A distress signal beckons you and your crew of the Incognito to a derelict ship, where you discover the ship’s crew in suspended animation. All signs point to foul play, especially the puddle of what was most likely a person. You recover a video message left by the captain of the vessel, who explains that the crew has been contaminated with something while on a heist that will cause explosive cell death unless they find a cure. And by explosive cell death, she means more like a… “liquefaction”.By the looks of the puddle on the floor: liquefaction indeed.The stakes are set for the release of the first of a two-part narrative DLC expansion of The Outer Worlds 2 on December 2. In Side Effects Guaranteed, the video message you found leads you to Gordon Hazen, one of the leading agents in Sub Rosa, a criminal organization made up of like-minded individuals who have chosen to live their lives stealing from the various factions instead of working for them. Gordon in turn sends you to Elysium Valley, a new region on Eden that is home to a settlement of former Protectorate subjects that have been forgotten by their Protectorate leaders. He believes they may have the answers to saving his crew. He personally favors diplomacy over violence but needs you to do whatever you need to in order to get the information he needs.But Gordon isn’t the only one with interest in Elysium Valley. Another Sub Rosa agent, Algernon Lankester, wants to recruit you to help him exploit the subjects for his own personal gain. The fate of the subjects, the frozen Sub Rosa agents, and the future of Sub Rosa itself is up for you, our intrepid Commander, to decide.A new narrative story is not all that will be coming when Side Effects Guaranteed launches in a few weeks, however.Along with the new region of Elysium Valley to explore, players will encounter new threats like vicious canids and primal sprats. What’s a primal sprat? Just a normal sprat, but about 100 times the size. Surely, they’re just as friendly and forgiving of all the time you “accidentally” shot their much smaller cousins while exploring Arcadia.With these new threats comes the ability to make your Commander even stronger and, of course, more flawed (but in a good way). The level cap will increase from 30 to 36, bringing more skill points to broaden your build. Being able to go to level 36 also means there are three more perks you can acquire, with 15 brand new perks being added into the mix.Four new flaws will also be introduced that can change how your Commander plays, like “Lethally Tolerant,” a flaw that recognizes your built-up resistance to chemicals so your max toxicity will increase. This is great in the moment, but if you ever experience a Toxicity Crash, you will die instantly. Another example is “Must Have Been the Wind,” which will mark an “assassination target” for a combat group. Killing the target will grant a 20% damage and speed buff until the combat ends, but failing to do so or attacking someone who isn’t the target applies a 10% damage and speed debuff to the player for 30 seconds. Truly rewards that come with great risks.Side Effects Guaranteed will also see new weapons, new armors, and new outfits for each of the companions, as well as a brand-new Sub Rosa-run radio station featuring 20 new songs for the game. For those who want to jump straight to the action in the DLC, a new alternate starting point is being added to the main menu when you choose a new game that will allow you to start with a custom save that lands you at the start of the DLC. Start the game, allot your skill and perk points, and enjoy Side Effects Guaranteed right away!This jam-packed adventure with a deep story and systems to build your ideal commander will set up the next DLC for The Outer Worlds 2 that will be coming in Spring of 2027, and choices made will directly impact the next DLC. Part one of this overarching expansion story, Side Effects Guaranteed, will release on December 2 for $14.99, or is available in the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade for The Outer Worlds 2.The Outer Worlds 2 Premium EditionXbox Game Studios☆☆☆☆☆27★★★★★$99.99$79.99Get it nowThe Outer Worlds 2 Premium Edition includes: – The Outer Worlds 2 base game – DLC Pass for 2 future story expansions*– Moon Man’s Corporate Appreciation Premium Prize Pack– Access to The Outer Worlds 2 Digital Artbook & Original Soundtrack* Story expansions available as releasedThe Outer Worlds 2 is the eagerly-awaited sequel to the award-winning first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment (just look at the exciting number of dashes in this sentence!). Time to clear your calendar – get ready for an action-packed adventure with a new crew, new weapons, and new enemies in a new colony! So much newness!As a daring and most likely good-looking Earth Directorate agent, you must uncover the source of devastating rifts threatening to destroy all of humanity. Your investigation leads to Arcadia, home of skip drive technology, where the fate of the colony, and ultimately the entire galaxy, rests on your decisions – your strengths, your flaws, your crew, and the factions you choose to trust.Explore a New FrontierThe Arcadia colony is engulfed in a factional war, as the Protectorate’s so-called benevolent rule is challenged by the rebellion of their religious order and a corporate invasion. As destructive rifts spread across the colony, each faction fights to control or close them for their own ends. Navigate diverse zones, uncover hidden lore, and shape the fate of a system on the brink!Your Commander, Your WayBuild your character with the abilities and choices that reflect your playstyle. The colony reacts to your every move, crafting a narrative that’s yours to own -whether you’re a disciple of diplomacy, an astute strategist, a crusader for chaos, or something different altogether. And yes, you can dumb!Enlist Your CompanionsRecruit companions with unique traits, backgrounds and goals. Whether you choose to help them achieve their ambitions or steer them toward your own objectives, your influence shapes their growth (or death), making them an integral part of the immersive story you create together.The post Side Effects Guaranteed in the First DLC For The Outer Worlds 2, Coming December 2 appeared first on XBOX Wire.