Obsidian Entertainment’s 2019 game The Outer Worlds was well-received by fans and critics, leading to many players expecting a follow-up sequel. Though nothing has been confirmed yet, there are rumors that The Outer Worlds 2 is already in pre-production, leading to speculation about what the sequel will entail. Whether it’s speculation about the upcoming plotline, the game’s location, or even the roster of characters involved, players have quite a few different theories about what the next The Outer Worlds game could tackle.
Though it comes from a different sci-fi realm, Mass Effect could teach The Outer Worlds something to its upcoming sequel with a mechanic that would work well in-game. The Mass Effect games are known for player’s choices having consequences, something The Outer Worlds dabbled in as well, but Mass Effect carries the choices over from one game to the next. The Outer Worlds had two very different endings depending on what players decided, and the sequel could benefit greatly from implementing a similar mechanic that makes players feel like their choices mattered in the original game.
The 'Choice' Mechanic
Mass Effect definitely isn’t the first game to use a “choice” mechanic that has players make difficult decisions with lasting consequences, however it is the most relevant to The Outer Worlds. The Mass Effect series had some heartbreaking moments (some of which were avoidable, some of which weren’t), but other times players have complained that some of their actions really didn’t have any consequences further down the line. The endings to the Mass Effect trilogy were criticized for this as well, with many players feeling like their choices had no impact on the game's three endings, each lackluster for different reasons.
Parts of the “choice” mechanic have already been used in The Outer Worlds, especially leading up to the different endings of the game. The two main endings conclude the game with The Board maintaining its power or being brought down entirely, which will make for two very different Halcyon colonies if the sequel is linear and directly follows the events of the previous game. There’s a third ending that’s only unlocked if players have below-average intelligence and choose to skip the Hope to the Sun, resulting in the “Sunburn” achievement, but this instant-death ending isn’t exactly canon.
What The Outer Worlds Sequel Could Be
Throughout The Outer Worlds, players decide which factions they want to align themselves with (or make enemies out of), but the endings will still result in The Board maintaining or losing power. For these decisions to really have an impact, a linear sequel would have to avoid making either ending canon, which could quickly turn into more trouble than it’s worth because they’re such different endings. However, there is a way for a linear sequel to work, even with two different Halycon colonies.
While a sequel could actually turn into a prequel to avoid making one ending canon, it could go a different way, too. At the end of the game, players are informed that Earth went dark about three years prior — meaning The Board and everyone in the colony has had no contact with Earth. Not only does no one know what could've happened on Earth to cut communications entirely, but that also means the Halcyon colony is now completely alone in space.
A sequel set on Earth would let players experience first-hand the issues plaguing the planet left behind, while also knowing what has happened to the Halcyon colony. It would also avoid making one ending canon, and the player’s previous decisions would only have an impact on the game when the playable character makes contact with Halcyon from Earth — assuming that’s even how the sequel would go.
For now, there’s more rumors and speculation than actual answers about the future of The Outer Worlds and its potential sequel, but players can look forward to the new Murder on Eridanos DLC coming out sometime this year.
The Outer Worlds is available now for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.