Obsidian VP Marcus Morgan has only recently acknowledged the persistent online calls for Fallout: New Vegas 2, but he emphasized the studio’s enthusiasm for building and refining new franchises such as The Outer Worlds and Avowed.
Echoing praise for deep, emergent RPGs like Baldur’s Gate 3 — and perhaps unconsciously flattering the style of games Warhorse Studios creates — Vávra urged Obsidian and other RPG developers to deliver “a living, simulated world,” genuine nonlinearity, and systems that go beyond recycled mechanics such as conveyorized loot, repetitive maintenance tasks, loading interruptions, and level‑grind in heavily scripted environments.
It’s odd that loot boxes were mentioned — that system isn’t present in The Outer Worlds 2 — but his broader point about subjectivity in game design has merit. While The Outer Worlds 2 expands on its predecessor, it still feels more tightly focused than some of the sprawling, open‑ended RPGs released in recent years.
Back in 2019, our review of The Outer Worlds scored it 4/5. Our review of The Outer Worlds 2 awarded 4.5/5, praising inventive problem solving, consequential choices, and strong writing. In February, our Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 review earned 4/5 for its “vast, beautifully realised and believable open world” and “open‑ended quests.” Each title approaches the RPG template differently, and each has its supporters.
Broader critical reaction mirrors this split within the RPG community. Metacritic lists The Outer Worlds at 85 — one point ahead of its sequel — while Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 sits at 88. On Metacritic, a difference of a few points can represent a meaningful gap.
Addressing the budget question, Vávra suggested that “I would bet that budget for KCD2 was WAY LOWER, than Outer Worlds 2,” implying production cost alone doesn’t explain differences in design direction.
He also weighed in on custom characters, noting that, in his view, “KCD could easily have player-designed character which would not affect the RPG part at all. Only story would be harder to make.”
Vávra’s 7/10 for The Outer Worlds 2 falls within the broader range of responses rather than standing as a dramatic outlier. Obsidian’s leaner, narrative‑driven RPGs have garnered dedicated followings even as there’s audible demand for the sprawling, emergent experiences fans remember from New Vegas. While I, too, sometimes long for a 100‑hour epic, there’s value in having varied RPG formats — not every game needs to be a time sink. Personally, I’m content to enjoy multiple styles instead of ranking them in a zero‑sum contest.
Obsidian aims to define an “Obsidian RPG” identity with titles like The Outer Worlds 2 and Avowed, rather than simply emulating existing hits such as Baldur’s Gate 3 or Cyberpunk 2077.
Source: gamesradar.com
