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The Outer Worlds 2’s first story expansion could well be the opening to the series’ last hurrah and will have you hunting for a cure to “explosive cell death” in December
Obsidian’s first story expansion for The Outer Worlds 2, Side Effects Guaranteed, will arrive on 2 December. It sends players searching for a cure to “explosive cell death” and could be part of the series’ final chapter, as studio upheaval and a shift towards Fallout make another game seem unlikely.
The expansion adds the region of Elysium, where players choose between two Sub Rosa agents, alongside new enemies, equipment and character flaws. It raises the level cap from 30 to 36; a concurrent update will let players respec skills and adjust skill points per level. A second story expansion is planned for spring 2027, and both expansions are included with the premium edition.
In short
- Side Effects Guaranteed launches on 2 December.
- The expansion adds Elysium and raises the level cap to 36.
- A second story expansion is planned for spring 2027.
Explained simply
The Outer Worlds 2 is a science-fiction role-playing game made by Obsidian Entertainment, the studio behind the Fallout: New Vegas role-playing game. Players explore a future where powerful companies shape life across space, making choices that affect the story and their characters.
Side Effects Guaranteed is an additional story set in Elysium, a new region in the game. Players take on a mission involving a deadly condition called “explosive cell death” and encounter new characters, enemies and equipment.
The expansion is part of a wider plan for more story content, with another expansion expected in spring 2027. Obsidian’s future work and reported studio changes have led to questions about whether there will be another Outer Worlds game, though that remains uncertain.