Microsoft has decided to backtrack on their decision to charge $80 for their games, with Obsidian confirming that The Outer Worlds 2 will now be priced at $70 – or technically $69.99 – when it releases in October.
Obsidian made the announcement in a whimsical manner, in line with the franchise:
We have received your SOS via skip drone regarding the pricing. As an organization dedicated to ensuring that corporations are held accountable, we at the Earth Directorate have collaborated with [REDACTED] to adjust the price of The Outer Worlds 2.
While this may not bring peace to the galaxy or even your local colony, we want to assure everyone that we are committed to advocating for all colonies in any way we can.
From the Office of the Director of the Earth Directorate
In a statement to Windows Central, an Xbox spokesperson mentioned, “We’re committed to offering players amazing worlds to explore, and will maintain the price of our holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – aligning with current market conditions.”
Refunds for pre-orders will need to be requested manually, depending on the retailer, and the new pricing will be implemented today or tomorrow.
The decision to lower the price was likely influenced by feedback from consumers across social media and forums, as well as the number of pre-orders Microsoft was receiving. While The Outer Worlds 2 will be available on Game Pass for Xbox and PC, affecting full-price purchases on consoles, the impact of the higher price would have been evident in pre-orders on Steam and PlayStation 5.
This shift in pricing is not limited to The Outer Worlds 2 alone, as it was anticipated that Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 would also follow suit this year, preceding major launches like Fable, Gears of War E-Day, and others in 2026. While Black Ops 7 pre-orders have not yet gone live, the underwhelming pre-orders for The Outer Worlds 2 may have caused some concern among executives and accountants, especially considering the revenue sacrifice made last year by including Black Ops 6 on Game Pass.
It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will simply postpone the price increase until January or opt to wait longer.
Source: Obsidian, Windows Central
