Outward 2 Opens Its Gates — Steam Playtest Arrives December 9th

Nine Dots Studio is inviting players back into the unforgiving world of Aurai, announcing that Outward 2 will hold a Steam playtest from December 9th to December 15th. A slice of the long-awaited sequel will be available to explore, complete with a fresh glimpse at Haboob — the long-rumoured underground city that has kept the community whispering theories for years. Sign-ups remain open on the studio’s official site for anyone eager to descend into the unknown.

JDR readers will know that we are huge fans of the original Outward despite of, and perhaps because of, its unforgiving nature. Aurai has never been a land for chosen ones, and Outward 2 doubles down on that ethos. You begin as an ordinary wanderer with extraordinary bad luck, carving your path through one of three starting scenarios and eleven backgrounds that define where — and how harshly — the world greets you. Maybe you’re a miner dreaming of gold, a devout follower of Elatt chasing purpose, or a broke layabout waking up in Simeon’s Bastion with little more than regrets. Failure doesn’t end the story, either. Collapse in the dirt and you might be rescued… robbed… or wake up somewhere you’d rather not be. Outward’s cruelty is persistent, but so is the adventure.

The world itself evolves as relentlessly as its dangers. A full seasonal cycle reshapes the four regions of Aurai — merchants wander, wildlife shifts, frozen rivers open new routes, and acidic storms in the Gathes of Catharsis keep complacency at bay. This isn’t a backdrop; it’s an ecosystem with teeth. Mastery is earned through grit and repetition, reinforced by a new Exercise system that grows your passive skills based on how you actually play. Special trainers, scattered across the land, will happily teach you to survive longer… for a price.

Combat and magic have also undergone a significant overhaul. Spells now demand ritual and intention — fire stones arcing into the air, circles of flame igniting around you, elements bending to your preparation rather than button-mashing. Weapons feel weighty and distinct, with reworked animations and expanded combinations shaped directly by community feedback. Even your backpack becomes a tactical choice: every inch matters, every item imposes a burden, and shedding it mid-fight may be the difference between victory or another humiliating scrape off the floor. A new mule companion offers extra capacity, but travelling with a pack animal introduces its own risks and priorities.

As always, Outward is best faced with a friend. Outward 2 supports two-player split-screen and online co-op, encouraging players to plan routes, balance gear, and compensate for each other’s shortcomings. Aurai may be pitiless, but with the right partner, its cruelty becomes a challenge worth taking on.

You can sign up for upcoming Outward 2 playtests on the official site by clicking here. Outward 2 is scheduled to release in Summer 2026.