Outward 2’s Early Access release date revealed by devs

Nine Dots Studio has announced the Outward 2 early access release date, alongside system rewards, beta, and other features. The adventure RPG will be available on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store, and GOG, with a closed beta also confirmed to begin on May 26 for those who want to get in ahead of the full early access launch.

Outward 2 Early Access release date gets a beta test too

Outward 2’s early access release date is set for July 7, 2026.  There’s no wording on price yet either, but given the first game is around £34.99 and equivalent regional pricing, expect a similar price tag.

Outward 2 is the follow-up to Nine Dots’ cult survival RPG, building on the original’s reputation for punishing, consequence-driven adventuring. You remain an ordinary person dropped into a brutal world where preparation, resource management, and careful thinking matter more than raw power. We got an idea of what to expect when it featured as part of the NewGamePlus Showcase earlier this year.

CEO and Creative Director Guillaume Boucher-Vidal described the sequel as an attempt to overdeliver on everything that worked in the original, identifying four specific areas for improvement: character creation and progression, storytelling, world design, and combat.

The early access build will introduce players to Aurai, a world built around a full-year seasonal cycle that transforms regions over time. Four distinct areas each carry their own biomes, seasons, and gameplay systems, giving players a bit more of an immersive, simulated world.

Character progression is handled through the new Exercise system, where passive skills develop based on how you actually play rather than what you pick from a menu. The armour you wear, the weapons you favour, and the tactics you lean on will shape your character’s growth organically over time. Specialist trainers scattered around the world can also teach survival techniques for a fee. It kinda reminds us of a more old-school RPG system like the original Oblivion for example, where you are rewarded for playing certain styles.

Combat has been significantly reworked based on feedback from the original game. Every weapon carries its own distinct moveset, and the sequel adds more weapon combinations alongside smoother animations. Spellcasting works through a ritual system, where physical components interact with the environment to create effects. The example given is launching a fire stone into the air to create a ring of flame you can channel through your abilities.

Inventory management remains central to the experience, with it being a weighted carr pack, which you can leave behind in favor of movement, or lose your ability to scavenge or carry your earnings back to town.  

Two-player split screen and online co-op also return, letting you plan and tackle Aurai’s challenges alongside a friend.

Players can register for the closed beta, which begins May 26, via the Outward 2 Steam store page. You can sign up if you’re interested.

The game also got a little feature trailer, with the game designed for low-end systems with its quirky ‘potato mode’. No really, its system requirements are that well optimised for broad spectrum hardware.

The post Outward 2’s Early Access release date revealed by devs appeared first on The Escapist.