Obsidian Entertainment Dates The Outer Worlds 2’S First Expansion

Obsidian Entertainment communications director Mikey Dowling announced Side Effects Guaranteed on 10. november 2026, as the first chapter of a two-part story expansion for The Outer Worlds 2. It launches 2. desember 2026, and takes players to Elysium Valley, a new region on Eden, with the second chapter scheduled for spring 2027.

The official expansion trailer sets up the story with a distress signal that draws the player and the Incognito’s crew to a derelict ship. Its crew is in suspended animation after infection with a condition causing explosive cell death, and the search for a cure leads to Elysium Valley. The story also involves an abandoned settlement and a power struggle over Sub Rosa’s future, with two agents of the criminal organization pursuing different plans for the valley.

New Weapons and Progression

The five additional weapons include the Immobilizer, which suspends a target in the air by removing gravity around it. That creates time to switch to another weapon, combine the effect with grenades or use the Tactical Time Dilation device to slow time for critical shots. The 1/6 Resolver instead makes every sixth bullet especially powerful, and a suitable character build can achieve that critical hit without emptying the gun each time. A weapon that deals extra damage to creatures, a special Tossball Stick and a new plasma weapon complete the additions.

Beyond combat, the expansion raises the level cap to 36 and introduces new perks and flaws. Elysium Valley contains unique quests and new facilities to explore, while a new Sub Rosa radio station adds 20 songs.

Starting Options and Premium Access

Although the expansion’s events trigger immediately before the main game’s point of no return, players can start it without first reaching that stage. A new-game menu option loads a pre-made level-27 character, whose skill points and perks can be assigned before play.

An update for all players arrives alongside the expansion, allowing characters to respec at any time. A custom-game option will also adjust how many skill points players receive per level, extending the character-building changes beyond those who access the DLC.

Side Effects Guaranteed is available through the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade. The official US PlayStation game page lists the base game at $69.99, Premium at $99.99 and the Premium Upgrade Edition add-on at $30, with Premium’s contents including a DLC Pass for two future story expansions. The base game launched for PS5 on 29. oktober 2025, and Microsoft is its publisher.

Players will decide the fates of the valley, the afflicted crew and Sub Rosa itself, and Obsidian said those choices will carry consequences into the second installment. The December release therefore begins a connected two-part story in which the first chapter’s outcomes remain relevant after its own quests are complete.