Xbox has announced it will not be increasing the price of The Outer Worlds 2 to 80 dollars, confirming that the game, along with its other full-priced holiday releases, will remain at 69.99 dollars. The decision comes just weeks after Xbox drew criticism for initially planning to set The Outer Worlds 2 as its first-ever 80 dollar title.
A spokesperson for the company explained that the price adjustment reflects current market conditions and reaffirms Xbox’s commitment to delivering immersive game worlds at a fair value. ‘We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore,’ the company announced, ‘and will keep our full-priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at 69.99 dollars.’
Players who pre-ordered the game for 80 dollars will be eligible for refunds or partial reimbursements depending on where the purchase was made. Xbox said notifications would be sent out through the relevant storefronts or platforms, though some outlets may take a few days to process the refund.
The pricing controversy erupted earlier this month when Xbox revealed that The Outer Worlds 2 would launch at 80 dollars, citing increased development costs as justification. The announcement was met with pushback, especially given that the original Outer Worlds launched in 2019 for 60 dollars and was noted for its satirical, anti-corporate narrative. Many fans saw the price hike as contradicting the spirit of the franchise.
Originally developed by Obsidian Entertainment, The Outer Worlds is a narrative-driven role-playing game set in a dystopian, corporatized solar system. Its sequel, The Outer Worlds 2, was officially unveiled with a teaser trailer in 2021, and though still without a firm release date, it remains one of the most anticipated RPGs among Xbox’s upcoming exclusives.
Xbox’s earlier move to raise the price to 80 dollars aligned with broader industry trends. Nintendo, for example, recently launched Mario Kart World at the same price point, prompting speculation that 80 dollars might become the new standard for premium AAA releases. Xbox had also already raised prices from 60 to 70 dollars in 2023.
Still, backlash has grown in recent months as gamers grapple with the rising costs of consoles, software, and subscription services. Earlier this year, Gearbox’s Randy Pitchford faced criticism after implying that ‘real fans’ of Borderlands 4 would find a way to pay 80 dollars for it, a comment that only fuelled consumer frustration before Gearbox eventually settled on a 70 dollar price point for the game.
While on the other side of it all is Expedition 33, one of the biggest hits of 2025, still being sold for 49.99. There is a growing concern among gamers about AAA games starting to hike up to around 80 dollars, while a 30 person studio was able to deliver one of the best games of the year for significantly less.
By reversing course on The Outer Worlds 2, Xbox may be signalling a more cautious approach to game pricing amid growing pushback from its fanbase.
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