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.
Discussion (6 replies)
Join Discussion →They can ask whatever price they want. That doesn't mean I have to buy it at that price. I may buy it at a price I feel could provide sufficient value. That's how the market works. But sufficient value depends on the perceived quality of the product. First-hand experience at full price is not going to happen (because I refuse to fall victim to FOMO), I'll crowd-source other's experiences with it to determine whether this game is likely to meet my expectations of quality.
D4mn straight. I wait for appropriate sale prices. And in this day and age, I almost always try before I buy.
And really the previous one was free on EGS in what... 3 months tops?
Yeah, I think so and the universe only knows how many times since. Sadly, I got the ultimate whatever version a while back and haven't played for more than a few minutes. I don't hate it, it just didn't really grab me.
Ironically the only sci fi RPG-style game I've truly enjoyed in the last 10 years, and I know I'll lose any credibility for admitting it was ME: Andromeda. I played, and after a bit completely ignored the name and just enjoyed it as some kind of stand alone game not connected to the franchise. Actually completed the campaign for that one. I still will occasionally load up my last save just to do some off world off roading.
Meanwhile I've tried multiple times to get into No Man's and Starfield and end up getting bored at some point although I'll probably try again with each at some point because I figure something's there to enjoy. I got SW Outlaws on black Friday for almost half off, and that included the DLC but got bored after a few hours. I still intend to give it another shot though.
No man's sky was... not for.me.
Stsrfield was fun but their odd groundhog life esq gameplay was rather crap.
Im with you on the first iteration of this game.. I gave I a couple hours and never got into it.
I might try outlaws when the Uber edition is super cheap. Until then... probably not.
I got the first one I think for free from Prime gaming on GoG. A Humble deal got me the Spacer's Choice edition on Steam and then it was free on Epic at one point.
I can wait for lower prices on #2.