The Outer Worlds was one of the top-ranked games of 2019, but it didn’t stop there. Obsidian’s pseudo-open world game released a new DLC, Peril on Gorgon, in September and has another lined up for release in 2021 titled Murder on Eridanos. The first DLC added a new asteroid to the map, but there are still three locked planets on The Outer Worlds map.
One of these locked planets is Hephaestus, the one located closest to the sun on the map. Given its in-game lore and namesake, it’s entirely likely that players will be unable to visit this planet, even with the release of Murder on Eridanos; here’s why.
The Outer Worlds Lore
Though players haven’t been able to visit Hephaestus, there are references to it throughout the game. The description on the map for the planet lets players know that it’s home to the Hephaestus Mining Company, who were the first to land on the planet and claim it as their own.
It’s unclear what resources are mined on Hephaestus, but it’s entirely possible that the Company doesn’t actually mine things at all. In the game, players can follow the Hephaestus Mining Company Archive Cartridge to find the Mandibular Rearranger—a weapon made by the Company. This melee weapon literally rearranges faces with every whack. It’s a delightfully horrifying experience.
The new planet Hephaestus could be home to a fully operational facility that creates and tests outrageous science weapons. As exciting an addition this would be to The Outer Worlds, it may not add much in terms of gameplay. An operational facility would mean security, and lots of it. If players did get to infiltrate the area, it would probably look similar to the gameplay in the C&P Boarst Factory on Monarch. Lots of sneaking around and trying not to get caught by the employees or robots on the premises, and at that rate it’s probably best for players to not have access to it at all.
Hephaestus’s Namesake
Obsidian has been very careful in naming the planets of The Outer Worlds. Most planets on the map take their name from Greek mythology, and Hephaestus is no different. Players will likely not have access to this planet because of its Greek roots as well.
Hephaestus was the god of blacksmithing and craftsmanship. He was also the husband of Aphrodite, though he was not as beautiful as her. Blacksmithing requires an ample amount of fire, which makes sense when looking at how close the planet Hephaestus is on the map to the sun. The planet has the potential to introduce new perks, and be a fiery incinerator that definitely lives up to its namesake.
Mining and blacksmithing go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that Obsidian chose the name “Hephaestus” for this planet. Keeping with the theory that the planet is home to a still-functioning, completely operational mining and/or science weapon research facility, its climate would probably be too hot for players to endure. This narrative is continued with Peril on Gorgon, where [MINOR SPOILER AHEAD] one of the “The Exhilarating Adventures of Archibald Excelsior” comics mentions an underground facility on Hephaestus. If the surface of the planet is as hot as an incinerator, it makes sense that humans went underground to set up shop. The hot atmosphere, coupled with an underground facility, keeps prying eyes away from what the Hephaestus Mining Company is actually up to.
While Hephaestus is undoubtedly and interesting planet with a lot of backstory, it’s pretty likely that players will not have access to it, even with the Murder on Eridanos DLC. For now, players can continue to speculate about what each unlocked planet will entail, or pick up a controller and play Peril on Gorgon.
The Outer Worlds is available now for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.