The Outer Worlds 2 Price Dropped, as Obsidian details how to get a refund on your pre-order

The Outer Worlds 2 just got a surprise $10 cheaper, and if you pre-ordered early, Obsidian wants to make sure you don’t end up paying more than you should. With a release that’s been building unexpected hype thanks to subtle teasers and player loyalty, this sci-fi RPG sequel is making headlines well before its official launch. Now, thanks to a last-minute price correction, things are even more interesting.

Obsidian Drops a Preorder Curveball

The updated pricing comes directly from Obsidian Entertainment’s July 23rd announcement. A $10 price cut on The Outer Worlds 2 preorder caught players off guard this week, prompting a sharp wave of refund requests, according to discussions across forums and storefront FAQs.

Originally priced at $69.99, the standard edition now drops to $59.99, aligning with the new pricing model announced by Xbox Game Studios. That reduction affects both Xbox Series X|S and PC digital storefronts, but naturally, fans who locked in a preorder before the change are left figuring out whether they’ve just lost a tenner.

Thankfully, Obsidian has offered a direct path forward. If you’ve already placed a preorder at the higher price, you can request a refund difference or cancel and re-buy at the new rate. The refund process will depend on where you originally ordered, so whether it’s Microsoft Store, Steam, or a physical retailer, players are encouraged to follow platform-specific procedures to trigger the price return.

Why the Price Slash—and Why Now?

This sudden drop isn’t arbitrary. According to a close reading of publisher behaviour, Xbox is firmly shifting towards a more unified price policy across its major titles. And with loyalty high among RPG players, developers can’t afford to inflame early adopters by overcharging.

In context, The Outer Worlds 2 for Xbox and PC is a critical project for Obsidian. While its predecessor carved a name as a sharp, witty blend of space-punk storytelling and action-RPG innovation, the sequel faces new expectations. The studio says they’re refining the moral decision tree, improving visual fidelity, and reworking combat pacing based on post-launch feedback from the original.

Seeing a better deal could revitalise interested players who weren’t sold yet. But for those who jumped in day one, there’s a whiff of unfairness, and Obsidian’s transparent fix is a prompt, much-needed gesture in a gaming era where pre-orders can feel increasingly uncertain.

Still, it’s rare to see a dev speak up so clearly on how to recoup preorder overcharges. The official guidance, laid out with links for store-specific instructions, spanned everything from Steam refunds to Microsoft’s “cancel and re-buy” option, though the latter might require some persistence, depending on current refund status.

This is all coming ahead of what’s shaping up to be an even more narratively ambitious follow-up. We know The Outer Worlds 2 continues with the same first-person RPG foundation, this time pushing players deeper into corporate dystopia. Visual cues from trailers show higher-fidelity environments and likely higher-end physics interaction too, promising even more immersive storytelling if the tech holds up.

The timing of this price drop, just months ahead of the expected 2025 release window (date still TBD), feels partly strategic, to rope in fans right before the final promotional push begins in earnest. But whether you see it as clever marketing or player-first financial correction, the result is the same: fans now have options, which is refreshing in a preorder-fatigued gaming landscape.