The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition (XSX) Review

This choice is…complicated

Not all remasters are created equal. This is the case with Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice. The original game launched in 2019 to relatively positive acclaim. Now three years later we are getting what is essentially the definitive edition, complete with upgrades for new consoles and all the DLC included. The bad side to this is that owners of the original game are left feeling a bit cold in the process. There is an upgrade path if you own the original game and both DLC packs, which is nice, but the fact that saves do not carry over and the original app for the game is basically left in the cold feels a bit like a slap in the face.

The Outer Worlds is an action RPG in the same vein as Fallout. It features both melee and ranged combat, plenty of NPCs to interact with, and a world to explore and do quests. It is a familiar genre that has decent mechanics and some genuinely good writing and characters. When I played the original game I had a lot of fun, but managed to fall off after about 15 hours as the progression started to wear thin. With this new entry I was excited to dive back in and check out the changes and of course the DLC I never got to experience.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $49.99

This kicked off my disappointment as I was not able to carry over my save from the original game, which meant I had to start a new playthrough from the start. Immediately I noticed the quality of life changes from the original. For starters the load times are vastly improved. Even running the original game on Series X I experienced long load times between areas. This is not a typical open world game. There are constant loading screens between areas and planets. In the Spacer’s Choice Edition these are nearly eliminated making progression so much smoother.

The visuals have also been given an overhaul. The game now runs up to 4K resolution and 60fps and feels so much better. I did notice dropped frames and stutters as I moved across open areas though. This game is certainly not locked in its performance department. That is not all though. There are also new graphical touches such as volumetric lighting, enhanced environmental detail, and particle physics. The game truly looks like a remaster of the original game. The character models have also been improved and now look more realistic. New AI improvements and even dynamic weather round out the package making this game look and feel like a substantial upgrade.

This package does include both DLC packs and the entire game for $60 which is a great price for those that never owned the original. If you own all three of those though you can upgrade to this version for $10. This is a solid deal if you own the original, but I found it odd that the old version still retails for more than that on the store. Which is weird. I feel like there should have been more care put in for people who owned at least the original game. A save transfer at the minimum. This is a huge oversight and makes it feel more like them wanting to capitalize on a new purchase. This game is also not on Xbox Game Pass like the original, so if you were expecting to get it there, it isn’t happening.

The Outer Worlds: Spacer’s Choice Edition is a weird release. While Xbox owns the developer, Private Division still retains the distribution rights to the first game. Which means the normal free upgrade is not here. Instead we have the definitive version of a great game locked behind some weird monetary decisions. If you never played the original, this is by far the best package available. If you did and are looking to upgrade what is here is nice, but not worth another $60. If you own all the DLC this is a solid $10 upgrade. Still I wish it was more accessible or at least a save transfer existed. It taints an otherwise solid release.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.

Good
  • Much better loading times
  • Improved visuals
  • Quality of life updates
Bad
  • No easy upgrade path
  • Frame rate hitches
7.5
Good
Written by
Ken is the Editor-in-Chief of this hole in the wall and he loves to troll for the fun of it. He also enjoys long walks through Arkham Asylum and the cool air of Shadow Moses Island. His turn-ons include Mortal Kombat, Metal Gear Solid and StarCraft.