Highlights
Both Starfield and The Outer Worlds 2 are space-faring RPGs that can be compared due to their many similarities.
Starfield has faced criticism for its excessive number of loading screens, which interrupt the flow of the game and create tedious moments.
The Outer Worlds 2 holds the potential to provide a more seamless gaming experience, incorporating fewer loading screens by making use of the technical groundwork laid by its predecessor and the advancements in modern gaming hardware.
Starfield and The Outer Worlds 2, both massive space-faring RPGs, are likely to share similar design elements. Despite their differences in lore, gameplay, and art design, the two games occupy a similar space in the industry and are therefore suitable for comparison, particularly when speculating about The Outer Worlds 2 and its technical considerations.
Obsidian Entertainment, known for their acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas, collaborated with Bethesda to release The Outer Worlds in 2019, providing gamers with a lighthearted, Fallout-inspired adventure set in space. Bethesda Game Studios' Starfield, on the other hand, captivated RPG fans with its recent release. While many players have praised Starfield, some have criticized its limited traversal options, simplistic combat, lack of meaningful choice, and more. However, there is one aspect of Starfield's design that has consistently come under scrutiny, and based on players' experiences with The Outer Worlds, there is reason to believe that The Outer Worlds 2 will address this issue.
The Outer Worlds 2 Likely Won't Have as Many Loading Screens as Starfield
Starfield's marketing focused on widespread planetary exploration and exclusive next-gen gameplay with an SSD requirement, leading players to expect a seamless experience similar to No Man's Sky. However, upon release, players were disappointed to discover that exploration in Starfield involved fast-travel, menu-switching, and repeated loading screens. This applied to both interplanetary and intraplanetary exploration, limiting access to buildings and interior locations. Many players found this interruption in gameplay flow to be tedious and contentious. In contrast, The Outer Worlds, released in 2019, featured significantly fewer loading screens despite not requiring SSDs or being released on last-gen consoles. With the upcoming release of The Outer Worlds 2, it is anticipated that the game will surpass Starfield in this aspect, offering a seamless cosmic adventure with minimal interruptions, thanks to advancements in gaming hardware.
The Outer Worlds 2 is expected to prioritize reducing loading screens to compete with other modern open-world games, unlike its predecessor. Many games have utilized SSDs in consoles and PCs to enhance gaming experiences, and The Outer Worlds 2 will likely follow suit. While Starfield has faced criticism for optimization and performance, loading screens have been a prominent point of discussion. Next-gen gaming relies on technical advancements, and numerous games have utilized improved hardware to provide seamless experiences. In comparison, Starfield has been criticized for its frequent loading screens, even more so than some previous console generation games. If The Outer Worlds 2 can effectively utilize the technical improvements of the current console generation, it may surpass Starfield in terms of loading screens.
Starfield is currently available on PC and Xbox Series X|S.