Outward 2, an open-world action role-playing game from Nine Dots Studio, will enter early access on July 7, 2026. The game will launch on Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, but there will be no console release at launch [1, 2].
Ahead of the early access release, a closed beta will run from May 26 to June 8. Players can request invitations through the developer’s website, which is prioritized, or on the game’s Steam page [3, 2].
The sequel returns to the series' theme of playing as a regular adventurer struggling to survive in a dangerous world rather than a heroic protagonist [2]. From day one, Outward 2 will support local two-player split-screen co-op and online multiplayer [1].
A standout feature is a "potato specs" graphics mode designed for low-end hardware. This mode was demonstrated in trailers by a talking potato character showcasing gameplay on older machines. According to a PC Gamer article, "Potato does appear to be a genuine quality setting in-game, by the way, not just a cute way to talk about lower-than-minimum graphics" [1, 3, 2].
The minimum PC requirements for running Outward 2 on potato settings at 1280x720 resolution and 30 frames per second include a GeForce GTX 750 Ti GPU, an FX 3600 X6 CPU, and 8 GB of RAM [1, 3, 2]. For medium settings, a GTX 3060 GPU and 16 GB RAM are recommended, while max settings require high-end hardware such as a GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and 32 GB of RAM [3].
The original Outward sold over 1 million copies, setting high expectations for the sequel [1]. The early access phase will allow players to experience the game’s evolving world and give feedback to the developers before the full launch.
The closed beta begins on May 26 and runs until June 8, offering an early look at the game’s mechanics and multiplayer features [3, 2]. The early access release across PC platforms is scheduled for July 7, 2026 [1, 2].
