Microsoft Backtracks On $80 The Outer Worlds 2 Pricing

There's dream that nan gaming manufacture won't travel Nintendo's lead pinch $80 pricing. (Well, astatine slightest not yet.) On Wednesday, Microsoft backtracked connected nan value summation for The Outer Worlds 2. The crippled now costs $70, which itself was considered outrageous only a fewer years ago.

Microsoft told Windows Central that those who already pre-ordered Obsidian's shooter astatine $80 tin get refunds astatine nan constituent of purchase. Unfortunately, you can't simply get a $10 value adjustment. You'll person to refund nan afloat $80 and past pre-order again for $70. I'm opening to deliberation consumer-friendliness isn't nan privilege here.

The $80 pricing push began pinch Mario Kart World. Comments by Gearbox CEO Randy Pitchford initially suggested Borderlands 4 mightiness person followed. Fortunately, 2K Games saw thing successful nan backlash that made it balk; it's launching astatine $70. A Bluesky personification summed it up successful a reply to Obsidian's U-turn. "Consumer defense successful this atrocious authorities of nan manufacture WORKS," ‪@johnbrebbia posted.

The gaming manufacture is caught successful a godawful whirlwind of layoffs, studio closures and price increases. That's happening against a backdrop of rising costs for consumers. Meanwhile, nan gaming manufacture is projected to scope $189 cardinal this year, a 3.4 percent increase. That's a combustible substance if ever location was one.

Ironically, Obsidian's sci-fi RPG deals pinch themes of late-stage capitalism. The developer moreover deployed in-world satire to denote nan pricing change: "Dear Galactic Citizens! We person received your SOS via skip drone astir nan pricing..." Winking astatine one's assemblage is usually a bully thing, but this strikes maine arsenic much of a "dude, publication nan room" moment.

Regardless, The Outer Worlds 2 is group to arrive connected October 29. It will beryllium disposable for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC.