Nine Dots Studio has confirmed that Outward 2 will launch into Early Access on July 7, this summer. Before that, players will get an early look at the adventure RPG through a closed beta test.

Guillaume Boucher Vidal, CEO and Creative Director at Nine Dots Studio, said Outward 2 is meant to build on what worked in the original game. He pointed to four main areas the team wanted to improve, including character creation, story, world design, and combat. That direction fits the game’s broader identity, since Outward 2 is still centered on careful planning, exploration, and hard choices rather than easy power fantasy.

The new trailer shows the world of Aurai in full detail, while also giving players a look at the game running on lower end hardware. The gameplay showcase leans into the game’s well known focus on performance and practical settings, known as the Potato graphic setting. It is a clear nod to the PC audience that the studio wants to reach, whether they play on high-end machines or more modest rigs.

The Closed Beta will run from May 26 at 4 PM EST to June 8 at 1 PM EST. Players who joined the January playtest will get access automatically after updating the game. New players can register through Nine Dots Studio’s website or on Steam, and selected players will receive email invites on May 26.

One of the beta’s main additions is La Rescapée, a new region of Aurai. The area was once a forest, then heavily damaged after long conflict with the Scourge, and now stands as a place shaped by rebirth after the Turning. It is also home to ghosts, which adds another layer to the setting and suggests that Outward 2 will continue to lean into its mix of RPG progression, souls-like combat, and survival elements.