Summary
- Obsidian drawing heavily from Fallout: New Vegas for The Outer Worlds 2 promises another top-tier RPG experience.
- The Outer Worlds 2 will incorporate elements and designs from New Vegas like its factions, interactions, and companions.
- TOW2 will look to increase its focus on nuanced characters, moral decisions, and engaging variety akin to New Vegas.
The Outer Worlds 2 is set to send fans to a new sector of its overly-corporatized and satirical sci-fi galaxy populated by oddballs and misfits. Currently on track to release later this year, The Outer Worlds 2 looks to expand on the world and narrative that Obsidian Entertainment introduced players to in 2019. The sequel won't be following directly from the events of the first title, but will still retain much of The Outer World's spirit in its flavor, flair, and design.
Obsidian is responsible for creating some of the most beloved Western RPGs out there, and among them is its 2010 entry in the massively popular post-apocalyptic franchise, Fallout: New Vegas. In a recent developer interview posted by IGN on April 30, 2025, key members of Obsidian outlined how the studio looked at the factors that made New Vegas so well-liked and respected, and that they are taking these to heart for The Outer Worlds 2; something that is likely music to many fans' ears for how it is shaping up to be another excellent RPG experience.
The Outer Worlds 2 will be launching for PS5 as well as being a day one Game Pass title.
How The Outer Worlds 2 Can Include its Own Version of Avowed's Spells
Avowed's spell system was one of its best and most fun features, and Obsidian has a few ways to have a similar one in The Outer Worlds 2.
Obsidian Stating That The Outer Worlds 2 is Pulling Heavily From Fallout: New Vegas is a Hugely Encouraging Sign
The Outer Worlds 2 Will Look to Call Back to Some of the Best Parts of Fallout: New Vegas
In the aforementioned video, titled "How Fallout: New Vegas Influenced The Outer Worlds 2", Creative Director Leonard Boyarsky and Game Director Brandon Adler spoke more at length about their approach specifically in taking some of Fallout: New Vegas' most iconic design and gameplay aspects and integrating them into The Outer Worlds 2. The pair described that Obsidian's philosophy for its player avatars usually centers around them being a complete outsider to the setting and situation.
Having to get the lay of the land and a handle on the Mojave's diverse and often dangerous inhabitants was certainly true for New Vegas' Courier, and remains an element that Obsidian has continued to focus on and polish in its games since, with Avowed being the most recent example. For The Outer Worlds 2, they highlighted that the team went back to look closely at how it was used in Fallout: New Vegas, along with various other features and decisions, that resulted in it being one of the most reactive and engaging RPG adventures.
The Outer Worlds 2 Taking Cues From Fallout: New Vegas Promises Another Stellar Experience
Boyarsky, who was part of the core team behind the original Fallout, also honed in the presentation of New Vegas' major factions like Ceasar's Legion and The New California Republic, and how the game gives players varied ways and options of interacting with them and other NPCs, sometimes in surprising circumstances. The Outer Worlds felt constrained in certain ways regarding this, and although it can perhaps be chalked up to the differences in vision and development process between the two titles, it's nevertheless an item Obsidian seeks to address in the sequel.
The Outer Worlds 2 has been compared to Starfield, and while it clearly shares some overall traits, it's not as massive, but instead has a more curated story and world-building direction that emphasizes Obsidian strengths and preferences when designing its games. TOW2 hopes to focus further on faction variety and interesting, nuanced characters as it delves more into the distinct cultures and vibe of its setting. This extends to companions as well. Like Fallout: New Vegas, The Outer Worlds had some great companions, and this is an area that the second title also looks to elevate.
Similarly, the two mentioned confronting fans with more moral dilemmas in The Outer Worlds 2, something New Vegas had no lack of either. Overall, it seems like TOW2 is shaping up to be more like Fallout: New Vegas in spirit than perhaps was originally expected. And given that NV consistently ranks high on the list of all-time FPS sci-fi RPGs, this is surely another welcome sign for many fans in terms of how The Outer Worlds 2 could turn out to be .
The Outer Worlds 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- October 29, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Intense Violence, Blood and Gore, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Obsidian Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Xbox Game Studios
