The Outer Worlds 2
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Outer Worlds 2 across the outlets.
The Outer Worlds and Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag share an unlikely lesson: we make our own piratesThis article draws a parallel between the fictional pirates in The Outer Worlds and historical pirates from Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, highlighting how mass layoffs and lack of economic opportunities can lead to individuals turning to piracy. It discusses how corporate practices, such as non-compete clauses and the refusal to rehire laid-off employees, can force individuals into desperate situations, mirroring historical patterns of privateers becoming pirates after conflicts ended.
Starfield PS5 Sales Estimates Leave Much to Be DesiredNew sales estimates suggest Starfield has had lukewarm opening sales on PlayStation 5, with around 140,000 copies sold according to Alinea Analytics. These figures are lower than other Xbox-published ports and come over two years after the game's initial release on Xbox and PC. The article notes that these estimates should be taken with caution due to the firm's past inaccuracies, but they still provide perspective on the game's multiplatform performance.
Starfield's PS5 port manages roughly 140K sales in a week, estimates analyst firmStarfield's PlayStation 5 port sold approximately 140,000 copies in its first week, according to Alinea Analytics. While this figure surpasses some recent Xbox ports to the platform, it falls short of internal expectations for the space RPG. The analyst firm's head of market analysis, Rhys Elliott, noted that PC and Xbox sales have been stronger, with the Steam version selling 3.7 million copies prior to the Free Lanes update.
Every PS5 Pro Enhanced Game (So Far)Sony's PlayStation 5 Pro, launched in November 2024, offers enhanced graphics and frame rates for compatible games, identified by a 'PS5 Pro Enhanced' label. The console features an upgraded GPU and AI-driven upscaling through PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) to achieve higher fidelity visuals and smoother performance, often doubling the power of the base PS5.- Imminent removal of CoD from Game Pass will show ‘cracks’ in Microsoft’s gaming strategy, leaker suggestsLeaker Jez Corden suggests that the potential removal of Call of Duty from Xbox Game Pass' Day One program could expose weaknesses in Microsoft's gaming strategy. Such a move might be intended to boost game sales by encouraging players to purchase titles at full price, though it could impact the perceived value of higher Game Pass tiers.
The Best Xbox Game Pass Games In 2026This guide highlights the best games available on Xbox Game Pass in 2026, covering a wide range of genres from roguelites to open-world adventures. It details different subscription tiers and provides brief descriptions of each recommended title, including recent additions and critically acclaimed games from previous years.
Xbox Games Showcase and Gears of War: E-Day Direct Confirmed for June 7thXbox has announced its annual Games Showcase for June 7th, featuring gameplay reveals and news from first-party and third-party developers. Immediately following the showcase will be a "Gears of War: E-Day Direct" presentation offering new gameplay and insights into the prequel, which is slated for a 2026 release. The event will also celebrate Xbox's 25th anniversary with a look back at its history and a preview of future titles.- Daily Video Game Deals Mar 28 – NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, The Outer Worlds 2, Code Vein II, Bustafellows Season 2, Sifu, Call of Duty®: Black Ops 7 & MoreDaily video game deals for March 28, 2026, feature discounts on a wide variety of titles including NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound, Trails in the Sky: First Chapter, The Outer Worlds 2, Code Vein II, Bustafellows Season 2, Sifu, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. These deals are available across PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms.
Metacritic Names Top Game Publishers of 2025 With Square Enix LeadingMetacritic has released its annual ranking of top game publishers for 2025, based on the critical reception of their released titles. Square Enix secured the number one spot, driven by strong performances from Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and other titles. Capcom and Gamirror Games followed in second and third place, respectively, with Microsoft rounding out the top five.
Pentiment director: experimenting during a game's production is 'extremely risky'Pentiment director Josh Sawyer emphasizes the risks of experimentation during game production, advocating for a scrappy approach and reusing assets to meet tight deadlines. He notes that while Pentiment took three years with a small team, significant rewrites during beta were necessary and ultimately beneficial. Sawyer also touches on the challenges of developing larger titles like Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, which experienced delays and budget overruns due to internal complications.- Evening PatchesSeveral games have received official patches and updates. Counter-Strike 2 has released new content and guides, while The Last Starship received Update 23. The Outer Worlds 2 also issued a hotfix patch.
Intel must also hate waiting for shaders to compile as it begins bundling pre-compiled code into Arc drivers for faster…Intel is introducing a new service that bundles pre-compiled shaders into its graphics drivers for Arc GPUs, aiming to reduce game loading times by up to 50% and minimize stuttering. This initiative, part of Microsoft's Advanced Shader Delivery system, will also be supported by Nvidia for GeForce RTX users later this year and is already being utilized by the Xbox ROG Ally.
Have Gamers Become Too Comfortable With Sequels and Remakes?The article discusses the increasing prevalence of sequels and remakes in the gaming industry, questioning if gamers have become too comfortable with familiar titles. While acknowledging that some sequels and remakes push innovation, the author notes a decline in the number of new intellectual properties being developed and risks taken by major publishers due to rising development costs and the desire for guaranteed audiences.
'No matter what we changed, somebody was going to get mad:' After hearing what an Obsidian dev went through to get RPG difficulty right, I get why nobody's ever gotten RPG difficulty rightObsidian senior systems designer Robert Donovan discussed the challenges of balancing RPG difficulty, using The Outer Worlds 2 as an example. He explained that the team focused on a 'hits to kill' system for Normal difficulty, acknowledging that no single setting would satisfy all players. Despite the difficulties in tuning, The Outer Worlds 2 was ultimately considered a success.
2026 Game Developers Choice Awards winners announcedThe winners for the 2026 Game Developers Choice Awards have been announced. Several titles were recognized across various categories, including Best Audio, Best Debut, Best Design, Innovation Award, Best Narrative, Best Technology, Best Visual Art, Social Impact, and Audience Award. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Blue Prince were among the most nominated games.
Phil Spencer Was Good for Xbox, but His Legacy Is Complicated - IGNPhil Spencer is retiring after 38 years with Microsoft, concluding a 12-year tenure as Head of Xbox. His legacy is viewed as complicated, with shareholders seeing massive stock growth while some hardcore gamers point to increased subscription prices, fewer exclusives, and studio closures. Despite these criticisms, the article argues Spencer was a net positive, crediting him with saving Xbox during the Xbox One era, championing features like backwards compatibility and cross-play, and building a strong portfolio of studios and games.
Grab Great Deals On Physical PS5, Xbox Games In GameFly's Preowned SaleGameFly is currently offering significant discounts on a selection of pre-owned PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X games. Notable deals include Borderlands 4 for $25, The Outer Worlds 2 for $40, and Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 for $28. GameFly membership provides additional perks like free shipping.- Could Project Helix be Xbox’s response to the Steam Machine? A prominent leaker suggests that might be the caseA prominent leaker suggests Microsoft's 'Project Helix' might be an Xbox response to the Steam Machine, preparing the company to exit the traditional hardware market. This new device is rumored to run on Windows and emulate a console experience, potentially shifting focus away from proprietary hardware like the PlayStation 6.
Multi-millionaire streamer xQc thinks Grand Theft Auto 6 should be $800Streamer Felix Lengyel, also known as xQc, believes Grand Theft Auto 6 should be priced at $800 due to its extensive content and quality, arguing that current game prices are too low for the value offered. He cited Resident Evil 4's shorter playtime and higher cost as a comparison point. While acknowledging the logic behind valuing content hours, the article suggests that game pricing should not be based solely on playtime or replayability, and discourages encouraging higher prices.
The Outer Worlds 2 Patch 1.1.0.0Players discuss the underperformance of The Outer Worlds 2, attributing it to poor marketing, a buggy launch on PC, and the impact of Game Pass. Some argue that day-one releases on subscription services may cannibalize sales and question the long-term sustainability of such models for developers.