The Outer Worlds 2: Side Effects Guaranteed DLC Announced

Obsidian Entertainment and Xbox Games Studios announced new DLC for sci-fi RPG The Outer Worlds 2. The Side Effects Guaranteed DLC is billed as the first part in a two-part expansion and will release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on December 2, 2026. It will be available for $14.99, or included with the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade for the game.

Side Effects Guaranteed sees players following a distress signal to a derelict ship, whose crew has been left in suspended animation to keep them alive after they are infected with something that causes explosive cell death. Searching for a cure takes players to the new Elysium Valley region on Eden. It also includes a level cap increase from 30 to 36, with over fifteen new perks, as well as four new flaws, new gear for players and their compansions, a new radio station, and the option to skip straight to the DLC with a custom save.

Set in the same universe as The Outer Worlds, The Outer Worlds 2 features a new player-created protagonist and crew of allies in a new star system. It takes place in the colony of Arcadia, with players controlling an Earth Directorate agent tasked with uncovering the source of devastating rifts threatening the galaxy. In addition, players will have to deal with a factional war between a group of supposed “benevolent rulers” called the Protectorate, a rebellious scientific religious order, and a corporate mega-power.