. As the industry moves forward, how players and developers navigate these changes will likely shape the future of gaming. In the meantime, The Outer Worlds 2 promises an eccentric journey through its RPG universe, with the game's quirky features already catching the attention of many. The launch in October will no doubt spark further discussions, not only about its pricing but also about its place in the ever-expanding world of AAA gaming.
