We at Obsidian are pleased to announce The Outer Worlds, updated for PlayStation 5 – The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition. Let’s dive into some of the exciting changes we’re making to this board-approved role-playing game, and how we approached the challenge.
The Outer Worlds has been incredibly well-received by fans around the world and won numerous awards, so being able to improve on something we know people love has been a real treat.
If you’re not too familiar with the game, here’s a quick summary:
Lost on a colonist ship bound for the edge of the galaxy, you wake up decades later to find yourself at the center of a deep conspiracy that threatens to destroy the colony. Explore the various planets and locations of Halcyon, including the mysterious Gorgon asteroid and the magnificent distillery on Eridanos. As you face different factions vying for power, the decisions you make determine how the story unfolds.
The latest generation of consoles came out only a year after the original release of the game. So it made sense for us to update the base game, consolidate available content, take advantage of the latest PlayStation 5 hardware and the launch feedback of the DualSense controller to make sure it lives on and stays relevant for many years to come. So, The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition.
Here’s how the teams did it.
Going beyond visual enhancements
Of course, improved visuals are part of the deal. We were able to upgrade the graphics to 4K, 60fps, improve 3D lighting, improve particle systems, and improve environments with increased asset density. We’ve also raised the bar in a few additional ways: we’ve made combat and companion AI smarter, improved the open-world feel with better depth of field and reworked existing scenery, updated various weather conditions, and reworked character models and animations. Don’t worry, we didn’t dare touch the core of what made The Outer Worlds great. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel, but fresh tires are always a plus.
With that in mind, an entirely new and exciting feature set is the adaptive triggers and tactile actions of the DualSense wireless controller. When using ranged weapons, players will appreciate different trigger effects depending on the type. For weapons like the flamethrower, the player will experience linear pressure. When firing an automatic weapon, the trigger pull creates a pulse effect for each shot. And for a single-shot weapon, such as a sniper or shotgun, the effect of pulling the trigger will mimic the feel of the trigger being pulled until the pin engages and drag is reduced. Pretty neat, right? The game will not only look better, but also become sharper.
Strengthening the heritage
If the improvements we’ve already covered weren’t enough to justify this new edition, we thought the Spacer’s Choice Edition would make even more sense if it included the base game DLC: Peril on Gorgon and Murder on Eridanos. So we did just that. Now the experience is even richer! On a side note, we know a few spacers liked the fact that it was an accessible experience, not too short, but not too long either. Rest assured, both DLCs do not expand on the main storyline. They exist on the side, offering a fresh story arc that you can enjoy if and when you feel like it once you’ve reached the appropriate level. Oh, and we’ve increased the level cap to 99 to give players even more ways to build their character through the seven branches of the skill tree.
If you already own The Outer Worlds base game and associated DLCs, Peril on Gorgon and Murder on Eridanos on PlayStation 4, you can upgrade to The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition on PlayStation 5 at a discounted price.*
The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition will be released on March 7.
*Based on Private Division suggested retail price for The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition. Actual price may vary. Limit one update per account. For more details and terms, see the platform store.