The Outer Worlds 2 Gets Companions Trailer at Gamescom 2025 ONL
Geoff Keighley’s Gamescom Opening Night Live 2025 delivered another round of major reveals, and one of the highlights was Obsidian Entertainment’s latest showcase for The Outer Worlds 2. The newly released trailer focuses on the game’s companions, offering fans a closer look at the allies who will accompany them on their journey. In typical Obsidian fashion, the video takes a humorous jab by clarifying that players will not be able to romance or sleep with companions, underscoring the studio’s earlier stance that they prefer not to include romance at all rather than implement it in a limited, half-hearted way.
While the first The Outer Worlds (2019) was developed under the modest budget provided by Private Division, Obsidian’s sequel is a far more ambitious project, backed fully by Microsoft following its acquisition of the studio. The team has emphasized that The Outer Worlds 2 aims to improve on every aspect of the original, from narrative design and exploration to combat systems and companion integration.
One of the most notable gameplay changes is the removal of the respec feature. Game Director Brandon Adler explained the reasoning, stating:
"Look, if we're going to do The Outer Worlds 2, I want to make sure that the role playing is really strong. I want to make sure that you're building your character and really doubling down – making sure that role-playing comes through the whole experience."
This design choice forces players to commit to their character builds, enhancing replayability and deepening the role-playing experience.
The game did face controversy earlier this year when pre-orders went live with a $79.99 base price. Following significant backlash from fans, Microsoft reduced the price to $69.99, aligning it with current-gen AAA standards.
The Outer Worlds 2 is set to launch on October 29, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. On PC, it will support NVIDIA DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation and ray tracing, ensuring enhanced performance and visual fidelity. This marks Obsidian’s third major release in 2025, following Avowed and Grounded 2, cementing the studio’s prolific year.
Engagement Question:
What do you think about Obsidian’s decision to remove respecs in The Outer Worlds 2 — does it strengthen role-playing or limit player freedom?
