Outward 2 has been delayed to 2027 G Trends

Last month, Nine Dot Studios set Outward 2’s Early Access release date for July 7 following a closed beta that took place towards the end of May. Today, that decision to release Outward 2 into Early Access next month has been reversed, with Nine Dot Studios now stating that the game won’t be ready for release until 2027.

In a post on Steam, CEO and creative director Guillaume Boucher-Vidal wrote: “Hello everyone, I know this may seem sudden, because not long ago we released a trailer inviting people to explore Aurai over the summer, but the truth is that if we stubbornly stick to the plan, we’ll deliver a product that might not meet your expectations. The last thing we want to do is disappoint Outward fans and there have been many comments stating that they wish the game spent more time in development before launch. The point of a beta is to listen to feedback, and that’s what we will do. Dropping this news is especially painful knowing that some of our most dedicated players have actually been planning their summer vacations around the release date. This sucks for you and I personally apologize to anyone affected in this way. However, it would be even worse if you end up playing something on vacation that you’re not even happy with.It is difficult to assess what is the appropriate level of stability expected for Early Access.

The best we can do is take a hard, honest look at the game and our team, and ask ourselves: In a few weeks, will it be good enough to charge money? Our goal is to have such a big jump between this beta and the Early Access launch that we will earn the trust of our players. You were there for the first Outward and that’s why we succeeded. We want you to be happy to be here again for Outward 2. Thank you to everyone who participated in the beta and our previous playtests, who provided feedback, who shared our news, and spoke with us directly during streams or on Discord. I apologize for not being able to give you the game you deserve in time. I guess it’s the equivalent of a losing scenario in game development: one setback and we come back better prepared. »

A few months ago I tried Outward 2 and said: “Outward 2 is a game that will appeal to those who want an RPG with survival elements, where no quest log telling you what to do, no markers to pinpoint exactly where you are and where you face cold, heat, hunger and thirst as well as the dangers around you. It’s a difficult experience, but Outward 2 presents itself as a game that will reward those who persevere. If it succeeds, it could also see more studios benefit as Nine Dots is expanding into publishing, enabling a greater and diverse gaming industry at a time when it is needed.

Source: Steam