Science is the explanation for just about anything and everything in the universe ofThe Outer Worlds. Even on the planets of the Halcyon Colony with minimal technology, science still has an ongoing history. With how established the setting already is forThe Outer Worlds, the case can be made whether magic should be introduced or not in the upcoming sequel.
One major factor for whether magic could be introduced in the sequel is how relevant past events will be, such as the many places andcharacters fromThe Outer Worlds’ Halcyon Colony. If there is a big emphasis on returning elements that carry into the story of the next game, there isn’t too much room for magic in the extensive reach that science governs in the series so far. However, it’s fair to guess that plenty of new scenery and life will make its way into wherever the sequel takes place, and in that lies the possibility for new discoveries. Ultimately there are many cases both for and against introducing magic inThe Outer Worldssequel.
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How Magic Could Fit Into Outer Worlds
The events of the firstThe Outer Worldsgame brought closure to a satisfying amount of people and places in the Halcyon Colony, so the sequel may or may not revisit the Halcyon Colony. It’s already been revealed thatThe Outer Worlds 2will take place in a new solar system, but this doesn’t necessarily mean a return to the Halcyon Colony is off the table. An entirely new solar system could have any amount of consequences for the technology and societies within the game, such as the possibility for magic to exist outside the jurisdiction of science. Given much science has already achieved in the Halcyon Colony, magic could be the twist that warrants a change of scenery.
Outside of destinations, the main character being a foreign anomaly to the game’s setting is another potential avenue to explore in the sequel, especially for introducing magic.The player character inThe Outer Worldswas previously a cryogenically frozen member of Halcyon Colony’s civilization. If the playable character in the sequel is another foreign anomaly, truly being an outsider might mean that the character originates from outside the influence of Halcyon Colony’s science. In the first game, the player character’s disconnection from the Halcyon Colony’s current civilizations was an effective tool for educating players on the game’s setting. This same concept could be explored in the sequel with more meaningful implications.
The Outer Worlds May Not Need Magic
Science already has a generously extensive reach, like the effects ofThe Outer Worlds’ “science weapons,”manmade creatures throughout the Halcyon Colony, and even the player character’s ability to slow down time. In a way, magic already exists in the Halcyon Colony, but with enough constraints behind it to be considered science. Such is the nature of a solar system that has been monopolized by an exploitative industrial society. Given what science can already accomplish inThe Outer Worlds, it wouldn’t make too much of a difference to introduce magic in the sequel.
Science fits into the oppressive corporate setting extremely well, so much so that if magic were to be introduced, it may warrant very different storytelling forThe Outer Worlds 2. The first game tapped intoObsidian Entertainment’s historyof character-driven, environmental storytelling, and introducing magic all of a sudden could fray that fabric.
Given how the socioeconomic hierarchy enables tyranny acrossthe Halcyon Colony, being able to shortcut the system with magic might allow for a rebellion that completely dissolves the structure in place.The Outer Worlds’ strong roots in science fiction mean there are still plenty more conventional avenues to explore without branching into the fantasy of magic and consequently abandoning the social atmosphere.
