Outward 2 Enters Steam Early Access on July 7, 2026 with New Engine

Nine Dots Studio has announced Outward 2, the sequel to its open-world survival RPG. The game will enter Steam Early Access on July 7, 2026. A closed beta begins on May 26, 2026.

Closed beta begins May 26

At Early Access launch, Outward 2 will be exclusive to Windows PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. The full 1.0 release will include four regions and three quest lines with about six quests each. Early Access will have three regions and roughly one third of the quests. The game uses Unreal Engine 5, a switch from Unity. It has no experience points or levels, instead using an Exercise system. There are no skill resets, and players can choose three breakthroughs from eight trainers. The game has no fast travel or GPS markers, and features a seasonal cycle and wound system. Co-op is limited to two players via local split-screen or online.

Outward 2 launches into Early Access worldwide on July 7, 2026.

The studio has grown from 10 to 30 people for this project. The Early Access period is estimated to last 12 to 18 months, though the exact duration depends on success. Console versions are planned after the 1.0 release. The game will not have voice acting at the start of Early Access, but it is planned for later.

Nine Dots Studio has not confirmed the exact Early Access duration. The developer, Guillaume Boucher-Vidal, stated that the timeline depends on how successful the game is.