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Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds 2 looks like a hugely improved RPG over its cult-classic predecessor, but is it worth $80?
In a seemingly obvious move to push more gamers towards Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft is charging $80 for the privilege of playing Obsidian’s next RPG. After substantial pushback from gamers online, director Brandon Adler explained that the team isn’t behind the pricing of the game.
Obsidian didn’t decide The Outer Worlds 2 price
As Xbox’s first $80 title, The Outer Worlds 2 has proved very controversial over the past week. Coming just after Mario Kart World’s $80 price tag set the internet alight, many are unhappy with yet another price hike coming for new game releases.
Speaking to GamesRadar, Adler explained that Obsidian isn’t deciding the prices for their games. Every title created under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella is decided by that publishing group, not the individual developers behind the projects.
“We’re a game developer. We love to make games. We don’t set the prices for our games,” Adler told the outlet.
The Outer Worlds 2 director explained that the team wants “everyone” to be able to experience the work they’ve done. (Technically, Xbox and PC gamers could do that via a cheap month of Game Pass.) With the $80 asking price being a major barrier of entry, Adler explains that the decision is made by Xbox.
“Personally, as a game developer, I wish everybody could play my game, because that’s what I want out of this whole thing,” the director said. “But for the reasons and so like, why the $79.99 price point, you’d have to honestly talk to the Xbox folks.”
The Outer Worlds 2 isn’t out until October 29, 2025, so there’s time for Microsoft to reduce the price of its upcoming RPG. Will they? Probably not.
Obsidian’s RPG isn’t the only game charging $80 this year on release with Gearbox’s Borderlands 4 also costing the same. Additionally, publishers are hoping that next year’s GTA 6 will cost players $100 so they can raise prices in turn.
On the other hand, there is now a new rise of AA studios that are aiming to make cheaper releases. For example, in a recent interview, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 developer Sandfall Interactive reiterated its initiative to create cheaper experiences for gamers in a rapidly more expensive world.
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