Obsidian's 'The Outer Worlds 2', slated for release on the 30th, kicked off its early access phase on the 25th. The game is steadily climbing the global Steam charts, having already secured a 'Very Positive' rating from premium edition early adopters.

As a direct successor to the 2019 original, The Outer Worlds 2 follows an agent of the Earth Board as they investigate mysterious rifts threatening humanity's survival on Arcadia. Ahead of its launch, the game earned an 84 on Metacritic on the 23rd, with critics largely praising its deep RPG mechanics, including character builds and dialogue choices that shift based on player agency.

Early feedback from those who shelled out for the premium edition has mirrored the critics' enthusiasm, landing the game a 'Very Positive' rating. Players are particularly fond of the expanded character builds, traits, and the refined 'Flaw' system, which opens up more dialogue paths and creative freedom in tackling objectives. It seems the developers have managed to keep that signature dark humour intact while offering a more grounded, serious narrative—a balance that has many veterans feeling nostalgic for Fallout: New Vegas.

That said, it isn't all sunshine and space travel. Some players are reporting technical hiccups, with many suggesting that turning off ray tracing is a must for a smooth experience. Occasional crashes and save-related bugs are also causing some headaches. However, given that the underlying gameplay is widely considered a step up from the first entry, fans are hopeful these wrinkles will be ironed out in future patches.

Elsewhere on the charts, the indie title 'MISERY', released on the 24th, has cracked the top 10. A solo-developed project, it’s being hailed as a love child of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series and Lethal Company, currently holding a 'Very Positive' rating. Meanwhile, PowerWash Simulator 2 has seen its user rating dip to 'Mostly Positive' due to persistent multiplayer and launch-day errors.

In the daily peak concurrent players chart, Escape from Duckove has smashed its own record, surging past 300,000 players. The chaotic co-op camper van driving game, RV Dare Yet?, is also making waves; after crossing the 100,000 mark yesterday, it sits at 96,985 players today and continues to climb the ranks.

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