The Outer Worlds 2 Promises a “Darker” Tone Than the Original

During a chat with PC Gamer at Summer Game Fest 2025, Brandon Adler—The Outer Worlds 2’s lead guy—dropped a bit of a bombshell. This sequel? It’s gonna be heavier. More serious. Less of the goofy stuff. All thanks to Leonard Boyarsky. That’s his shtick, evidently. The plot’s got a darker vibe. Like, moody shadows and all.

Boyarsky’s been around, right? He and Tim Cain were the brains behind Fallout before jumping on the first Outer Worlds. Cain’s eased off on the gaming gig now, so suddenly it’s Boyarsky’s carnival. And I can’t lie, I’m digging it. A craving for some gloom? I must be getting old. Or maybe it’s the coffee talking.

There’s something thrilling about a game shedding its slapstick skin. Humor is cool and all, but sometimes it pulls you out of the moment. You ever lose yourself in a game and then BAM—a joke that misses harder than my gym appointments, and suddenly you’re just you again? Yeah, same.

Dark comedy, though, that’s a whole other flavor. Fallout has this nailed—gritty worlds with laughs that make you second-guess your own sense of humor. I’m really hoping The Outer Worlds 2 finds its punchline there.

Anyway, back to the game. Arcadia—this new place? It’s a hotbed of bad intentions and shady deals. Three factions, none too friendly: The Protectorate’s got this whole “order through control” thing going. Auntie’s Choice is like a joyously creepy sales pitch. And The Order of the Ascendant? Mad scientists in robes—real edge-of-the-seat-types.

These companions, though? They sound intense. Aza, for one, she’s all about that life of violence. You can either cool her jets or fan the flames. And Marisol—an assassin with scores to settle. Even Tristan, who sounds like a knight in shining armor, seems more like he’s plotting revenge than saving kittens from trees.

It’s almost like they plucked these folks from some dark version of a fairy tale. Choices—we’re talking real existential stuff here. This sort of character depth? Reminds me of Baldur’s Gate 3, which—side note—was pure gold.

So, a shift in tone, fewer clown shoes, more grit. It’s like the game’s starting to invite you to think about the universe it’s constructed, instead of poking at you with jokes. I mean, of course, there should be humor—it’s practically a spice in storytelling. But balance, right? There’s a line somewhere between a chuckle and a snort.

Counting down to October. The game’s on my calendar to dive headfirst into this darker realm of possibilities. And hey, it’s hitting Xbox Game Pass on day one. So, no excuses if you’ve got a subscription.

Here’s to hoping for a fantastically grim ride with just enough sarcastic jabs to keep it lively. Now, where’s that mug? Need more coffee before I start dreaming too big.