The Outer Worlds 2 Was Nearly Canceled Due to the Pandemic – Here’s How It Survived

Like every industry, online games are also affected by the global pandemic that originated at the beginning of 2020. The abrupt transition to work-from-home introduced a variety of new issues for game developers everywhere. One of the titles that made it out just in time is The Outer Worlds 2, which despite its status as an Obsidian Entertainment sequel–the kind we know takes forever to make–nearly didn’t survive this turbulent period.

How The Pandemic Has Changed Game Development

Companies like Obsidian Entertainment were forced to make the transition swiftly as the pandemic saw many of us work from home. Until fairly recently, development teams typically spent long hours in close quarters at a studio or offices — and adapting to developing from home was an initial challenge. This transition was particularly difficult for Obsidian, which was working on multiple projects.

The Outer Worlds 2 was announced at the height of a pandemic, which—of course—the future had already been set into motion to some degree many months before. Recently, Obsidian CEO Feargus Urquhart said during a YouTube show that the sequel was just days away from being canceled. The studio was also busy with several other projects, such as Grounded and the ambitious RPG Avowed.

Read more: Xbox costretta a vendere il marchio IP di Hi-Fi Rush e Tango Gameworks ad un’altra società: Krafton

Onasish: The Save That RescuedThe Outer Worlds 2

Urquhart said there was ‘real talk’ of canceling The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded to focus every resource on Avowed “Things were rough during Covid at the studio,” Urquhart acknowledged. “On all of these projects, we tried to advance. The idea was to “just throw the whole team on Avowed,” and seemingly cancel both The Outer Worlds 2 [and Grounded].

Yet a fateful decision was taken after speaking to Microsoft and others involved in the projects. They agreed to press on with the development of all three games — even if it meant adding further months onto their expected shipping dates. “Thanks to Microsoft and all the teams, I love them,” said Urquhart. We had a is for sit on your bum together and said no. We will get there. It will but not on the original one

That turned out to be a good choice. The game may have suffered hardship and challenges during the development process but as of now, The Outer Worlds 2 is doing well with all that they learned from last year’s pandemic.

Read Also: Jason Schreier at Bungie’s Marathon: Concerns and Comparisons

Obsidian’s Future Projects

His words bring all the more doubt around Avowed, Obsidian’s other upcoming big game. The game has been delayed and still hasn’t given the impression that it will reach those lofty standards Quantic Dream is supposed to be capable of. The progress of The Outer Worlds 2 is also critical here, as the game could be a fulcrum in which Obsidian slides if Avowed fails to meet expectations.

Perhaps the delay in The Outer Worlds 2’s development was for the best, forcing its team to go back and focus on what made that first game resonate. With the right team in place, a group that “really understands it” like Urquhart described this one as being, The Outer Worlds 2 has every chance of proving a worthy follow-up to its predecessor — and perhaps even reenergizing Obsidian’s space RPG legacy along with it.

• PlayStation 5 Review – 2023 Update
• PS Portal Shocks Critics: Sales Soar a Year After Launch
• Nintendo leaks password-protected Pokemon console Apparently Nintendo’s next hardware project is called “Ounce”
• PS5 For Less! Sony Launches Official Refurbished Consoles
• PS Plus users: do not let LittleBigPlanet 3 slip away forever

In summary: Another Near Miss With a Happy Ending

This is how close The Outer Worlds 2 was to getting canceled, It reminds us of the crushing weight put on developers during the pandemic Gratefully, the game was salvaged from vapourware status due to some sheer determination on behalf of Obsidian and many seem like-minded partners supporting them. Fans of the original are surely excited to explore a new layer in Obsidian’s vast, eccentric universe and hope that it can keep up with its legacy.