The Outer Worlds Archives

AppWizard

June 14, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 director offers the most sympathetic answer I’ve yet heard for the $80 game question: ‘We don’t set the prices for our games,’ and ‘You’d have to honestly talk to the Xbox folks’

Brandon Adler, the director of The Outer Worlds 2, stated that game developers do not set the prices for their games, emphasizing that pricing decisions are made by corporate executives. He expressed a desire for broader accessibility to games but indicated that pricing inquiries should be directed to Xbox executives. The economic landscape has shifted, making home ownership difficult while consumer electronics have become more affordable. Gamers now have various options, including subscription services and budget-friendly hardware. The perceived normal price for games has shifted to the range of to , with being a stretch, particularly for highly anticipated titles. Pricing challenges reflect deeper issues in the gaming industry, including recent layoffs and rising development costs. Obsidian Entertainment has adopted a strategy of working on multiple smaller projects, resulting in more affordable pricing for some titles, while the upcoming Avowed is set at a full retail price. Concerns exist that The Outer Worlds 2’s price might hinder its success, especially given the unclear metrics Microsoft uses to evaluate sales performance.

AppWizard

June 13, 2025

3 things I liked and 2 I didn’t after 30 minutes with Grounded 2

Obsidian Entertainment is set to release several games in 2025, including The Outer Worlds 2 in October and Grounded 2, which will launch in early access on July 29. Grounded 2 features a new expansive open world set in a city park that transforms into an alien landscape when players are shrunk to ant size. The map is larger than the original Grounded, and players can use buggies for exploration. The early access will allow players to experience a substantial portion of the map and the first chapter of the story, providing feedback for the final product. Grounded 2 will be available on all platforms except PlayStation.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

The Outer Worlds 2 is Microsoft’s first $80 game

The Outer Worlds 2 is set to be released on October 29th, 2025, and will introduce a new price point as the first title from Microsoft to implement this pricing strategy following a global price hike announced in May 2025. Microsoft acknowledged the challenges of this decision, citing current market conditions and rising game development costs. The original game was published by Take-Two's Private Division in 2019, and Obsidian, the studio behind it, was acquired by Microsoft during its development.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

Xbox Games Showcase 2025 live: All the announcements in real-time

Obsidian Entertainment has announced that The Outer Worlds 2 will feature six companions with their own questlines linked to distinct factions, allowing players to influence their character arcs through gameplay choices. The game is set on Arcadia, a new colony governed by The Protectorate, and will include an enhanced perk system similar to Fallout: New Vegas, allowing for specialized character builds. Players will take on the role of a customizable Sky Marshall, with an emphasis on traits that affect gameplay dynamics. The sequel aims for deeper RPG mechanics and a more complex narrative due to increased development time and resources. The game is scheduled for release on October 29, 2025.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

Xbox Games Showcase 2025 preview: The big games and developers to expect on Sunday’s livestream

The Xbox Games Showcase is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, at 10 AM Pacific. Anticipated titles include Gears of War: E-Day, Perfect Dark, Clockwork Revolution, Fable, Everwild, and State of Decay 3. The Outer Worlds 2 will have its own dedicated stream following the main showcase. Expected announcements include Forza Horizon 6 or a new Forza Motorsport, and a new Call of Duty game, likely Modern Warfare 4. There may be updates on Diablo 4 and Overwatch 2 from Blizzard, and a look at upcoming DLC for Starfield from Bethesda Game Studios. Other studios like Ninja Theory and Double Fine are also expected to provide insights into their projects.

AppWizard

June 5, 2025

Summer Game Fest 2025 preview: The big games and developers to expect at Friday’s livestream

E3 has transitioned into the Summer Game Fest, led by Geoff Keighley, featuring a livestream on June 6 at 2 pm Pacific on YouTube. New developers include Raw Power Games, working on a medieval sandbox game, and Soft Rains, developing a sci-fi action game. Big studios like 505 Games, 2K Games, Bandai Namco, Capcom, CD Projekt, Embark, IO Interactive, Square Enix, Techland, Xbox, PlayStation, Epic Games, Pearl Abyss, and Sega are expected to showcase new titles or updates. Additional partners include 1047 Games, Amazon Games, Annapurna Interactive, Atari, Bellring Games, Blumhouse Games, Coffee Stain, Devolver Digital, Dotemu, Dreamhaven, Enhance, Focus Entertainment, Frontier, Funcom, iam8bit Presents, Kakao Games, Kinetic Games, Kuro Games, Level Infinite, Magic the Gathering, Megabit, Meta Quest, Mundfish, NCSoft, Nekki, Neowiz, Netmarble, Niantic, Nintendo Switch 2, Nuverse, Playstack, PlaySide, PM Studios, Razer, Supermassive Games, Xsolla, and Yacht Club Games. An "intense body horror" game titled ILL and beta access to Soulframe will also be featured, with Hideo Kojima confirmed to attend.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in June

June 2025 will feature several significant gaming events and PC game releases. Key dates include: - June 4: PlayStation's 40-minute State of Play showcase. - June 6: Summer Game Fest main showcase. - June 7: Latin American Games Showcase and Future Game Show. - June 8: Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct, along with the PC Gaming Show. - June 9: Black Voices in Gaming showcase. - June 9-16: Steam Next Fest, leading into the Steam Summer Sale starting June 26. Notable game releases in June include: - June 5: Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 and Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. - June 10: MindsEye. - June 11: Stellar Blade. - June 13: Five Nights At Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic. - June 16: Gex Trilogy. - June 17: FBC: Firebreak, Date Everything!, and Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond. - June 19: Broken Arrow. - June 20: BitCraft Online and Gold Gold Adventure Gold. - June 26: Persona 5: The Phantom X. - Dates TBD: Cast n Chill and Hell Clock.

AppWizard

June 1, 2025

My top 5 must-play PC games for the second half of 2025 — Will they live up to the hype?

PC gamers are looking forward to several upcoming titles in 2025. - The Outer Worlds 2 is anticipated to launch in 2025 on PC, Xbox, and PS5, featuring a new colony and an Earth Directorate agent unraveling a mystery. - Hades II is in Early Access and is expected to be fully released by late 2025. - ARC Raiders, a PvPvE extraction shooter, is rumored to launch in 2025 on PC, Xbox, and PS5. - Escape from Tarkov has been in closed beta since 2017 and aims for a version 1.0 release in 2025. - Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is set to launch on July 15, 2025, with enhancements including new units and larger maps. - Path of Exile 2 entered Early Access on December 6, 2024, and will be free to play upon its full release, though a specific date has not been announced.

AppWizard

May 22, 2025

Xbox’s PC Game Bar Just Raised The Bar With Refreshed Quick Settings

Microsoft has updated its PC Game Bar, enhancing the settings widget for easier access to audio adjustments and screen brightness controls. The update allows users to toggle between compact and desktop modes. The Xbox app for PC now includes simplified options for an on-screen keyboard, Bluetooth device management, and airplane mode activation. It also features Wi-Fi and battery status icons in compact mode. The broader Xbox update has added Retro Classics to all Game Pass tiers, including titles like Pitfall and MechWarrior 2: 31st Century Combat. Xbox Insider Program members can customize their console home screens by hiding system apps from the "recently played" section and pinning up to three games or apps. Microsoft has scheduled the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 for June 8 at 10 AM PT / 1 PM ET / 6 PM UK, followed by a presentation on The Outer Worlds 2.

AppWizard

May 21, 2025

Obsidian vet Carrie Patel has joined Netflix

Carrie Patel, former director of Avowed, has joined Night School Studio, a subsidiary of Netflix, as game director. She previously worked at Obsidian Entertainment for nearly 12 years, contributing to titles like Pillars of Eternity, The Outer Worlds, and Avowed. Night School Studio was acquired by Netflix in 2021 and is known for the game Oxenfree. In February 2025, Netflix announced layoffs at Night School Studio amidst broader changes, including the closure of its Blue studio and leadership reshuffling.