The Outer Worlds 2 PC Settings and Efficiency Assessment

The Outer Worlds 2 is Obsidian Leisure’s second triple-A launch for 2025. The place Avowed was the studio’s foray into the world of excessive fantasy motion, Outer Worlds 2 is a follow-up to the moderately well-liked sci-fi motion RPG. It was an opportunity for Obisidian to refine the method it established in 2019. and by most accounts, the studio appears to have achieved that aim. Furthermore, on a efficiency stage, The Outer Worlds 2 is a surprising show, able to excessive body charges and that includes an artwork model that’s immediately arresting.

You possibly can learn our The Outer Worlds 2 review for deeper ideas about how profitable Obisidian Leisure is at constructing on the platform of the primary recreation. Many RPGs play with the thought of impactful decisions, however this recreation presents gamers with some actual headscratchers. Their choices have significant penalties and may form the world/planets round them. Some parts may not be as notable as others, however The Outer Worlds 2 completely nails the idea of role-playing in a world.

From a efficiency stage, the sequel makes the leap to Unreal Engine 5, identical to Avowed. In truth, there are plenty of visible and stylistic similarities between the 2, in addition to some acquainted nitpicks regarding how the sport runs.

outer worlds 2 high graphics setting screenshot

Utilizing our iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 TI B03 construct, which boasts a Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Graphics Card and an Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU we put The Outer Worlds 2 via its paces, seeing how Obsidian’s newest takes benefit of latest expertise to ship as clean of an expertise as potential.

Sport Rant iBUYPOWER Check PC Specs

Motherboard: MSI PRO Z790-A MAX WiFi

CPU: Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU

CPU Cooler: iBUYPOWER 360mm Addressable RGB Liquid Cooling System

GPU: GeForce RTX 5090 Asus Tuf Gaming

Reminiscence: 64GB DDR5 (6000MHz)

Storage: 4TB (2x2TB) M.2 NVMe Gen4 SSD

PSU: 1000 Watt – Excessive Energy PCIe GEN 5 PSU

Case: iBUYPOWER HYTE Y70 Contact Infinite – Black

From a stylistic standpoint, The Outer Worlds 2 has a similar aesthetic to Avowed. Facial animations, menus, and even sound results think of Obsidian’s different 2025 launch. Clearly, The Outer Worlds 1 got here earlier than Avowed, however there’s a clear method that Obsidian is working with right here. They aren’t attempting to push the envelope with reasonable graphics, however as an alternative discovering a glance that matches its model.

One may argue that the sport’s efficiency is so clean as a result of the sport isn’t pushing issues too far visually, however I nonetheless assume that The Outer Worlds 2 is spectacular with its semi-open world planetary zones, that are filled with fascinating natural world.

The Outer Worlds 2 boasts a reasonably complete collection of Graphics Settings, with Low, Medium, Excessive, and Very Excessive choices throughout the board. I at all times recognize when a menu highlights what precisely every setting impacts, and The Outer Worlds 2 clearly outlines what a imprecise setting like Display Results will change. Granted, that one particularly appears to be a little bit of a catch-all (i.e. no possibility to show off Chromatic Aberration), but it surely’s helpful in case you’re simply entering into PC gaming.

The Outer Worlds 2 Graphics Choices

Display Results: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
View Distance: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Shadows: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Anti-Aliasing: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Textures: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Visible Results: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Foliage: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
International Illumination: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Reflections: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive
Crowd Density: Low, Medium, Excessive, Very Excessive

Anytime you point out a recreation on Unreal Engine 5, there may be concern about hitching or stuttering. Taking part in The Outer Worlds 2 pre-launch, I can say that there was a good bit of hitching, however updates/patches improved the efficiency dramatically. I additionally had what gave the impression to be a foul reminiscence leak within the prologue of the sport that required a refresh, however I didn’t expertise something like that after.

There was concern that when The Outer Worlds 2 jumped into its open world areas, with a bunch of NPCs working round, that the body price would dip, however the expertise is stable throughout the board. Even with some actually cool results within the background, the sport runs rather well on our rig on the highest settings.

At the moment, the one sequences that function some important hitching are anytime the ship within the recreation, the Icognito, lands on a brand new planet. That cutscene incorporates a huge stutter, however every little thing smooths out from there.

Outer Worlds 2 director weighs in on controversial $80 price tag

Outdoors of that, although, The Outer Worlds 2 runs extraordinarily nicely on its highest settings. You possibly can combine in DLSS, FSR, XeSS for the added visible uplift, and if you’re on Nvidia, use Body Technology to push issues even greater, and the sport does assist 4x Body Technology proper out of the gate. There isn’t any want to make use of Nvidia’s app to override. On my 4K 120Hz TV, I used to be in a position to max out settings and infrequently did the sport dip beneath that efficiency stage, whereas on my 240Hz monitor, efficiency was nearer to the excessive 100s/low 200s relying on settings and Body Technology.

The Outer Worlds 2 helps {Hardware} Raytracing. It provides the visuals a little bit additional punch but when it impacts efficiency, it isn’t a big loss.

Even testing with 2x Body Technology, which is obtainable by 40-series GPUs, and even simply DLSS, the efficiency uplift in The Outer Worlds 2 is large enough, and the loss in visible readability is just not noticeable. For many who select to play the sport like a extra conventional shooter, that elevated body price is a large boon. Having the ability to zip across the arenas and take fast photographs which might be correct makes a distinction.

Possibly after a couple of extra titles, the argument could possibly be made that Obsidian has develop into too acquainted, however proper now, if it isn’t broke, don’t repair it. Efficiency is great in The Outer Worlds 2, identical to Avowed earlier than it, and the RPG expertise appears to be resonating with followers who’ve had early entry to the sport.

Whereas avid gamers are left ready for the opposite two huge RPG franchises within the next Elder Scrolls and the following Fallout, Obsidian has swooped in and delivered their very own “versions” of these video games. They might not be as large in scale, scope, or funds, however they’re nonetheless well-made and fulfilling.

Sport Rant examined Mafia: The Previous Nation on the iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 TI B03. iBUYPOWER gives a wide range of customizable PCs that may meet any gamer’s wants. Take a look at Sport Rant’s iBUYPOWER construct here or head to iBUYPOWER for more PC gaming deals.