Welcome to our latest IGN First – a month dedicated to exclusive coverage in April, focused entirely on *The Outer Worlds 2*. We're thrilled to present the very first look at its real-time gameplay, featuring a quest where you infiltrate the N-Ray Facility. This quest showcases several of the game's new features and mechanics, as well as a reimagined approach to level design. What's most exciting is the deeper RPG experience that developer Obsidian is crafting, drawing from its rich history and taking inspiration from immersive sims like *Deus Ex* and *Dishonored*.
The DNA of first-person RPGs has always been present, but *The Outer Worlds 2* introduces more sophisticated systems than its predecessor. It now features a true stealth system and improved tools to enhance this playstyle, including effective melee weapons and skills that enable silent takedowns. For instance, the health bar above enemy heads now includes a purple-colored readout showing the potential damage of a stealth attack, helping you decide if a one-hit kill is feasible or if it's even worth engaging your target. Enemies can detect dead bodies and alert guards, but with the right skill, you can quickly disintegrate bodies to avoid detection.
The Outer Worlds 2 Gameplay - Screenshots
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Later in the quest, you acquire the N-Ray Scanner, a tool that allows you to see certain objects and NPCs/enemies through walls. This device is essential for solving more complex environmental puzzles and is a vital asset in both stealth and combat scenarios. The N-Ray Facility is home to cloaked enemies that are invisible to the naked eye but can be detected with the N-Ray Scanner. Failing to use it diligently could result in these enemies surprising you. This is just one example of how gadgets add a new layer to the gameplay experience.
The game features several interlocking systems that influence your playstyle, emphasizing the RPG elements that define specific character builds. Stealth and immersive sim elements aren't the only areas where gameplay expands in *The Outer Worlds 2*. Obsidian has also focused on improving gunplay, taking inspiration from *Destiny* to enhance how firearms feel in a first-person game. While it's not turning into a pure shooter, the game now offers a more satisfying shooting experience.
This improvement is evident when you approach the N-Ray Facility with guns blazing. Movement has been refined to complement gunplay, allowing for more agile actions like sprint-sliding while aiming down sights, reminiscent of an action hero. With the return of Tactical Time Dilation (TTD), the bullet-time mechanic becomes an effective part of your combat strategy. Additionally, the inclusion of throwables provides another tactical option. You can throw a grenade, activate TTD, and shoot it midair to create devastating effects on unsuspecting enemies.
While there isn't much to share about the story yet, the gameplay video features a moment where you confront an NPC named Exemplar Foxworth, who has survived a cultist takeover. She's bleeding out, and you can help patch her up based on your Medical stat, or respond according to your Guns or Melee stats. This segment also introduces a new companion, Aza, a former cultist who joins you to help rectify their past actions.
Many of these elements were part of the original *Outer Worlds* in some form, but while that game laid the foundation for Obsidian, *The Outer Worlds 2* is a more fully realized vision of what they were trying to achieve. Through early access and conversations with Obsidian, we've gained insights into a multitude of new features and the vision driving this sequel. It's clear that they're keen on leveraging the RPG roots of the studio's past while envisioning what a modern first-person RPG can be, often citing *Fallout: New Vegas* as a touchstone, which certainly raises expectations.
This is just a glimpse of what's to come in *The Outer Worlds 2* and what we'll be covering in this month's IGN First. We'll delve into character builds, the new flaws system, the array of wild and wacky weapons, and how much bigger this sequel is through interviews with key figures like original *Fallout* developer and creative director Leonard Boyarsky, game director Brandon Adler, and design director Matt Singh. Stay tuned to IGN all April long for more exclusive content!
