The Outer Worlds’ first story expansion arrives in December

The Outer Worlds 2 will receive its first story expansion, Side Effects Guaranteed, on December 2. The paid DLC begins a two-part narrative, sending players to a new region on Eden and adding new enemies, equipment, perks, flaws, and a higher level cap.

The expansion will cost $14.99 or be included with the game’s Premium Edition and Premium Edition Upgrade. Its story follows a distress signal from a derelict ship and a search for answers in Elysium Valley, where the fate of a group of frozen Sub Rosa agents rests with the player.

The story begins with a distress call

The player and the crew of the Incognito respond to a signal from a derelict ship. Its crew is in suspended animation, and signs of a dangerous contamination point toward a heist gone wrong. A message from the ship’s captain sends the Commander to Elysium Valley in search of a cure.

There, the player meets Gordon Hazen, an agent of Sub Rosa, a criminal organization made up of people who steal from the factions rather than working for them. Gordon wants to save his crew, but he is not the only person with an interest in the settlement. Another Sub Rosa agent, Algernon Lankester, wants to exploit its residents for his own gain.

Elysium Valley adds a new region and new threats

The expansion introduces Elysium Valley, a settlement on Eden whose former Protectorate subjects have been abandoned by their leaders. The player’s decisions will determine what happens to the settlement, the frozen agents, and Sub Rosa’s future.

New enemies include vicious canids and oversized primal sprats. The region adds more places to explore and new threats to deal with, while continuing the series’ focus on factions with competing interests. Players will have to decide whether to help Gordon, assist Algernon, or pursue another outcome.

The level cap rises, with more room to shape a build

The level cap increases from 30 to 36, giving players additional skill points to develop their Commander. The DLC adds 15 new perks and four new flaws, allowing builds to gain new advantages along with risks.

Some flaws attach a specific cost to a combat benefit. For example, Lethally Tolerant raises the player’s maximum toxicity but makes a toxicity crash instantly fatal. Another flaw marks an assassination target and rewards killing that enemy with a temporary damage and speed boost, while punishing the player if they attack the wrong target or fail to eliminate the mark.

The expansion adds equipment and a direct start option

Players can expect new weapons, armor, and outfits for each companion. The expansion also adds a Sub Rosa radio station with 20 new songs, giving the new region a distinct soundtrack.

Those who do not want to replay the main campaign before starting the DLC can use an alternative start option when beginning a new game. It creates a custom save that places the player at the start of the expansion, allowing them to allocate skills and perks before heading into the new story.

This is only the first half of a larger story

Side Effects Guaranteed is the first chapter of a two-part expansion. The second DLC is planned for spring 2027, and Xbox says choices made in the first part will directly affect the next one. The two expansions are therefore designed to connect rather than function as entirely separate adventures.

The first part launches December 2 for $14.99 on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. It is also included with the Premium Edition and Premium Edition Upgrade. Players who already own the base game can buy the expansion separately, while the second chapter’s price and exact release date have not yet been announced.