The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC: Price, Date and How to Start

The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC arrives on 2 December 2026, taking players to Elysium Valley on Eden with a new story, more gear and a higher level cap. This is the first half of a two-part expansion, and it is included if you own the Premium Edition or Premium Edition Upgrade.

You won’t have to replay the entire campaign to get there, either. Obsidian is adding a new-game option that starts you directly in the DLC with a level 27 character. That’s useful if you’ve finished the base game and no longer have a save from before its final point of no return.

The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC release date and price

Side Effects Guaranteed releases on Wednesday, 2 December 2026 for $14.99 USD as a standalone add-on. That’s the announced US price, not a confirmed UK price. Check the listing in your own store for the price in pounds.

The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC is coming to Xbox Series X|S, PS5 and PC, where the base game is available. It is an add-on, so you also need access to The Outer Worlds 2 itself.

Is The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC included with Premium Edition?

Yes. Both the Premium Edition and Premium Edition Upgrade include Side Effects Guaranteed. If you own one of them on your gaming account, you shouldn’t buy this expansion again. The Premium package also includes the pass for the second story expansion, due in spring 2027.

The Standard Edition does not include this paid expansion. Playing through Game Pass doesn’t automatically give you The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC either. You need to own the add-on or have the Premium upgrade.

Before buying The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC, check which edition your account actually owns. The $14.99 standalone purchase is for this first expansion, while the Premium upgrade contains the pass for both parts. Compare those options before paying twice.

How do you start Side Effects Guaranteed?

The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC takes place just before the base game’s point of no return. An earlier save from that part of the campaign makes sense to keep, but Obsidian hasn’t said that every completed endgame save can automatically return there.

There’s also a shortcut for returning players. Choose New Game from the main menu and select the option to start Side Effects Guaranteed. Obsidian says you’ll begin with a level 27 character and can allocate skill and perk points before jumping into the new content. This starts a new character; it doesn’t rewind your old save.

The direct DLC start means you can play the expansion without spending hours repeating the original campaign.

What is included in The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC?

A distress call leads your crew to a derelict ship, where the survivors are in suspended animation after being infected during a heist. Finding a cure takes you to Elysium Valley on Eden, where Sub Rosa agents Gordon Hazen and Algernon Lankester have very different plans for a forgotten Protectorate settlement. The decisions you make about the settlement and the ship’s crew will carry into the next expansion.

Alongside the new region and quests, the expansion raises the level cap from 30 to 36 and adds 15 new perks, four flaws, new armour, companion outfits and five weapons. The Immobilizer lifts enemies into the air, while the 1/6 Resolver gives every sixth shot an extra punch. There’s also a Sub Rosa radio station with 20 new songs.

The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC gives you six more levels to work with, plus enough extra perk choices to open up new builds. Obsidian says the higher cap lets you pick up three additional perks.

What is free in the 2 December update?

A free update is arriving at the same time. It will let everyone respec their character at any time and add a custom-game setting for changing how many skill points you earn per level. You don’t need to own the paid DLC for those changes.

If you only want to rebuild your character, there’s no need to buy The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC. The new Elysium Valley storyline, enemies and expansion-specific gear belong to the paid add-on. It’s worth keeping that distinction in mind before buying.

Will there be a second expansion?

Yes. Obsidian has confirmed a second chapter for spring 2027, with decisions made in Side Effects Guaranteed affecting what happens next. For now, the confirmed date is 2 December 2026 for the first expansion.

If you’re planning to play The Outer Worlds 2 Side Effects Guaranteed DLC at launch, check your edition before spending anything, keep a pre-finale save if you have one, or use the new level 27 start to go straight in.

Official source: Obsidian’s Side Effects Guaranteed announcement on Xbox Wire.