Microsoft has revised the pricing strategy for The Outer Worlds 2, reducing it to the typical $70 from its initially announced $80 price. The Xbox parent company stated that it will maintain the standard pricing of $69.99 for its full-price holiday releases, including the upcoming RPG developed by Obsidian Entertainment. The original price of the standard edition of The Outer Worlds 2 was announced at $79.99 during the Xbox Games Showcase in June, following Microsoft’s earlier declaration of increased prices for some of its first-party titles.
Price Adjustment for The Outer Worlds 2
Obsidian Entertainment confirmed the new pricing through a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, also announcing that it would reimburse the price difference to players who had pre-ordered the game through approved platforms.
“We received your SOS via skip drone regarding the pricing,” Obsidian mentioned in an update on its site. “As an organization committed to ensuring that corporations don’t operate unchecked, we have collaborated with [REDACTED] to adjust the price of The Outer Worlds 2. While this may not resolve galactic tensions, we assure you that we strive to support all colonies in every way possible.”
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
In a statement shared via IGN, Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to delivering outstanding gaming experiences, stating: “We’re focused on providing players with exceptional 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.”
Obsidian outlined the refund process for various digital storefronts, including Steam, Battle.net, Xbox/Windows, and PlayStation. For Steam, transactions will automatically be adjusted to the new $69.99 price (approximately Rs. 5,499 in India). On Battle.net, pre-orders will be canceled, and players will need to place new orders at the updated price if they wish. Users on Xbox/Windows and PlayStation will receive a direct refund of the $10 difference.
The $80 Price Debate
The Outer Worlds 2 was initially showcased with a price tag of $79.99 during a Direct presentation that followed the Xbox Games Showcase held on June 8. This revelation came after Microsoft announced in May that it would be increasing prices for its Xbox games, consoles, and accessories, citing factors such as market conditions and escalating development costs. The company indicated that some of its first-party titles would see price hikes to $80 this holiday season.
Discussions regarding the $80 price point for AAA games have intensified in recent months. Nintendo’s recent launch of the flagship title Mario Kart World for $80 in June, contrasted with its decision to price Donkey Kong Bananza at $70 just this month.
Following extensive speculation about the pricing of Borderlands 4, publisher 2K and developer Gearbox announced last month that the game would not follow the $80 trend, sticking to the $70 benchmark instead. Prior to this, Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford faced backlash for suggesting that a “real fan” would not mind paying $80 for a game.
The Outer Worlds 2 is set to be released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S/X on October 29.
