Outridersis the upcoming third-person RPG shooter from People Can Fly. The game is set for release on Jul 02, 2025, which could give it a significant advantage among the other sci-fi games with RPG elements coming out on the next-gen consoles.
This generational transition has left open a particularly big window for sci-fi RPGs and studios that want to take advantage. Two major developers, Bethesda and BioWare, are also releasing sci-fi RPGs on the next-generation consoles, but there are a few reasonsOutridersmay be able to lead the pack.
RELATED:Outriders Devastator Class Breakdown
Bethesda and Starfield
Bethesda Game Studios confirmed in 2018 that it is working on anew IP calledStarfield, which will release on the next-gen consoles beforeThe Elder Scrolls 6.Starfieldis the first new IP Bethesda has worked on in 25 years, which means a few things are likely which have implications forOutriders.
First, Bethesda has taken a few hits recently, particularly withFallout 76and increasing fan frustration at the lack ofTES 6news since the trailer dropped in 2018.Starfieldis the studio’s opportunity to regain some good faith, but until it releases, Bethesda is in a strange position. Despite being considered a giant of the RPG industry, it is currently in a slump, andOutridershas the opportunity to establish its own IP onthe PS5 and Xbox Series Xbefore Bethesda makes it stake yet again.
Outridersmay also mark a change among sci-fi RPGs, which, similar toDestiny 2, may now be moving more towards a multiplayer model where the outcome of certain RPG elements like dialog trees matter less. The popularity of this type of game can be seen from the other end of the spectrum too, with shooters likeHalo Infinitealso resemblingDestinymore and more.
This could see single player open-worldRPGs likeStarfieldstruggle to stay above water in a way that Bethesda’s more established IPs might not. The studio is certainly taking a big risk withStarfield, and whether or not it pays off, Bethesda is leaving its share of the market vulnerable to games likeOutridersat the start of this console generation.
RELATED:Outriders Release Date Finally Confirmed
BioWare and Mass Effect 5
Mass Effect 5, likeStarfield, has a lot of heavy lifting to do on the part of its studio. Outside an acknowledgement of its existence, nothing else has been mentioned likely due to how early in development it is. Previously, BioWare has demonstrated the risks big developers like Bethesda are taking with new IPs, with BioWare’s beingAnthema commercial and critical disappointment. Not only that, butMass Effectis no longer the reliable IP it once was.Mass Effect: Andromedafaced a disappointing release marred by animation bugs and behind-the-scenes stories of the devs' difficulties during the development process, which was done by BioWares’ Montreal crew rather than the main Edmonton team.
While a newMass Effectgame might once have been able to sustain excitement for a few years into the next-gen consoles, the release ofAndromedahas now put theMass Effectseries and BioWare on the back foot. It is possible the studio will regain some good faith and help rebuild the IP with the release of aMass Effect Remastered Trilogy,rumored to be set for announcement onN7 Day 2020.
Even still, bothBethesda and BioWareare in vulnerable positions until they establish themselves on the next-gen.Outridersisn’t only a highly anticipated game, but its release near the start of the new console generation could see the IP establish itself more strongly on the next-gen, taking up more of the sci-fi RPG market.
Outriders, however, is unlikely to provide the same experiences as a single-player Bethesda or BioWare RPG, with a far greater focus on the shooter side,likeDestiny. If each studio produces a game which reminds fans of their strengths–Bethesda’s open worlds and BioWare’s PC and companion-driven stories–then there’s plenty of room for each of these games to succeed. Of course, that remains to be seen and depends on the games themselves, but withOutridersleading the pack, Sci-Fi RPGs are looking up next-gen.
Outriderslaunches on July 24, 2025 PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X, with a Stadia version in development for 2021.
MORE:Outriders Delay Isn’t Necessary, But It Would be a Good Thing
