PREVIEW – The Outer Worlds 2 will feature a world twice as large as the first game. With more than 90 unique perks for character customization — surpassing Starfield’s 82 skills — Obsidian is aiming to stand out through its trademark self-deprecating humor, sharp parodies of industry norms, and more focused, deliberate gameplay.

Despite some major differences, Starfield and The Outer Worlds are often compared. Both are first-person, narrative-driven sci-fi RPGs created by studios renowned for their storytelling — Bethesda and Obsidian Entertainment. While the comparison may seem natural at first glance, the two games are worlds apart: Starfield’s massive universe, The Outer Worlds’ tighter narrative, and their fundamentally different gameplay philosophies make direct comparisons difficult. Still, it feels like The Outer Worlds 2 is being crafted as Obsidian’s deliberate response to Starfield — justified or not.

Based on everything revealed so far, the sequel remains true to the original’s spirit while introducing meaningful improvements in gameplay, character progression, and world-building. The goal is clear: to celebrate the strengths of the first game while addressing where Bethesda’s epic might have missed the mark.

The Outer Worlds 2 Gets Bigger Without Losing Its Soul

One of the clearest differences between Starfield and The Outer Worlds has always been scale. Starfield promised players more than 1,000 planets to explore. Although impressive at first, many gamers quickly found themselves wandering across empty, repetitive worlds. Even with about 1,700 celestial bodies available, only a small number truly felt alive or engaging.

The Outer Worlds, on the other hand, excels by offering a smaller, denser universe filled with rich storytelling. It didn’t need endless planets to create an immersive experience. With The Outer Worlds 2, Obsidian plans to double the size of the original’s world — not just to compete with Starfield in scale, but to expand thoughtfully while preserving the tight narrative focus that made the original special.

The Outer Worlds 2 Enhances Character Progression

Size wasn’t the only thing Starfield boasted. Its progression system was massive too, offering 82 skills to unlock compared to the original Outer Worlds’ 42. This time, The Outer Worlds 2 is taking things even further with over 90 unique perks, giving players even more freedom to shape their characters to fit their own playstyle.

By building a deeper customization system, Obsidian isn’t just closing the gap — it might actually leap ahead of Starfield when it comes to letting players forge their own unique experiences. It’s a quiet but confident move that shows The Outer Worlds 2 isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with Bethesda’s sci-fi juggernaut.

The Outer Worlds 2 Doubles Down on Its Signature Humor

Starfield had its lighter moments, but they never came close to matching the sharp, satirical tone that defined The Outer Worlds. Obsidian clearly knows this and has doubled down on its trademark humor for the sequel, gleefully aiming at gaming industry clichés and corporate nonsense.

One trailer even joked: “Everything you wanted in the first game: more action, more guns, and… more graphics?” That spirit of irreverence feels like a breath of fresh air, especially compared to Starfield’s vast but sterile universe.

Ultimately, The Outer Worlds 2 isn’t trying to win a contest of size. Instead, it’s offering a sharper, more carefully crafted sci-fi adventure — one that embraces the strengths of its predecessor while skillfully avoiding the pitfalls that bogged down Bethesda’s space epic. If Starfield represents quantity, The Outer Worlds 2 is aiming squarely at quality: a larger world, but every inch of it intentionally designed.

-Gergely Herpai “BadSector”-