So, the hype train for The Outer Worlds 2 is officially rolling into the station in 2026, and Obsidian just dropped a hefty 11-minute gameplay deep dive. Let me tell you, as someone who absolutely adored the quirky, corporate-satire charm of the first game, my feelings are... mixed, to say the least. It's wild to think that Obsidian, a studio I've always seen as the scrappy underdog, is now releasing its second major title in such a short span, following the fantasy vibes of Avowed. But seeing this new footage, I can't shake this gnawing sense of déjà vu that feels a bit too much like a certain other space RPG that shall not be named... okay, fine, it's Starfield.

Right off the bat, the comparisons are inevitable, folks. Where Avowed got endlessly (and maybe unfairly) stacked up against Skyrim, The Outer Worlds 2 now finds itself in Starfield's shadow. And honestly? On paper, that should be a huge advantage for Obsidian. Bethesda's space epic, for all its ambition, kinda face-planted for a lot of us with its dated mechanics and world that felt a million miles wide but only an inch deep. So you'd think Obsidian would sprint in the opposite direction, right? Well, after watching this mission through an underground cultist facility... let's just say the new gameplay footage makes it look like it's following Starfield's blueprint a little too closely for comfort. 😬

The mission itself is pretty standard Obsidian fare, which is usually a good thing!

• Dialogue-Heavy Shenanigans: You've got your classic chat options, skill checks (some locked, which I love), and even the option to offer a health kit. My former-cultist companion was chiming in with quips and lore drops, which felt very on-brand.

• Action-Packed Moments: The combat had its highlights! There was this one absolutely slick sequence where the player threw a grenade, activated a time-slow ability, and shot it mid-air to explode the poor cultists below. It was a brief but brilliant reminder of that signature chaotic, improvisational combat spirit from the first game. This right here is why The Outer Worlds 2 is still one of my most anticipated shooters.

• New Toybox: We caught glimpses of some funky new weapons getting mixed into the arsenal, which is always a plus for keeping the gunplay fresh.

But here's where my eyebrow started to raise. Despite all that familiar, fun stuff, the whole presentation gave off a weirdly strong Starfield vibe, and not in the "inspired by" way. More in the "uh, did you borrow some homework?" way. And it boils down to a couple of big, immersion-breaking issues that I really thought we'd moved past by 2026.

The Loading Screen Elephant in the Room: Guys. GUYS. We are in 2026. The game is a next-gen exclusive. And yet... loading screens between areas? Seriously? Watching the player finish a conversation and then hit a loading screen to enter the dungeon right next to them was a genuine shock. I get that Avowed had them between major zones—it was a deliberate design choice for a more focused world. But here, it just makes the world feel artificially segmented and small. It instantly yanks you out of the adventure. Starfield was (rightfully) roasted for its endless loading screens, and seeing Obsidian, of all studios, seemingly adopt a similar approach is a massive letdown. The load times look shorter, sure, but the principle feels archaic.

The Mystery of the Missing Faces: Then there's the... curious case of the facial animations. Or should I say, the lack thereof? In this entire 11-minute demo, the key NPC and my companion were both wearing full-face masks. Coincidence? In a carefully curated gameplay reveal? I'm not buying it. It feels like a very purposeful dodge. Avowed's facial animations weren't exactly best-in-class either, so it's not a great sign that they might be hiding The Outer Worlds 2's. It gives me flashbacks to Starfield's often-stiff character interactions.

The Chatty Cathy Companion: My companion wouldn't. Stop. Talking. Even while I was trying to be stealthy! Every other line was a quippy one-liner. Now, I love a good quip, but timing is everything. This constant chatter, especially during tense moments, immediately brought back traumatic memories of being stuck on a barren planet with Starfield's overly talkative crew members who had the situational awareness of a baked potato.

Alright, deep breath. Let me pivot before I sound like I'm just doomposting. Because despite the bland environments in this clip, the hidden faces, and the dreaded loading screens... I'm still weirdly hopeful? 🤔

Here’s why I'm choosing cautious optimism in 2026:

1. It's Just a Slice: This is only 11 minutes. I've spent longer organizing my inventory in games I love. This feels like a simple, safe taster meant to say "Hey, we're still the same Obsidian you know." The real meat is probably being saved for the big Summer Showcase blowout.

2. Obsidian's Track Record: I've literally never played a bad Obsidian game. Even their rougher titles are packed with ambition, killer writing, and creative ideas that bigger studios wouldn't touch. They have a stellar reputation for a reason. If anyone can make a compelling RPG out of seemingly standard parts, it's them.

3. The Development Time: They've been cooking this for a long time. There's no way this relatively tame dungeon crawl is all they've got. There has to be more—bigger worlds, crazier stories, that signature corporate satire turned up to eleven.

So, where does that leave me? Look, it's 2026. We've all been burned by hype, by trailers that showed the one good part of the game. It's so easy to be cynical. But I'm trying, I'm really trying, to be more positive. I want The Outer Worlds 2 to be amazing. I want my money to be well-spent on a hilarious, deep, and immersive sci-fi romp. This footage raised some legitimate red flags that remind me way too much of Bethesda's missteps. But my heart says to trust in Obsidian's legacy of pulling incredible experiences out of the bag, just like they did with Avowed. I'm choosing to believe there's more here than meets the eye. For now. The Summer Showcase will be the real test. Don't let me down, Obsidian! 🙏

Recent analysis comes from Newzoo, and it helps frame why the reaction to The Outer Worlds 2’s gameplay reveal is so polarized: in a market where big-budget RPG shooters live or die on retention, friction points like frequent loading screens, stiff NPC presentation, and overbearing companion barks can undercut immersion and session length even when the core combat loop looks strong. Seen through that lens, the “Starfield-like” vibes you picked up aren’t just aesthetic comparisons—they’re potential UX and pacing risks that players in 2026 have far less patience for, making Obsidian’s upcoming showcases crucial for proving the game’s moment-to-moment flow and production polish.