Microsoft Cuts Xbox Game Prices Back to $70 — The Outer Worlds 2 No Longer $80

The Outer Worlds 2 (Image Credit: Obsidian)

Microsoft has officially backtracked on its earlier decision to raise the price of its first-party Xbox games to $80. The company confirmed that The Outer Worlds 2 and other upcoming full-priced titles set for this holiday season will now be released at the more familiar $69.99 price point.

So, if you pre-ordered The Outer Worlds 2 at $79.99, don’t worry — you’ll be able to get a refund from wherever you made the purchase. After that, you can simply re-order it at the new $70 price. Microsoft says some retailers will process refunds immediately, while others might take a day or two to update.

In a statement shared with Windows Central, a Microsoft spokesperson explained the shift, saying, “We’re focused on bringing players incredible worlds to explore, and will keep our full-priced holiday releases, including The Outer Worlds 2, at $69.99 – in line with current market conditions.”

To rewind a bit, Microsoft first announced the $80 price tag back in May, pointing to rising development costs and market changes as the main reasons behind the hike. But with many gamers already feeling the pinch financially, the reaction wasn’t exactly warm — and this reversal feels like a response to that.

Obsidian, the studio behind The Outer Worlds 2, chimed in with a cheeky in-universe message of its own: “We have received your SOS via skip drone about the pricing... we assure you all that we are here to fight for all colonies in every way that we can.”

The Outer Worlds 2 is set to launch on October 29, 2025, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC. It'll also hit Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming on day one.

The game continues Obsidian's signature mix of witty dialogue, player-driven storytelling, and RPG-infused FPS action — all set in a chaotic galaxy full of corporate satire.