In a rare move that shows even the biggest companies can reverse course, Microsoft has announced it’s lowering the retail price of the upcoming RPG The Outer Worlds 2 from $79.99 to $69.99 after hearing a lot of complaints from fans.
The price reduction comes after Microsoft initially positioned the sci-fi sequel at a premium $10 above the now-standard $69.99 price point for major releases. This higher price tag was met with immediate criticism from fans and industry observers when pre-orders launched.
Microsoft has confirmed that customers who already pre-ordered at the higher price will automatically receive refunds for the difference. The company also stated that its “full-priced holiday releases” will remain at $69.99 going forward, suggesting this experiment with higher pricing is over before it really began.
The Outer Worlds 2 is being developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind the original game and other beloved RPGs like Fallout: New Vegas and Pillars of Eternity. The first Outer Worlds launched in 2019 to positive reviews and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
Industry analysts suggest the reversal likely indicates disappointing pre-order numbers. Price reversals of this nature are extremely uncommon in the gaming industry, with only a handful of precedents including Creative Assembly’s Total War: Pharaoh and Capcom’s Resident Evil Revelations on 3DS.
The sequel is expected to build on the original’s formula with a larger game world and expanded mechanics. Like other Microsoft first-party titles, it will be available on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation 5, with day-one access for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.
