Xbox Games Showcase: The Outer Worlds 2 Is Taking Cues From Fallout: New Vegas

Obsidian Entertainment’s particular flavor of sci-fi corporate dystopia returns in The Outer Worlds 2, and we got an in-depth look at their latest first-person shooter RPG during a special feature segment at the end of the Xbox Games Showcase 2025.

The Outer Worlds 2 is a much bigger game than its predecessor, even though it’s limited to only one planet (the first Outer Worlds had two planets and a handful of smaller asteroid and space station locations). Obsidian is redoubling their commitment to a prestige RPG experience, and is borrowing the best parts of its signature hit game, Fallout: New Vegas, to do so.

Outer Worlds 2’s planet Arcadia is a dangerous place, with landscapes and propaganda inspired by World War I-era battlefields. It’ll take all of your wits (and a proper build and loadout) to survive as you step into a war between megacorporate giants on the frontier world.

Here’s what you have to look forward to when The Outer Worlds 2 comes out on Oct. 29.

New planet, pals and corporate propaganda

While the original Outer Worlds game took place across several confined vignettes in the Halcyon star system, Outer Worlds 2 is focusing on a single planet embroiled in a three-way conflict between the authoritarian Protectorate, the altruistic Order and the ruthless Auntie Cleo’s corporation.

While Auntie Cleo’s has a firm grasp on Arcadia, dangerous fractures in space called the warp are threatening the corporation’s bottom line. All three factions want to solve the warp for their own selfish reasons, but they won’t work together to do so — instead, they’re vying for the player’s support in order to win the power struggle.

You won’t just be dealing with faceless factions as you gallivant across Arcadia, of course. Six new companions are scattered throughout the world, each outfitted with special gear, skills and character questlines.

One of my favorite parts of the showcase was the Judge Dredd-like companion named Tristan. Players will be able to encourage his extrajudicial brand of justice or curb his murder-y machinations.

First-person shooting isn’t taking a backseat

Obsidian games generally focus on the RPG elements first and foremost. The gunplay isn’t an afterthought, but it isn’t usually anything to write home about. In The Outer Worlds 2, guns are getting mechanical and vibes-based upgrades that will help the moment-to-moment gameplay feel a lot more responsive and exciting.

Aiming down sights is now a smoother experience, allowing players to more reliably take crackshots at enemies down range — and new animations for weapon swapping, reloading and other gun interactions will help improve arsenal management.

Weapon recoil has been mitigated to make more guns feel like satisfying bullet hoses, and the sound design has been retuned so that more weapons sound crunchy and impactful.

There are also far more weapons to choose from in The Outer Worlds 2, including the introduction of throwables like frag grenades and noisemakers to help flush enemies out of cover.

A wacky array of weaponry

There are conventional weapons, laser rifles and explosive launchers in The Outer Worlds 2, and lots of them. But players are really going to want to hunt down the special science weapons that have unique firing modes and effects.

Some science weapons are returning from the first game with buffs that make them even more viable — like the Shrink Ray, which no longer wears off on enemies (and you can walk over and squish them like bugs this time around).

Other science weapons are totally new treats that you can add to your arsenal. There is a tumor gun that fires exploding pustules, a gun that shoots arms that latch onto and maul enemies, a legally distinct BFG that shreds foes with warp energy and a sword that does more damage when you strike enemies to its beat.

Science armors are making their debut as well. We saw one nasty fleshy bodysuit in the showcase, which will lash out at nearby enemies in the midst of combat. The Outer Worlds 2’s new third-person camera mode will let you see these armor pieces in all their glory for the first time ever.

The Outer Worlds 2 will be released on Oct. 29 for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 and PC.