Earlier this year, Microsoft had indicated a potential shift towards pricing some of its new game titles, such as The Outer Worlds 2, at $80. However, the company has now confirmed a change in strategy, stepping back from this higher price point.
Obsidian, the developer behind The Outer Worlds 2, has announced that the standard edition of the game will launch at $70. A spokesperson for Microsoft clarified to IGN that none of its first-party games will be priced at $80 during this holiday period. While speculation touched upon other titles like Black Ops 7, Microsoft has assured that no game from its lineup will carry the $80 price tag this year.
“Our primary focus is on delivering captivating and expansive worlds for players to explore,” the spokesperson stated. “Accordingly, our major holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, will be priced at $69.99, a decision aligned with current market conditions.”
It`s worth noting that, at the time of this report, the official Xbox.com page for The Outer Worlds 2 still displayed an $80 price for the standard edition and $100 for the premium version. This listing may be updated to reflect the new pricing policy soon.
For those who pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 at the previously indicated $80 price, refunds or reimbursements are available from the retailer where the purchase was made.
When Microsoft initially discussed the possibility of $80 games, the company had justified the potential increase by citing “careful consideration given market conditions and the rising cost of development.”
With The Outer Worlds 2 now confirmed to launch at $70, Nintendo`s Mario Kart World appears to be the only major new release from a prominent publisher expected to be priced at $80 this year.