Xbox has responded to fan backlash about Obsidian Entertainment’s upcoming RPGThe Outer Worlds 2, officially lowering its $80 price after widespread negative response.The Outer Worlds 2was revealedduring an Xbox Games Showcase earlier this summer. Its Standard Edition’s $79.99 price tag caused controversy almost immediately, with many players suffering from sticker shock.
However, Microsoft has now announced across its social media channels (viaWindows Central) thatit’s knockingThe Outer Worlds 2- and other holiday releases - back down to $70 at launch- the industry standard for new triple-A releases. Players who have already purchased it at full price will receive a refund, at which point they can re-pre-order the game for $70.
It’s not just the one game, either:Xbox has announced thatallof its “full-pricedholiday releases” will launch at $70.
Outer Worlds 2’s $70 Price Reverses Course
Microsoft Walks Back Its $80 Promise
The initial reveal ofThe Outer Worlds 2’s $80 price tagprovoked near-immediate outrage from fans of Obsidian Entertainment(thestudio behind games likeFallout: New Vegas,Pillars of Eternity,Pentiment, andAvowed.) As user Short_Temperature202 put it in a Reddit comment, “I’m not paying that much for an amazing outstanding game, let alone the sequel to what was for me a pretty mediocre game.”
Of course,The Outer Worlds' higher price didn’t exist in a vacuum. Blame tariffs, inflation, or something else, butXbox was clearly following in Nintendo’s footsteps here. Its sole first-party launch title for the Switch 2,Mario Kart World, caused controversydue to its own $80 price tag just a few months prior.
If you need a refund for your full-priceOuter Worlds 2pre-order, check with the retailer where you bought it from. You’ll have to pre-order it again if you’re still interested in the game.
Shortly thereafter,Xbox announced price increasesfor several of its products, including consoles, controllers, and games.Certain major, first-party Xbox releases would bear $80 price tags beginning during the 2025 holiday season, andThe Outer Worlds 2was just the first casualty. The game’s director, Brandon Adler, clarified in an interview withGames Radarthat the price was entirely an Xbox decision: “We don’t set the prices for our games… You’d have to honestly talk to the Xbox folks.”
Xbox has now walked back that decision, setting a price of $70 forThe Outer Worlds 2, which is much more in line with current big-release standards.
$80 Isn’t The Best Move For Most Games
Few, If Any, Triple-A Games Are Worth That Much
In a statement toWindows Central, an Xbox spokesperson simply said, “We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore… in line with current market conditions.” In other words, we don’t really know why Xbox cutThe Outer Worlds 2’s price, but I’m willing to bet it’s becauseit wasn’t selling as well as they’d hoped.
The Outer Worldsis a game about the dangers of unchecked, unregulated capitalism. It’s just ironic for its sequel to come out at an increased price.
It makes sense:the firstOuter Worldswasn’t super well-received. I liked it well enough, but some people saw it as the nextFallout: New Vegas, and crushed it under the weight of their expectations.
Either way, though,its sequel is not a game that I, or many other players, would be champing at the bit to pay full price for- let alone a premium of $80. That goes double when you remember it’ll be a day-one Game Pass release. Many pointed out its perceived hypocrisy:The Outer Worldsis a game about the dangers of unchecked, unregulated capitalism. It’s just ironic for its sequel to come out at an increased price.
But really,I’m not too keen on buying any game for $80. I’m in no rush to pick upMario Kart WorldorBorderlands 4before they’re discounted, regardless of those series' longer pedigree. I suspect I’m not alone there, soThe Outer Worlds 2’s price decrease was almost certainly the right move.
