The Outer Worlds 2 launches on October 29 (with an early release on October 24 for those who pre-order the Premium Edition). If you’re wondering whether you should replay the original before diving into the sequel, it’s helpful but not required — the sequel does not mechanically inherit the first game’s endings.

In a conversation with creative director Leonard Boyarsky, he made it clear that the sequel stands apart. The new story unfolds in a different colony, so the specific conclusions you reached in the first game won’t be directly reflected in your Outer Worlds 2 experience.

Boyarsky explained that while The Outer Worlds 2 takes place on a separate colony called Arcadia — distinct from the first game’s Halcyon — there will still be nods to prior events. These references are intended as Easter eggs and worldbuilding rather than direct continuations of player choices; they reward fans without requiring prior knowledge.

Director Brandon Adler added that the franchise’s design philosophy favors placing each entry in a new colony so Obsidian can tell fresh stories. Returning to Halcyon would have forced the team either to declare one canonical ending or to account for every possible outcome from the first game — a complexity they deliberately avoided.

For a deeper look, Game Informer’s cover story on The Outer Worlds 2 is available to subscribers. If you’re curious for more details, check out their roundup of eight facts about the game’s opening biome, Paradise Island, the exclusive gameplay preview from Paradise Island, the article about in-game pets (yes, you can pet them), and the piece on how third-person play was integrated into the sequel.

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Do you prefer a sequel that starts fresh in a new setting, or would you rather see your previous choices continue? Share your thoughts in the comments.