Outward 2 delayed to 2027, just weeks before July launch

Key Takeaways

• Outward 2 pushed from July 2025 to an unspecified 2027 release date
• Developer cites player feedback from open beta as reason for delay
• CEO apologizes specifically to players who planned vacations around launch

Outward 2 has been delayed to 2027, Nine Dots Studio announced today. The survival RPG was scheduled to hit early access in July 2025. Now, Steam simply lists "2027" as the release window, with no specific date.

The timing stings. Nine Dots had the game in open beta since June 7, released a summer trailer, and appeared on track for launch. Less than a month out, players who cleared their calendars for the release are now looking at an 18-month wait, minimum.

Why did Nine Dots delay Outward 2?

CEO and creative director Guillaume Boucher-Vidal posted the explanation on Steam. He pointed to beta feedback as the deciding factor, though he didn't specify what players found wrong.

“I know that this might seem sudden as not that long ago we released a trailer inviting people to explore Aurai during summer, but the truth is that if we just stick to the plan stubbornly, we're delivering a product that might not satisfy your expectations.”

— Guillaume Boucher-Vidal, Nine Dots Studio CEO

The vague framing raises questions. Early access games ship with bugs by design. That's the entire premise: players pay to test an unfinished product while developers iterate. So what did Nine Dots find that warranted pushing past the usual early access threshold?

Boucher-Vidal acknowledged the difficulty of calibrating expectations. "It's hard to gauge what is the appropriate degree of stability expected for early access," he wrote. "The best we can do is take a hard, honest look at the game, and at our team, and ask: in a few weeks, will this be good enough to charge money for?"

What beta players experienced

PC Gamer's Christopher Livingston, who played a recent build, reported rough edges but nothing that seemed unfixable with patches. He spent only a couple hours in the beta, though. Players who went deeper may have encountered more serious structural problems.

The Steam announcement mentioned that "a lot of comments" requested more development time before launch. That's a notable signal. When your own community tells you to delay, the problems probably run deeper than typical early access jank.

Nine Dots isn't new to this. The original Outward launched in 2019 to mixed reviews that praised its punishing survival mechanics but criticized technical issues and rough presentation. The studio knows what happens when you ship before you're ready.

The vacation apology

Boucher-Vidal's post included an unusual personal note. He apologized directly to players who scheduled time off around the July launch.

“Dropping this news is especially painful knowing that some of our most dedicated players actually planned their summer break around the release date. It sucks for you and I personally apologize to everyone affected this way.”

— Guillaume Boucher-Vidal

It's a small detail, but it shows Nine Dots understands its audience. Outward built a cult following around its hardcore co-op survival design. These aren't casual fans. They're the kind of players who book vacation days for game launches.

"However, it would be even worse if you ended up playing something over your vacation that you were not even happy with," Boucher-Vidal added. Fair point. A disappointing launch during your week off hits different than a disappointing launch you can walk away from.

What happens now

The open beta continues. Nine Dots hasn't announced whether they'll expand access, add new content, or simply polish what's there. The Steam page now shows "2027" with no further specificity. That's a wide window.

For a small studio, an 18-month delay means 18 more months of development costs without revenue. Nine Dots isn't a AAA publisher with deep pockets. The original Outward sold over a million copies, but that money came years ago. The pressure to ship must be substantial, which makes the decision to delay more significant.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Outward 2 releasing now?

Nine Dots Studio has delayed Outward 2 to sometime in 2027. No specific release date has been announced.

Why was Outward 2 delayed?

The studio cited player feedback from the open beta, saying they didn't want to release a product that wouldn't satisfy expectations. Specific issues weren't detailed.

Is the Outward 2 beta still available?

Yes, the open beta that launched June 7 remains available on Steam while the studio continues development.

What platforms will Outward 2 release on?

Outward 2 is confirmed for PC via Steam early access. Console versions haven't been announced for the initial release.

Source: PCGamer latest