Immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase at [Summer Game Fest 2025](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/summer-game-fest-2025-every-announcement/), *The Outer Worlds 2* Direct unveiled all the fresh mechanics that will feature in Obsidian’s forthcoming sequel.

The weekend of Summer Game Fest 2025 was an absolute whirlwind of announcements, previews, world premieres, and new gameplay glimpses. Titles like *Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden IV*, and a new [Call of Duty was revealed](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/call-of-duty-black-ops-7-revealed/); however, Obsidian Entertainment took the stage right after the [Xbox Games Showcase 2025](https://www.cgmagonline.com/news/heres-everything-that-was-announced-during-the-xbox-game-showcase-2025/) with their own *The Outer Worlds 2* Direct. The teaser trailer shown during the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 can be viewed in full below, followed by a written overview of the direct.

One of the most intriguing aspects regarding the sequel is that *The Outer Worlds 2* is departing from the former star system of Halycon and is set in a star system even further from Earth, located in the Arcadia star cluster. The direct made it clear that Obsidian has fully embraced their distinctive humor and narrative style, which will lead to chaos in every corner. Arcadia is a lawless region disconnected from Earth, featuring a colony under immense pressure, fractured by space-time rifts, and factions with ever-changing alliances, all while three power-hungry groups are caught in a battle for dominance.

Similar to *The Outer Worlds* (and most other titles from Obsidian Entertainment), *The Outer Worlds 2* allows players to customize their characters from head to toe, providing a comprehensive character creation tool. In *The Outer Worlds 2*, players will step in as an Earth Directorate agent, but how they tackle challenges, high-stakes situations, and narrative segments is entirely at the player’s discretion. Obsidian grants players full autonomy, enabling them to choose from an assortment of traits, flaws, and backgrounds that Obsidian states will “influence every choice.”

The three contending factions are listed as follows: The Protectorate, Auntie’s Choice, and The Order of the Ascendant. The Protectorate enforces the law in Arcadia and believes that order equates to everything; while they see themselves as beloved peacemakers, the locals might think otherwise. Auntie’s Choice consists of those who align with the Matriarch of *The Outer Worlds 2*, Auntie Cleo (her backstory is highlighted in Prime Video’s *Secret Level* series). This subsection of her brand is Auntie Cleo x Spacer’s Choice, an in-game partnership that guarantees freedom, satisfaction, and a plethora of Auntie Cleo product placements. The Order of the Ascendant is a science-driven faction committed to refining humanity by deciphering the Universal Equation.

In *The Outer Worlds 2*, players will journey alongside six companions, and Obsidian has significantly improved the system, with each companion having personal stakes in the future of the colony and, naturally, their own views on your conduct. The companions are outlined (along with their allegiances) below thanks to [Obsidian Entertainment.](https://news.blizzard.com/en-us/article/24211374/the-outer-worlds-2-big-sequel-energy)

– Niles: Another Earth Directorate recruit caught between loyalty and defection.

– Inez: A former experiment from Auntie’s Choice equipped with an edge in combat and a solid moral compass.

– Aza: A chaos-enthusiastic Rift worshipper drawn to violence, with potential for development—perhaps.

– Marisol: A stoic assassin from the Order of the Ascendant with unfinished business.

– Tristen: A robust judge from the Protectorate eager to deliver justice—or redefine it.

– Valerie: A floating, chirping support unit with unforeseen enhancements and untapped capabilities.

Fans who pre-purchase will enjoy the Commander Zane Pack, which includes a Commander Zane-themed armor skin, helmet, signature pistol and dagger, and an Earth Directorate drone companion pet. It’s important to note that if fans buy the game from Battle.net or the Xbox Marketplace, the purchase supports cross-play; they only need to link their accounts to play on either platform.

*The Outer Worlds 2* will be released on October 29, 2025, and fans can [pre-purchase today](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1449110/The_Outer_Worlds_2/) for the new AAA title price of $79.99.

Make sure to check out all the other announcements from the [Xbox