Microsoft shocked folks yesterday by announcing that it has lowered the price of The Outer Worlds 2 to $69.99 following its initial $80 pricing. OBsidian Entertainment’s sequel game was announced back in 2021, but recently stirred things up when it revealed that the upcoming game would also be among the first titles to raise prices for a base edition.
It was only a year ago when Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot was defending (via PC Gamer) the decision to price that publisher’s first quadruple-A title, Skull and Bones, at $70, which went on to receive negative reviews. In recent months, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford has also defended (via Nintendo Life) the $80 price for Borderlands 4, which has since also been reduced to $70 by publisher 2K. Perhaps others in the industry are beginning to rethink these cost increases, although Nintendo stayed committed to releasing its Switch 2 title, Mario Kart World, for $80. Microsoft announced yesterday via social media that it was slashing the price of The Outer Worlds 2 ahead of its launch on PC and consoles on October 29.
Dear Galactic Citizens!⁰⁰We have received your SOS via skip drone about the pricing. As an organization devoted to making sure that corporations do not go unfettered, we at the Earth Directorate have worked with [REDACTED] to revise the price of The Outer Worlds 2. While this… pic.twitter.com/skOjxWBXIB
— The Outer Worlds (@OuterWorlds) July 23, 2025
IGN reached out to Xbox, also confirming that those who had already pre-ordered at the $80 price would get a $10 refund via the storefront where the game had been purchased. Refund processing, depending on the seller and other complications, could take up to a few days to be completed. An Xbox spokesperson commented on the price reduction by saying the following:
“We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions.”
-Xbox
It remains to be seen how the industry as a whole will commit to not raising prices of AAA, or AAAA (choke!) titles in the current economic climate. After all, it wasn’t that long ago $80 got you the full season pass/GOTY edition, including all DLC and items, and even that was considered a bit much by many.