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Obsidian’s December 2025 outlook named updates for Avowed, Grounded 2 and The Outer Worlds 2. Since then, Avowed’s anniversary update has arrived; the seasonal Grounded 2 targets and The Outer Worlds 2 DLC plans were announcements, not confirmed release dates. Here is what was announced—and what is confirmed now.
At a glance: what is confirmed and what was planned
| Game | What Obsidian said in December 2025 | Status and timing |
|---|---|---|
| Avowed | Anniversary update with New Game Plus, Photo Mode, a Quarterstaff and additional Character Presets. | Update confirmed available February 17, 2026; Obsidian said it ended the game’s post-launch roadmap. |
| Grounded 2 | Community garden in a Winter Update, a mid-sized Spring update and a major Summer update targeted for 2026, if all went to plan. | These were seasonal targets in the December 18, 2025 outlook, not confirmation of release. The outlook also mentioned new environments, more buggies, armor, equipment and mysteries. |
| The Outer Worlds 2 | Two DLCs in development for 2026 and continued core-game improvements. | The outlook named no DLC, feature or release date. |
The outlook appeared in Xbox Wire’s December 18, 2025 year-end feature. Its wording described a mix of plans and development work, not a promise that every item would ship on a particular date.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Riders Republic Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One Standard Edition | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Maneater - Xbox One | $15.50 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Minecraft Dungeons: Hero Edition – Xbox Series X & Xbox One | $44.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Injustice: Gods Among Us - Xbox 360 | $22.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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No More Heroes 3 – Day 1 Edition - Xbox Series X | $21.79 | Buy on Amazon |
Avowed: the anniversary update is out
Obsidian initially previewed New Game Plus, Photo Mode, a Quarterstaff weapon and additional Character Presets for the anniversary update. The studio later confirmed the update was available on February 17, 2026, and described it as the end of Avowed’s post-launch roadmap. Obsidian also released the PlayStation 5 version that day. Its announcement of the update lists a broader set of additions than the December preview:
- Three playable species—Dwarves, Orlans and Aumaua—joining Humans and Elves.
- New Game Plus, custom difficulty modifiers and the Quarterstaff weapon type.
- Photo Mode, improved lighting and visual polish, and quality-of-life changes.
If you completed the game before New Game Plus was added, Obsidian says you need a completion save to use the mode. The update announcement also marks a clear distinction between the earlier preview and what was eventually released: the preview was not a complete feature list.
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- Battle against over 50 players simultaneously in a massive multiplayer playground—over 20 players on Xbox One.
- Compete in an all-out mass start race—collide, grind, and fight your way to the finish
- Customize your character to show off your style to your friends or show up the competition.
- Bike, ski, snowboard, or wingsuit through a seamless open world in Career mode or multiplayer events.
- Go wild on the heights of iconic US national parks like Yosemite, Zion, and Bryce Canyon.
Obsidian wrote: “It has been one year since the launch of Avowed and the team is ending its post-launch roadmap with a substantial anniversary update built with both returning and new players in mind.”
Grounded 2: seasonal targets, not confirmed dates
In the December 2025 outlook, Obsidian outlined a community garden for the Winter Update, a mid-sized Spring update and a major update targeted for Summer 2026, “if all goes to plan.” It also said development included new environments, additional buggies, armor and equipment, and more mysteries. The outlook did not give specific launch days, so those seasons should be read as targets announced at that time—not proof that an update is available now.
Rank #2
- Eat, explore, and evolve in an open world action RPG
- Feed on humans, consume nutrients, and find rare Shark loot to evolve past what nature intended
- Explore 7 large regions, including bayous of the Gulf Coast, resort beaches, industrial docks, the open ocean, and more - experience a living world with a full day/night cycle
- Unlock and equip various evolutions that improve and enhance your Shark as you progress through the campaign
- Hunter parties and bounty system - The humans fight back, with the battle against various types of hunters ranging from small skiffs all the way up to the Coast Guard
Xbox Wire’s 2025 outlook is the source for these plans. It provides broad content categories rather than a detailed feature-by-feature schedule.
The Outer Worlds 2: two DLCs in development, details undisclosed
Obsidian said a couple of DLCs were in development for 2026 and that it would continue improving the core game. The December outlook did not disclose the DLC names, contents or launch dates. The studio’s comment that it had “no shortage of ideas” is not a commitment to any particular feature.
Rank #3
- Minecraft Dungeons Hero Edition includes the Hero Pass DLC content: a Hero Cape, two player skins, and a chicken pet. It also includes the Jungle Awakens and Creeping Winters DLC packs.
- Dungeon Creeper Battle new-and-nasty mobs in this all-new action-adventure, inspired by classic dungeon crawlers.
- Multiplayer Up to four players can team up and fight together in co-op mode.
- Power Up Unlock dozens of unique items and weapon enchantments for devastating special attacks.
- Options Personalize your character, then fight up-close and personal with melee swings, hang back with ranged attacks, or tank your way through swarms of mobs, by heavy armor
Those details come from the same Xbox Wire feature; it is more accurate to describe the DLCs as in development than to present them as dated releases.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read Obsidian’s 2026 outlook
- Released: Avowed’s anniversary update has a confirmed availability date: February 17, 2026.
- Targeted: Grounded 2’s seasonal updates, including the major Summer 2026 update, were targets stated in December 2025.
- In development: The Outer Worlds 2 DLC was described as in development for 2026, without names or dates.
Obsidian’s later 2026 news includes support beyond those three outlook items. For example, its Pillars of Eternity news page says Turn-Based Mode for the original game went live on Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG and Xbox PC App on April 6, 2026. The studio homepage also listed 2026 patches for Pillars of Eternity and The Outer Worlds 2. Those are separate support developments, not additional items in the three-game December outlook.
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Rank #4
- Injustice: Gods Among Us - Ultimate Edition (Xbox 360)
- The "Ultimated Edition" version of "Injustice: Gods Among Us" for Xbox 360 that includes OVER $60+ WORTH OF NEW BONUS CONTENT, including: Over 30 New Skins, 6 New Characters (Lobo, Batgirl, Scorpion, General Zod, Martian Manhunter and Zatanna), and 60 New S.T.A.R. Lab Missions.
- Key Game Features: *A unique addition to the fighting genre in which an intriguing storyline pits the heroes -- and villains -- of the DC universe against each other. *A powerful and diverse array of over 20 playable characters, including Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Nightwing, Catwoman, Cyborg, Harley Quinn, Solomon Grundy, and others.
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