Obsidian recently announced thatThe Outer Worlds 2will launch at a lower price than initially stated. The sudden shift from $80 to $70 came just months ahead ofThe Outer Worlds 2’sOctober 29 release, and while players may find it a cause for celebration, the price cut raises questions about what may be happening behind the scenes at Xbox.
WhenThe Outer Worlds 2’s launch price was revealed to be $80just last month, players didn’t take to it kindly. It marked the first Xbox game to embrace what looked to be the new pricing standard for AAA titles, first established by Nintendo forMario Kart World. Microsoft even planned to endow all of its future AAA first-party games with the $80 price tag, but the Xbox parent has changed its mind following the backlash toThe Outer Worlds 2, and perhaps some less-than-encouraging telemetry on the backend.
On July 23, Obsidian confirmed thatThe Outer Worlds 2will launch at $70, matching what players have come to expect for AAA games in recent years. Those who pre-orderedThe Outer Worlds 2at the higher price are being offered a $10 refund, and as previously announced, the game will be available day one on Xbox Game Pass. While Obsidian framed the decision as a consumer-friendly move in response to feedback, it raises deeper questions about whether Microsoft possibly sawworryingly low full-priced pre-order numbers forThe Outer Worlds 2, and therefore elected to backpedal on the initially-planned $80 price tag.
The Outer Worlds 2 Might Have Flopped Because of the $80 Price Tag
Regardless of the reason, theOuter Worlds 2price cut is not only a welcome move for Obsidian fans, but will hopefully ensure better chances of success for the sci-fi RPG in the chockablock fall season. It should also be interesting to see if this ordeal has led Microsoft to reconsider the$80 price tag for future Xbox first-party games. It could well be that the gaming giant only prices its most high-caliber games, likeCall of Duty: Black Ops 7, at $80.
