Exciting news has emerged regarding the development of The Outer Worlds 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Obsidian Entertainment's 2019 sci-fi RPG. Reports confirm that Xbox's Halo Studios, renowned for its first-person shooter expertise, has collaborated with Obsidian to enhance the game's gunplay mechanics. Scheduled for release on October 29, 2025, The Outer Worlds 2 will be Obsidian's third major release that year, following Avowed and Grounded 2.

While the original The Outer Worlds received praise for its writing, world-building, and RPG elements, many players felt its first-person combat lacked polish. Weapons often felt stiff and unsatisfying to use—a shortcoming Obsidian aimed to address in the sequel. With limited FPS experience beyond Fallout: New Vegas (which built upon Bethesda's Fallout 3 framework), Obsidian sought external expertise to elevate its shooting mechanics.

In a recent interview with The Guardian, game director Brandon Adler revealed how Halo Studios—formerly 343 Industries, the team behind Halo 4, Halo 5: Guardians, and Halo Infinite—provided valuable guidance during development. Adler emphasized their goal to make every weapon in The Outer Worlds 2 feel distinct and satisfying, with numerous guns and customizable mods that dramatically alter gameplay.

This collaboration highlights the benefits of Xbox's expanding studio network. Since acquiring studios like Bethesda and Activision Blizzard, Xbox has fostered cross-studio knowledge sharing. Similar partnerships may have occurred elsewhere, such as The Coalition (known for Unreal Engine 5 expertise) potentially assisting Ninja Theory with Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2.

As Obsidian prepares for its busy 2025 release schedule, Halo Studios looks toward its next project following Halo Infinite (2021). After organizational changes, including a studio rebranding and transition to Unreal Engine 5, rumors suggest their next title could be a remake of the original Halo, potentially launching in 2026.