Hands-on Preview of The Outer Worlds 2 – Experience the Unique Demo

When I received the invitation from Xbox PR for a digital preview of The Outer Worlds 2, I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement. Previously, they had offered a sneak peek into Avowed, and that demo significantly heightened my anticipation for the game’s release. The extensive demo allowed players to explore the vibrant world of *Avowed*, particularly the initial region, Dawnshore, and gain valuable insights into what the full game would promise. Additionally, it introduced companions, a beloved feature in Obsidian’s RPGs.

Regrettably, the demo for The Outer Worlds 2 was much more restrictive. It commenced at what seemed to be the game’s opening sequence—similar to *Avowed*’s approach—but lacked depth beyond the introductory mission. I later learned that this same demo was presented at Gamescom 2025, where time constraints justified its limited scope. However, for a digital preview, it fell short of expectations.

This demo did not include any companions, leaving players to tackle the mission solo. Moreover, it lacked an expansive environment, such as the explore-able regions seen in *Avowed*.The mission presented—though straightforward—did not highlight the “much more expansive worlds”that the developers had recently promoted, nor did it reveal the exciting new gadgets previously showcased.

While players could choose different paths during the mission, relying on skills like Eloquence to persuade an NPC into disabling security systems or employing Hacking, Engineering, or Lockpicking to access locked areas, these mechanics were already familiar from the original *The Outer Worlds*.I had anticipated a glimpse of fresh innovations, but this demo did not deliver on that front.

Another noteworthy feature of this installment was the option for a third-person view, absent in its predecessor. Players can select from a close or distant camera perspective in the game settings. In my opinion, while this serves accessibility purposes, the animation quality in third-person does not match up to the first-person experience, which remains the more engaging option.

Obsidian had also claimed to refine the shooting mechanics based on feedback from Bungie’s Halo and Destiny. The improvements are discernible; shooting feels more robust, yet it doesn’t quite reach the caliber of leading shooters in the market. Unfortunately, melee combat still lacks the depth seen in *Avowed*, and the absence of a dodge button is a setback.

Futuristic lab with glowing weapon, two figures aiming, sci-fi atmosphere, vibrant technology.

The game mechanics heavily rely on the return of the ‘Tactical Time Dilation’ feature, which slows down time, essential for surviving difficult encounters. While the sequel introduces destructible cover, this aspect wasn’t included in the demo version.

From a technical perspective, *The Outer Worlds 2* is built on Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant upgrade from the previous title’s engine. While the visual enhancements are noticeable, they might not meet expectations, even with advanced features like ray-traced lighting and shadows. The game also supports High Dynamic Range (HDR) on compatible displays, although its integration may need further refinement.

PC players have a variety of graphics settings available to customize their experience, including a frame rate limiter, various upscaling options (TAA, TSR, AMD FSR 3, Intel XeSS, and NVIDIA DLSS), a Field of View slider, and a toggle for Chromatic Aberration. During my playthrough using an RTX 5090 paired with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D, the demo ran smoothly without stuttering, although this was just a brief segment. The larger open-world areas will be the true test. With the game set for release on PlayStation 5 as well, I had hoped for support of the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers, but it appears to offer only standard rumble.

Futuristic market bazaar with neon lights and eclectic signs, creating a vibrant, bustling atmosphere.

Final Thoughts

Despite the underwhelming nature of this preview, I maintain optimism that Obsidian will succeed in delivering an engaging and robust RPG experience with *The Outer Worlds 2*.Unfortunately, the demo did not permit much exploration of its new features and advancements.

With the full release just two months away on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, I eagerly look forward to our comprehensive review ahead of the scheduled launch on October 29.

Source & Images