The Outer Worlds 2 Early Access Release Time
The Outer Worlds 2 early access release time is Friday, October 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM EDT (10:00 AM PDT, 5:00 PM UTC), exclusive to Premium Edition buyers—five days before standard launch. If you’re hoping for surprise access on Game Pass or with a standard preorder, it’s not happening. The Outer Worlds (@OuterWorlds) shared on X is offering early access to The Outer Worlds 2 with its Premium Edition, available starting tomorrow. Fans can enjoy the game and its DLCs on Xbox Series X|S and the Xbox App for Windows.
The heavy search is spiking after the 2025 Xbox Showcase trailer dropped with the Premium Edition reveal, and plenty are confusing the “early access” with preorder bonuses for Starfield or Baldur’s Gate 3 not the same deal at all. Early access and launch are both worldwide simultaneous releases, not rolling region-by-region. Here’s how times break down:
|
Region |
Early Access (Oct 24) |
Full Release (Oct 29) |
|---|---|---|
|
PDT (San Francisco) |
10:00 AM |
10:00 AM |
|
EDT (New York) |
1:00 PM |
1:00 PM |
|
GMT (London) |
5:00 AM |
5:00 PM |
|
CEST (Berlin/Paris) |
7:00 PM |
7:00 PM |
|
AEST (Sydney) |
4:00 AM (Oct 25) |
4:00 AM (Oct 30) |
|
IST (New Delhi) |
10:30 AM |
10:30 PM |
Xbox (@Xbox) shared on X teased the arrival of The Outer Worlds 2, saying, "The universe needs a hero... but you'll have to do." The game is set to release on October 29.
Preload Information & What You Get
You can preload The Outer Worlds 2 now on Xbox and PC (Game Pass, Steam soon). File sizes:
-
Xbox Series X|S: ~79.5 GB
-
PC (Xbox App): ~77.3 GB
-
PC (Steam, Battle.net, PlayStation): not confirmed yet, expect a similar size.
Preloads opened for Premium and Standard Edition preorders; Game Pass gets access day one with no extra cost. Preorder bonuses include the “Commander Zane’s Anti-Monopolistic Battle Pack”—cosmetic+gear, not gameplay content. No extra beta or special edition gameplay.
Why Does Every Game Offer Early Access Now?
Honestly, it’s getting ridiculous that gamers assume every RPG has “early access” just for preordering, thanks to launches like Starfield, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Cyberpunk 2077 using the term for simple marketing. But The Outer Worlds 2 locks early play exclusively behind its Premium Edition, not just any preorder.
If you’re expecting a Game Pass early unlock, blame publisher trends; Xbox is day one only. This confusion is fueled by the industry’s habit of calling paid preorder bonuses “early access” when it’s just a glorified advanced launch date. Seen it with Forza Horizon, Diablo IV, and even indie RPGs lately. No, you can’t just pre-order and play early unless you shell out for the top-tier edition, and that’s not ideal. Yes, the first game had bugs at launchbut that’s about optimization, not access timing.
Disclaimer:
Information in this article is for general guidance and may change; always confirm with official sources. Game release dates, times, and availability can shift due to developer or publisher decisions; check the official Obsidian or Xbox pages for latest updates.
