Xbox PR’s invitation to preview The Outer Worlds 2 digitally initially thrilled me—especially after their earlier Avowed demo showcased Obsidian’s knack for immersive RPG previews. That hands-on glimpse let players freely explore Dawnshore, interact with companions, and experience core mechanics. Sadly, this sequel’s preview fell short by comparison, offering only a constrained intro mission reminiscent of Gamescom’s time-limited demo rather than a robust early look.
The session begins at the game’s opening but fails to progress beyond a linear tutorial. Companions, a staple of Obsidian’s storytelling, were absent here, leaving the mission feeling isolated. Promised features like sprawling environments and advanced tools, highlighted in trailers, also didn’t materialize. While branching paths exist—using Eloquence to bypass security or Lockpicking to access areas—these mirrored systems from the first game without revealing meaningful innovations.
Third-person camera options (close and distant) now appear in settings, likely addressing accessibility over offering a polished alternative. Combat refinements, developed with input from FPS experts, show marginal improvements in gunplay but leave melee underdeveloped compared to Avowed. Tactical Time Dilation remains critical, though destructible environments, a touted upgrade, were missing from this build.
Visually, Unreal Engine 5 brings subtle enhancements via ray tracing and HDR, though the leap from UE4 feels incremental. The PC build boasts extensive graphics settings, including multiple upscalers (DLSS with Frame Generation, FSR 3, XeSS), FOV sliders, and an RTX 5090/Ryzen 7 9800X3D combo that handled the demo flawlessly. However, larger zones remain untested, and DualSense features seem limited to basic rumble.
Final Impressions
While this preview left room for skepticism, Obsidian’s track record suggests The Outer Worlds 2 could still shine. The demo’s narrow scope simply undersells ambitious claims about expanded worlds and mechanics. With a late-October launch approaching, a fuller assessment awaits the final release across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X.