As it stands, Xbox could have an incredible year in 2025. While onlyAvowedhas a concrete release date, it could be joined byThe Outer Worlds 2(also from Obsidian Entertainment),South of Midnight(Compulsion Games),Doom: The Dark Ages(id Software),Towerborne(developed by Stoic, currently available in Steam Early Access), andFable(Playground Games). While some of these titles could still be delayed, it’s an impressive line-up even if it were spread across two years.
Obsidian Entertainment confirmed it was working onThe Outer Worlds 2a few years ago, but at The Game Awards 2024, it announced a 2025 release date. This was a big surprise given that Obsidian is also launchingAvowedin February 2024. Notably,Avowedwas delayed into February to “balance out the number of games on Xbox’s Game Pass service,” according to Phil Spencer. Given this, it does make more sense, but ultimately,Avowedwill still play an important role inThe Outer Worlds 2’s presence next year. With it set to release next year, though, it’s important fans keep their expectations in check.
Avowed Will Play the Guiding Hand in Early 2025
BecauseAvowedreleases in February, fans can expect most of Xbox and Obsidian’s marketing to be focused on it in the early year. Avowed will dominate the conversation week to week, at least for the first 2-3 months of the year. While it’s hard to predict whenThe Outer Worlds 2will come out, the smart money says near the end of 2025. OnceAvowedhas shipped, some time passes, and Obsidian is ready to pushThe Outer Worlds 2, that’s when fans can expect to hear more about it, likely in a similar cadence too. Looking at the timeline, fans will probably hear Outer Worlds 2around summer and maybe just a little bit before then.
Will The Outer Worlds 2 Be at Xbox’s Rumored January Direct?
Xbox has held a developer direct in January for the past two years, and rumors suggesta third one is going to happen in January 2025as well.
If so, then Xbox has a lot to show off - especially iftheOblivionremake rumorsare true. As such, it would not be surprising to seeThe Outer Worlds 2there as well (if it turns out to be true), but it will likely have a small presence compared to other games. Around Summer Game Fest is when the floodgates forThe Outer Worlds 2will likely open.
The Build to The Outer Worlds 2’s Release
Once Xbox and Obsidian decide to start pushingThe Outer Worlds 2, there’s still so much left to reveal and that should make for an exciting cycle. Very few concrete details are known about the game.
The Outer Worlds 2has received two trailers, showing off a tone and aesthetic very much in line with the first game, but also poking humorously at its own development. While that tongue-in-cheek approach will likely continue, fans can expect the normal retinue of trailers, interviews, and marketing around its world, story, characters, and protagonist. Luckily, as an Obsidian RPG and a sequel, fans can have some reasonable expectations about that.
Of course, there are two caveats with these expectations, suggesting they remain in check for some time. First, it’s not certain what the exact scope ofThe Outer Worlds 2is or what twice as big exactly means. Although a reasonable expectation is similar toAvowedandThe Outer Worlds 1,it could genuinely be bigger, but only time will tell. This also doesn’t account for any surprises yet to be revealed regarding the game. The second is the presumption thatThe Outer Worlds 2will make its 2025 release date. Delays can happen; any game can be delayed at any time for any number of reasons. While it’s exciting that it’s possible to getThe Outer Worlds 2in 2025, it’s hard to say for sure that it will and that could possibly throw a wrench in everything.
If Obsidian does release it in 2025, it’s going to be a great year for the company and for Xbox. Even if it doesn’t, it’s so exciting to know thattwo Obsidian RPGsare possible all within two years, as the furthest it would likely get delayed is into 2026.
