Obsidian originally meant the The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition upgrade as a free thank-you to players who had already purchased the base version of its sci-fi RPG, but unclear communication has left part of the community feeling misled. PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S owners have a simpler path, while PS4 and Xbox One players are now caught between DLC requirements, platform limitations and a wave of explanations that arrived too late.
Obsidian has found itself in another uncomfortable controversy, this time not because of the quality of a new game, but because of the way it communicated changes around The Outer Worlds. In late April, the studio announced that the original version of The Outer Worlds would be removed from most digital storefronts, with the Spacer’s Choice Edition remaining as the main available version going forward. That decision came with what should have been good news: players who had previously purchased the base game on PC, PS5 or Xbox Series X/S would receive the enhanced edition for free.
The problem began when Obsidian extended that initiative to PS4 and Xbox One users under more complicated conditions. In its April 30 Steam announcement, the studio wrote: “If you have at least the base edition of The Outer Worlds in your library before May 27th, you will be receiving the Spacer’s Choice Edition free. That’s right, free! This is for all platforms that the Spacer’s Choice Edition is on (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG).” Later in the same post, it also stated: “After May 27th to upgrade to the Spacer’s Choice Edition from the base game on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, you will need to own the base game and both DLCs for The Outer Worlds.”
For many players, that wording suggested that buying only the base version of The Outer Worlds on PS4 or Xbox One before May 27 would also make them eligible for the free Spacer’s Choice Edition upgrade. Those same users are now discovering that the special edition is not being granted automatically unless they also own both DLC packs. Criticism quickly spread across social media, and one Obsidian explanation underlined the issue: “We apologize for the confusion. Due to unforeseen platform limitations, owners of the digital versions on Xbox One and PS4 will need to own both DLC packs to receive the upgrade [to the Spacer’s Choice Edition].”
A Thank-You Gesture That Went Wrong
The situation escalated to the point where Obsidian moved beyond explanations and issued a broader apology on X. The studio acknowledged that players had reason to be upset and presented the original intention behind the upgrade. “The Spacer’s Choice Edition upgrade was intended to say ‘thank you’ to anyone who purchased The Outer Worlds base game by providing them a free upgrade to the newly improved version,” the message began.
Obsidian then admitted that the plan had not been executed as smoothly as intended: “However, due to various restrictions and technical issues, we were unable to implement it as smoothly as we would have liked, and our players are understandably upset.” That line matters because the studio is not simply shifting all responsibility onto platform holders. It is acknowledging that both the rollout and the communication around it failed to meet expectations.
The studio also said it would work with affected players who purchased the game during the problematic window. “If you purchased the base game on Xbox One or PlayStation 4 between April 30 and May 27, or are experiencing any issues with the upgrade, please contact our support team and we’ll find a solution. We apologize again for any frustration this may cause.” That may help players who bought the base game specifically because they believed the free upgrade applied to them, but it does not appear to remove the general requirement that PS4 and Xbox One users own both DLCs to qualify.
As it stands, the situation is simpler for PC players: anyone who owns the delisted base game can still expect a free upgrade to the Spacer’s Choice Edition. Eligibility is also clearer on Xbox Series X/S and PS5. The confusion mainly affects Xbox One and PS4 owners, because the base game alone may not be enough, and the two DLC packs may still be required.
The backlash has been especially strong because the original idea looked player-friendly on paper. Giving the enhanced version of an older game to existing owners for free is normally a positive gesture, especially at a time when publishers often charge again for upgraded or expanded editions. Obsidian has now learned that even a gift can become a trust problem when the conditions are unclear, vary by platform and are only fully understood after players have already made purchases.
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition remains the improved version of the original game, including its DLCs, but the confusion around the transition has overshadowed the upgrade. Obsidian is now trying to handle affected users through support, especially those caught by the April 30 to May 27 purchase window. The key question is whether the studio can provide a satisfactory solution for everyone affected, or whether this “thank you” upgrade will remain another example of how poor communication can damage an otherwise good idea.
Source: 3DJuegos, Steam, Obsidian, GamesRadar
