Obsidian Entertainment has revealed that the upcoming game The Outer Worlds 2 will hit the shelves at a reduced cost compared to the original price quoted. This unexpected decrease from $80 to $70 occurred mere months before the scheduled launch on October 29, sparking curiosity among gamers about potential internal developments at Xbox. While this price reduction might be welcome news for many players, it has also stirred speculation regarding the circumstances within Xbox.
Upon disclosing that The Outer Worlds 2 would retail at $80 last month, players weren’t particularly fond of this decision. This move marked the debut of a presumed new pricing norm for AAA games, initially pioneered by Nintendo with Mario Kart World. In response to the negative feedback generated by The Outer Worlds 2, as well as some seemingly uninspiring data from behind the scenes, Microsoft has now decided against sticking to this $80 price point for all future AAA first-party games.
On July 23rd, Obsidian officially announced that “The Outer Worlds 2” will retail at $70, which aligns with the usual cost of AAA games in today’s market. Pre-orders made at a higher price for “The Outer Worlds 2” are eligible for a $10 refund. Additionally, as previously stated, the game is set to be accessible on Xbox Game Pass from launch day.
Although Obsidian presented this decision as a consumer-friendly response to feedback, it raises concerns about whether Microsoft might have noticed concerningly low full-priced pre-orders for “The Outer Worlds 2”, leading them to adjust the initially proposed $80 price tag.
The Outer Worlds 2 Might Have Flopped Because of the $80 Price Tag
In the bustling fall season, “The Outer Worlds 2” will be joined by notable releases such as “Ghost of Yotei,” “Ninja Gaiden 4,” “Battlefield 6,” “Borderlands 4,” and others. Preliminary estimates suggest that at a price tag of $80, the Obsidian-developed sci-fi RPG might struggle with full-price sales due to competition. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the game’s day one launch on Xbox Game Pass, as players could potentially subscribe for a short period, complete the entire game, and then cancel their subscription – effectively playing the game at a fraction of the $80 price. This scenario would undeniably result in significant financial losses for both Microsoft and Obsidian, highlighting one of the ways that Game Pass can impact premium game sales.
Despite the motivation behind it, the reduction in the price of The Outer Worlds 2 is a welcomed move for fans of Obsidian Entertainment, and may boost its potential success amidst the crowded fall season for sci-fi RPGs. It’s intriguing to speculate whether this decision will prompt Microsoft to reevaluate the $80 price point for future Xbox exclusive titles. It might be that such a high-quality game as Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the only one deserving of an $80 tag.
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2025-07-26 14:36