The Outer Worlds 2will not cost $80 after all, as Obsidian Entertainment has announced a permanent price cut. The game was already breaking new ground by being the first Microsoft property to reflect the emerging $80 standard set byMario Kart World, but things have suddenly shifted. Now,The Outer Worlds 2will be notable for permanently reducing its price several months before it’s even out.
Game pricing has been a contentious issue lately. Uncertainty and controversy have surrounded titles likeBorderlands 4andGrand Theft Auto 6as companies hope to recoup rising development costs, but gamers call for affordability and criticize corporate greed. Obsidian found itself in the middle of this contention when itrevealedThe Outer Worlds 2would launch at $79.99after the Xbox Games Showcase, and it seems to have taken the feedback seriously.
On July 23, Obsidian posted across its socials to announce thatThe Outer Worlds 2will now cost $69.99. The new price is more in line with what gamers have come to expect from AAA titles over the past few years and may signify a willingness on Microsoft’s end to make some concessions with the studios making its games. Director Brandon Adler had previously clarified thatObsidian didn’t controlThe Outer Worlds 2’s $80 price tag, as Xbox has the ultimate authority on the matter. The announcement’s language also makes it sound like the cut has come from discussions between the two companies, potentially suggesting Obsidian has argued on behalf of the players for a lower price.
Technically, there was already a way for fans to play the game without paying the full $80. An earlier announcement confirmed thatThe Outer Worlds 2would be a day-one title on Xbox Game Pass, but now gamers won’t need an Ultimate subscription to get it slightly cheaper. Anyone who pre-ordered the game at its previous price should be able to claim a $10 refund, too, given the change. Alternatively, people can always refund the pre-order entirely and order it again at the new price.
This does not necessarily mean all Microsoft-published games will cost $70 or less from here on out. In May,Xbox announced first-party AAA games would cost $80starting in the 2025 holiday season. Dialing things back forThe Outer Worlds 2may mean the company is willing to push back price increases for other titles, too, but the broader trend suggests the new $80 standard will arrive eventually. For now, though,Outer Worldsfans can rest knowing that at least this game will still be $70.
