Obsidian has dated the first expansion for The Outer Worlds 2. Side Effects Guaranteed arrives on December 2, and its headline toy is the Immobilizer, a gun that switches off gravity around its target so enemies float helplessly while you swap weapons and pick them off. Obsidian director of communications Mikey Dowling shared the details on the PlayStation Blog.
It is the first half of a two-part story expansion. Part two follows in spring 2027, and the choices you make in December carry straight into it.
A distress signal leads to Elysium Valley and a fight over Sub Rosa
The story starts when your crew picks up a distress signal from a derelict ship. That pulls you into an abandoned settlement, a power struggle over the future of the Sub Rosa criminal organization, and a team of test subjects facing what Obsidian calls explosive cell death. Dowling clarifies that it is “more a liquefaction than explosion, but it means death nonetheless.”
The expansion adds a new region, Elysium Valley, with its own quests and facilities to work through.
Five new weapons, led by the Immobilizer and the 1/6 Resolver
Obsidian suggests pairing the Immobilizer with grenades for anti-gravity explosions, or with the Tactical Time Dilation device to slow time and line up critical shots. The 1/6 Resolver makes every sixth bullet hit harder, and characters built the right way won’t need to empty the cylinder to land that critical.
The other three are a weapon that deals extra damage to creatures, a special Tossball Stick and a new plasma gun.
The level cap rises to 36, with new perks, flaws and 20 radio songs
Side Effects Guaranteed also raises the level cap to 36 and adds new perks, new flaws and a Sub Rosa radio station with 20 new songs.
The DLC kicks off just before the main game’s point of no return. If you don’t have a save there, a new option on the main menu starts Side Effects Guaranteed directly with a premade level 27 character, and you choose its skill points and perks yourself.
A free update lets everyone respec at any time
A free update launches alongside the DLC for all players. It lets you respec your character whenever you like, and it adds a custom game option that sets how many skill points you earn per level.
Side Effects Guaranteed is included with the Premium Edition and the Premium Edition Upgrade, and it is also sold on its own. Obsidian hasn’t listed a standalone price yet, and the Steam page is up for wishlists.
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