The Outer Worlds 2 is launching in early access later this week, and it’s going to diverge from some of the standard conventions of action-RPG titles. While Obsidian Entertainment has already established that its six companion characters can’t be romanced, the studio has revealed that they can actually turn on the player if you give them enough of a reason.
During an interview with Xbox Expansion Pass (via GamesRadar), game directors Matt Singh and Brandon Adler noted that players’ decisions can potentially backfire on them by alienating their companions, who may choose to attack or even attempt to kill the player under the right circumstances.
“One of the things that was really important is, we wanted these characters to feel like they’re their own people,” Singh said. “They have their own goals, their own motivations, and if the player’s aligning with them, that’s great. They’re going to be there for you. They’ll fight alongside you. But if you go against their interests, they’re going to have something to say about it. That might break out into a conflict. That might mean they leave you or you have to fight them to the death. But if you do build that relationship with them, they’ll be there for you in the end.”
As an example, Adler noted that the companion character Inez is aligned with the Auntie’s Choice faction. If players ignore Inez’s request to stop killing members of her group, she won’t just leave your team, she’ll also attack the player at various points.
However, Adler added that these turns won’t happen in a vacuum, and the companion characters will actually warn players about their deteriorating relationships ahead of time with requests or ultimatums. Players will have the option to try to save their relationships, and also suffer the consequences if they choose to do nothing.
Obsidian recently introduced a Moon Man plushie called a “Couch-Panion,” which is the prize for winning a contest running through November 16. Players don’t have to rely on a contest to get a pair of limited-edition, customizable Outer Worlds 2 Xbox Wireless Controllers, though. However, both controllers are more expensive than the game’s $70 price.
The Outer Worlds 2 will hit Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC on October 29, and will be a day-one Game Pass Ultimate release. Obsidian has shared the launch times, while early-access players will get to dive into it on October 24.
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