Since The Outer Worlds released in 2019, fans have been pretty eager to see what’s next for the Halcyon colony. Obsidian Entertainment introduced players to a pseudo-open world game full of interesting crew companions and lots of dark humor revolving around capitalism. While there have been critiques of how short the base game is, the additional DLC added anywhere from 6 to 8 hours of additional gameplay per DLC item. The Outer Worlds supposedly already has a sequel in the works, and the way the game ends actually opens it up to a lot of potential possibilities.
Unlike a lot of games, especially ones designed to have multiple entries into the franchise, things in The Outer Worlds pretty much wrap up with a bow at the end of the game. It has very little set up for a sequel, which ironically makes it the best contender for a sequel. Lots of players are already itching for The Outer Worlds 2, but there’s really no telling what the upcoming game will entail plotline-wise or if it's really in development. Given the way things end in The Outer Worlds, a sequel or prequel could be in order precisely because there’s little to no setup.
The End of The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is driven by choice, which bodes well for players but not so well for direct sequels unless there’s a Mass Effect-like mechanic where choices from the first game import into the next. However, regardless of what players choose during their playthrough, the conclusion of the game gives definitive answers to what happens to the crew as well as the Stranger. Whether players choose to side with the Board or Phineas Welles, it’s known that the Stranger has forever changed the fabric of Halcyon.
The decision to fully wrap up the Stranger’s story as well as the crew’s stories bodes well for a sequel, though it may mean that this is the end of the line for players and the Stranger. One aspect that isn’t addressed very much in-game is the fact that Earth has gone dark—no one has heard from the planet or knows what’s going on there. It’s become a popular fan theory that The Outer Worlds 2 could take place on Earth with a new set of characters. However, this isn’t the only potential for an Outer Worlds sequel.
Why The Outer Worlds Sequel Works Better than Most
Obviously, there’s no clear setup for The Outer Worlds 2, which makes the development of the game all the more interesting. A lot of times, game setups for sequels feel ham-fisted and too on the nose. It becomes clear that players will not only return to the same place, but they’ll also take on the same player character and interact with the same group of characters. This can work in some cases, especially when the primary threat can’t be eliminated in one game, but other times it feels melodramatic and overblown. There’s also something to be said for the expectation fans have for a sequel and how they’re often let down based on the grandiose setup from the previous game.
The Outer Worlds doesn’t have this issue because there is no setup. There are only vague crumbs that players can run with and create theories about, but otherwise, there’s absolutely nothing set in stone concerning The Outer Worlds 2. While it’s possible the sequel could entail a new story on Earth, it’s also equally as likely that players return to the Halcyon colony either as the Stranger or someone else entirely. The Outer Worlds sequel plotline is nothing more than speculation at this point, but that’s what makes it unique and exciting. Despite the irony of having no sequel setup, The Outer Worlds 2 is undoubtedly in a fantastic place as far as sequels go.
The Outer Worlds 2 is rumored to be in development.