Steam Summer Sale Deal Makes The Outer Worlds 2 Worth Playing Now
The annual Steam Summer Sale is live, and The Outer Worlds 2 is currently discounted in a way that’s difficult to ignore. Last year, Obsidian’s sequel delivered a fresh sci-fi RPG experience while carrying forward the original’s sharp, joke-filled tone—and it also improved a number of the systems that made the first outing such a memorable genre detour. If you’ve been waiting to jump into Obsidian Entertainment’s latest release, you can grab The Outer Worlds 2 for 50% off on Steam for a limited window.
As for Fallout 5, fans may want to prepare for a longer wait before Bethesda formally shows what’s next. With Elder Scrolls 6 still absent from the conversation even eight years after its trailer reveal, it’s possible Bethesda won’t be ready to unveil Fallout 5 for several more years. That uncertainty is frustrating—though the good news for sci-fi RPG players is that the Steam Summer Sale provides a “best available” alternative in the form of this The Outer Worlds 2 deal.
Even with some hesitation about paying for nostalgia, this survival horror remake has proven to be genuinely strong—and it’s an easy recommendation during the Steam Summer Sale.
The Outer Worlds 2 May Not Be a Perfect Game, But It’s a Fun Sci-Fi RPG Worth Your Time
When Obsidian Entertainment’s satirical RPG sequel released last year, it landed with mixed reviews. That kind of reception tends to discourage some players from trying a game right away, but The Outer Worlds 2 is still worth your time—especially if you care more about how the gameplay works than about the overall narrative. In terms of moment-to-moment systems, the sequel improves on its predecessor in nearly every area.
Pick your cover art and start plugging in the pieces.
Role-playing and combat feel noticeably stronger this time, and the Flaw System returns with additional layers. If you haven’t heard of Flaws in The Outer Worlds 2, they function as a perk-style mechanic that assigns your character both a benefit and a drawback tied to what you do in the game. It leans into the series’ playful sense of humor, but it also adds a deeper gameplay dimension: your choices can lead to consequences that stick, making your character feel more grounded over time.
For instance, one Flaw players can take is Bad Knees. If you have your character crouch too often, you’ll gain 50% faster crouch movement speed—however, your knees will also produce a cracking noise. That sound can be picked up by NPCs within a 10-meter range. Even though Flaws grant permanent penalties, the game still gives you the option to refuse Flaws when offered.
There Are Plenty of Pros in The Outer Worlds 2, But There Are Also Some Cons to Consider
- Disappointing story
- Uninteresting protagonists
- Repetitive and empty map sections
- Limited progression
Whether The Outer Worlds 2 handles these areas well or poorly will depend heavily on personal taste, but these are among the most common criticisms the game has faced since launch. The upside is that there are plenty of The Outer Worlds 2 mods available, and some of them can quickly address key pain points.
Also worth keeping in mind: even though Obsidian Entertainment is the team behind Fallout: New Vegas, it still has its own identity separate from the Fallout series. So, you shouldn’t go in expecting a New Vegas-style spiritual successor.
Fallout 5 Is Still Likely Years Away, Making The Outer Worlds 2 a Great Placeholder
Last year marked a full decade since Fallout 4 released, and Bethesda has largely stayed quiet about the next mainline entry since then. Over the years, Todd Howard interviews have teased Fallout 5 in small ways, confirming it’s on Bethesda’s task list, but there hasn’t been much in the way of specific updates. Fans still don’t have a release timeline to hold onto, which naturally causes concern.
Whether The Outer Worlds 2 succeeds or fails at these features is going to be deeply subjective depending on a player’s preference…
There have been leaks and rumors suggesting Elder Scrolls 6 might not arrive until 2028 or 2029. If that timing holds, it would be reasonable to expect Fallout fans to wait into the 2030s for the next mainline installment. While leaks deserve skepticism, it’s still hard to ignore how plausible it sounds that there could be 15 years or more between major Fallout releases.
Of course, players can always revisit earlier Fallout entries, but the Steam Summer Sale is a convenient chance to try something new at half the usual price. Fallout 76 has been carrying the franchise since 2018, and while it’s improved a lot since launch, it can still start to feel repetitive for some players. In that context, The Outer Worlds 2 works as a refreshing alternative that still scratches a familiar sci-fi RPG itch.
The Steam Summer Sale runs until July 9, so there are still several days left to take advantage of this discount.
The Outer Worlds 2 might not be a perfect 10/10 experience, but it shouldn’t keep anyone from checking it out. At the moment, it’s a solid AAA release available for just $35. The 2025 lineup featured plenty of major surprises that pulled attention away, and that ended up sidelining The Outer Worlds 2. Titles like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and ARC Raiders dominated the conversation, and while that excitement was justified, some players may have missed a strong space RPG in the process.
Right now, the idea that Fallout 5 won’t land until the 2030s is becoming more likely. With the Fallout television series finding success, Bethesda’s slower pace could make it difficult to fully capitalize on the momentum. Still, the wait may end up paying off. In the end, only time will tell. For now, there are plenty of excellent sci-fi RPGs to help fill the gap—but The Outer Worlds 2 should be near the top of Steam users’ lists.
