Outer Worlds 2 off to a Slow Start

I have a real soft spot for games that helped me through the pandemic, and for me, that game was The Outer Worlds. It’s clear I wasn't alone in falling for its satirical charm and RPG mechanics. Looking purely at True Achievements data (which tracks Xbox players), the original game has a massive player count of 375,000. That puts it in some truly good company, sitting alongside major releases like Cyberpunk 2077 and Rise of the Tomb Raider in terms of recorded player engagement.

The jump to the new title, The Outer Worlds 2, however, has been a much quieter affair.

While the first game is a certified hit, the sequel is still trying to find its footing. A little over a week post-launch, it is currently sitting at less than 54,000 players on True Achievements. I’ve been keeping a close watch, and the numbers are edging up a bit, but I have a sinking feeling this crucial launch window might be where the game loses steam.

A major concern is the sheer volume of other game releases continuing to grab gamers' attention. In a crowded marketplace, a game needs to make a big impact fast. Will new releases this weekend be the final nail in the coffin for Outer Worlds 2's early momentum?

To illustrate just how difficult it is for a new release to break through, here is a list of recent Xbox releases and their "played by" number from True Achievements, showing what kind of initial traction the competition is seeing:

Played By:Game
273,591Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
181,148DOOM: The Dark Ages
173,012Avowed
91,587South of Midnight
81,475Atomfall
71,555Assassin's Creed: Shadows
52,239The Outer Worlds 2
49,638Star Wars Outlaws
48,270Dragon Age: The Veilguard
16,310Mafia: The Old Country

I have no intentions of picking up this game at full price. It feels like a game I might try and pick up used on eBay after Christmas, when it is down in the $20 range.