The Outer Worlds 2 PC Settings and Performance Review

The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian Entertainment’s second triple-A release for 2025. Where Avowed was the studio’s foray into the world of high fantasy action, Outer Worlds 2 is a follow-up to the reasonably well-liked sci-fi action RPG. It was a chance for Obisidian to refine the formula it established in 2019. And by most accounts, the studio seems to have achieved that goal. Moreover, on a performance level, The Outer Worlds 2 is a stunning display, capable of high frame rates and featuring an art style that is instantly arresting.

You can read our T he Outer Worlds 2 review for deeper thoughts about how successful Obisidian Entertainment is at building on the platform of the first game. Many RPGs play with the idea of impactful choices, but this game presents players with some real headscratchers. Their decisions have meaningful consequences and can shape the world/planets around them. Some elements might not be as notable as others, but The Outer Worlds 2 absolutely nails the idea of role-playing in a world.

From a performance level, the sequel makes the leap to Unreal Engine 5, just like Avowed. In fact, there are a lot of visual and stylistic similarities between the two, as well as some familiar nitpicks concerning how the game runs.

outer worlds 2 high graphics setting screenshot

Using our iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 TI B03 build, which boasts a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Card and an Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU we put The Outer Worlds 2 through its paces, seeing how Obsidian’s latest takes advantage of new technology to deliver as smooth of an experience as possible.

The Best War Games iBUYPOWER Test PC Specs

Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU

CPU Cooler: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System

GPU: GeForce RTX 5090 Asus Tuf Gaming

Memory: 64GB DDR5 (6000MHz)

Storage: 4TB (2x2TB) M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD

PSU: 1000 Watt - High Power PCIe GEN 5 PSU

Case: iBUYPOWER HYTE Y70 Touch Infinite - Black

From a stylistic standpoint, The Outer Worlds 2 has a similar aesthetic to Avowed. Facial animations, menus, and even sound effects call to mind Obsidian’s other 2025 release. Obviously, The Outer Worlds 1 came before Avowed, but there is a clear formula that Obsidian is working with here. They aren’t trying to push the envelope with realistic graphics, but instead finding a look that fits its style.

One could argue that the game’s performance is so smooth because the game isn’t pushing things too far visually, but I still think that The Outer Worlds 2 is impressive with its semi-open world planetary zones, which are packed with interesting flora and fauna.

The Outer Worlds 2 boasts a pretty comprehensive selection of Graphics Settings, with Low, Medium, High, and Very High options across the board. I always appreciate when a menu highlights what exactly each setting impacts, and The Outer Worlds 2 clearly outlines what a vague setting like Screen Effects will change. Granted, that one in particular seems to be a bit of a catch-all (i.e. No option to turn off Chromatic Aberration), but it's useful if you're just getting into PC gaming.

The Outer Worlds 2 Graphics Options

Screen Effects: Low, Medium, High, Very High
View Distance: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Shadows: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Anti-Aliasing: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Textures: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Visual Effects: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Foliage: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Global Illumination: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Reflections: Low, Medium, High, Very High
Crowd Density: Low, Medium, High, Very High

Anytime you mention a game on Unreal Engine 5, there is concern about hitching or stuttering. Playing The Outer Worlds 2 pre-launch, I can say that there was a fair bit of hitching, but updates/patches improved the performance dramatically. I also had what appeared to be a bad memory leak in the prologue of the game that required a refresh, but I didn’t experience anything like that after.

There was concern that once The Outer Worlds 2 jumped into its open world areas, with a bunch of NPCs running around, that the frame rate would dip, but the experience is solid across the board. Even with some really cool effects in the background, the game runs really well on our rig at the highest settings.

Currently, the only sequences that feature some significant hitching are anytime the ship in the game, the Icognito, lands on a new planet. That cutscene features a big stutter, but everything smooths out from there.

Outer Worlds 2 director weighs in on controversial $80 price tag

Outside of that, though, The Outer Worlds 2 runs extremely well on its highest settings. You can mix in DLSS, FSR, XeSS for the added visual uplift, and if you are on Nvidia, use Frame Generation to push things even higher, and the game does support 4x Frame Generation right out of the gate. There is no need to use Nvidia’s app to override. On my 4K 120Hz TV, I was able to max out settings and rarely did the game dip below that performance level, while on my 240Hz monitor, performance was closer to the high 100s/low 200s depending on settings and Frame Generation.

The Outer Worlds 2 supports Hardware Raytracing. It gives the visuals a little extra punch but if it impacts performance, it's not a significant loss.

Even testing with 2x Frame Generation, which is offered by 40-series GPUs, or even just DLSS, the performance uplift in The Outer Worlds 2 is big enough, and the loss in visual clarity is not noticeable. For those who choose to play the game like a more traditional shooter, that increased frame rate is a huge boon. Being able to zip around the arenas and take quick shots that are accurate makes a difference.

Maybe after a few more titles, the argument could be made that Obsidian has become too familiar, but right now, if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. Performance is excellent in The Outer Worlds 2, just like Avowed before it, and the RPG experience seems to be resonating with fans who have had early access to the game.

While gamers are left waiting for the other two big RPG franchises in the next Elder Scrolls and the next Fallout, Obsidian has swooped in and delivered their own “versions” of those games. They may not be as massive in scale, scope, or budget, but they are still well-made and enjoyable.

The Best War Games tested Mafia: The Old Country on the iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 TI B03. IBUYPOWER offers a variety of customizable PCs that can meet any gamer's needs. Check out The Best War Games's iBUYPOWER build here or head to iBUYPOWER for more PC gaming deals.

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