Nine Dots Studio has announced a release date for Outward 2, their hotly-anticipated open-world survival action RPG sequel.

Outward 2 is set to launch sometime in summer 2026 for Windows PC (via Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store) on July 7th via early access. Get our preview for the game! A closed beta for the game is planned for May 26th.

“Outward 2 is a natural successor to Outward and we want to overdeliver on everything that worked right,” said Nine Dots CEO and creative director Guillaume Boucher-Vidal in a press release. “To give huge payoffs to exploration, and ask players to prepare and think about how they would actually react in the face of danger. We identified four key areas in which we knew we could, should, and must make Outward 2 better: having better character creation and progression, being better at telling a story, creating a better world that feels more alive and full, and finally, better combat.”

The developer also shared a new trailer showing off the game on a very low-end specced computer, which they affectionately dubbed the “potato” specs:

Here’s a rundown on the game:

This July, Outward 2 will usher players into Aurai, an unforgiving world that is gentle to no one. You are no prophesized savior with some innate power to carry you to glory. The definitive adventure simulator casts players as ordinary adventurers, where critical thinking and preparation are the only tickets to grand experiences. Drop your backpack before combat so that you’re able to move freely. Scout out a dangerous creature’s path and lay traps to weaken it before the killing blow. Every decision matters and consequences are real. Even death is no respite, as this only turns the page to the chapter where you must pick yourself up from the mud, find your backpack, and continue your journey with renewed vigor and insight.

Features

• An Average Joe On A Remarkable Journey — You’re not a hero of legend. Shape your modest and meager beginnings through three distinct starting scenarios and eleven backgrounds, which will determine where to start in this brutal world. Whether you’re a devout worshipper of Elatt trying to strike it rich as a miner or a vagrant deadbeat in Simeon’s Bastion, the world of Aurai will not be kind… not even in defeat. If you’re knocked out, your journey continues, and you must live with the consequences. You could be robbed and left to rot, be saved by a kind passerby, wake up in town badly injured, or… worse.
• A Living, Evolving World — A full-year seasonal cycle transforms the world of Aurai. Merchants and other NPCs relocate, frozen rivers become traversable in winter, and more. Comprising of four distinct areas, regions will feature their own biomes, seasons, and specific gameplay. From the blizzards of the Gilded Mountains to the acid rains in the Gathes of Catharsis, players will find a renewed challenge every time they travel.
• Growth Through Mastery — Every factor in Outward 2 molds your playstyle. Your tactical choices as a player, from the weight and material of your armor to particular weapons you use, are reinforced by the new Exercise system, where passive skills will spark and grow based on how you play. Seek out special trainers scattered around Aurai, who will teach you how to survive the most brutal encounters for a fee.
• Ritual Spellcasting & Tactical Combat — Wielding magic in Outward 2 is no mere button press. Cast spells through rituals, like sending a fire stone into the air to create a ring around you that allows you to empower your skills with deadly flames. Challenging combat, where every weapon has its own distinct moveset, is further enhanced in the sequel with a larger variety of tools and weapon combinations, along with animations that bring more fluidity and control to players. Major combat improvements were cultivated based on extensive player feedback from the original.
• Intentional Inventory Management — Your backpack is your lifeline, and every space within is worth its weight in gold. Pack provisions, potions, weapons, and camping gear for an expedition, but manage it carefully as you gather more along the way. Some discoveries won’t be worth the precious space. In a fight, you may want to drop your backpack to attack and evade more deftly. The sequel adds a mule you may earn to carry your wares throughout your journey, but its vulnerability may influence your path as well. Weigh each decision carefully.
• Two-Player Split Screen & Online Co-op — Aurai is a grueling place, but you mustn’t go alone. Plan and prepare alongside a friend, covering each other’s weaknesses and marrying your strengths. Teamwork expands the opportunities and options for tackling the many challenges you will face in Outward 2.