Obsidian Entertainment is preparing to launch The Outer Worlds 2, and Game Director Brandon Adler is making one thing clear: players are hungry for richer, more complex RPG experiences. Set to release on October 29 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, this sequel aims to elevate everything that defined the 2019 original – world-building, reactivity, and, above all, the depth of its role-playing mechanics.
In an interview with Danny Peña, Adler reflected on what players expect from modern RPGs and how the team at Obsidian has learned from the first game. 
“The biggest thing for me is that players want deeper RPGs,” Adler explained. He noted that the industry has spent years streamlining systems and trimming complexity in pursuit of accessibility. While that approach works for certain titles, it often leaves long-time fans unsatisfied. “Players want the crunchy number stuff,” he said, emphasizing that people crave the freedom to experiment with builds, stats, and choices that feel meaningful. According to Adler, The Outer Worlds 2 is a direct response to that desire: a game where player agency and consequence take center stage again.
Adler, who previously directed DLCs for Pillars of Eternity: Deadfire, is stepping into the lead role on a large-scale project for the first time. That experience, he said, has inspired a return to Obsidian’s roots – titles like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity that prioritized rich narrative design and moral choice. “It’s been about rediscovering that old-school Obsidian DNA,” Adler said. “We want to modernize those ideas while keeping what made them special – the depth, the agency, the sense that your actions genuinely matter.”
That philosophy resonates strongly with RPG fans who have recently embraced titles like Baldur’s Gate 3. Its overwhelming success proved there’s a real appetite for intricate, reactive worlds where every decision ripples through the narrative. In contrast, The Outer Worlds (2019) received praise for its humor and retro-futuristic aesthetic but was sometimes criticized for being too safe, too compact. Adler and his team seem determined to address that feedback head-on. The sequel reportedly features larger environments, expanded factions, and far more branching dialogue and outcome paths than before.
While early previews of The Outer Worlds 2 only showcased the prologue, many expect the full release to reveal a deeper and more ambitious experience. For Obsidian, this isn’t just about making a sequel – it’s about proving that narrative-driven RPGs can evolve without losing their soul. The promise is clear: every choice, stat, and moral dilemma should feel personal, and every consequence should feel earned.
As Obsidian prepares to release its second major RPG of the year – following Avowed and the early access debut of Grounded 2 – the studio’s creative momentum is undeniable. Adler’s comments suggest that The Outer Worlds 2 will serve as both a love letter to traditional role-playing fans and a bold step forward in redefining what modern RPGs can achieve. If it succeeds, it might just stand as one of the year’s defining moments for the genre.