The Early Access release date for Outward 2 was shared today via a trailer featuring a literal potato running the game on a "potato" PC. The trailer is meant to show how scalable the game is when it comes to hardware configurations while also revealing that Early Access date.
A "final" release date was not shared as part of today's announcement. I assume it will remain in Early Access until such a time that the development team at Nine Dots Studio feel it's ready for full release. There was also no mention here about how much the Early Access release will run.
Included below is the trailer as well as the PC system requirements for a variety of hardware configurations. I have also included that chart in a text chart if the image is unavailable or difficult to read.
| POTATO | MINIMUM | RECOMMENDED | HIGH | ULTRA | |
| PRESET | POTATO | VERY LOW | MEDIUM | HIGH | ULTRA |
| AVG PERFORMANCE | 1280 X 720 @ 30 FPS | 1920 X 1080 @ 30 FPS | 2560 X 1440 @ 60 FPS | 2560 X 1440 @ 60 FPS | 3840 X 2160 @ 60+ FPS |
| GPU | GEFORCE GTX 750 TI | GEFORCE GTX 960 | GEFORCE RTX 3060 | GEFORCE RTX 3070 | GEFORCE RTX 4080 |
| CPU | FX 6300 X6 | RYZEN 3 1300X | RYZEN 5 5600X | RYZEN 5 5600X | RYZEN 7 7700 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB |
Outward 2 Key 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. If you’re knocked out, your journey continues, and you must live with the consequences.
- A Living, Evolving World — A full-year seasonal cycle transforms the world of Aurai and its four distinct areas. Regions will feature their own biomes, seasons, and specific gameplay.
- 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 — 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, though not all will be worth taking up 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.
