25 years later, one of the first 3D open-world games ever made is getting a sequel

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Outcast: A New Beginning is a direct sequel to the 1999 original

Outcast: A New Beginning release window
(Image credit: THQ Nordic)

One of the games that pioneered the open-world format is getting a long awaited sequel, and we finally know when.

Outcast: A New Beginning, announced earlier this year, is expected to launch on March 15, 2024. That's a hefty quarter of a century after the first game released on June 25, 1999, but it's looking all the better for it. The game will see hero Cutter Slade returning to the fantastical alien world of Adelpha in an open world action epic,  featuring "light RPG" mechanics such as skill trees and NPC dialogue, according to THQ Nordic producers Michael Paeck and Andreas Schmiedecker during a hands-off preview of the game.

With an estimated runtime of 30-35 hours, Outcast: A New Beginning is intended as not only a direct sequel to the original, but as a re-entry point for new players and old fans alike. It was originally entitled Outcast 2, but was later renamed to reflect the producers' intentions to make it an inclusive action experience "no matter how familiar you are with Outcast" or its 2017 remaster. That being said, THQ Nordic has reunited the original creators to help make the game, so fans of the original Outcast should expect a fair few easter eggs baked in for good measure.

From what we've seen, the game looks massive. Adelpha's stunning yet unruly alien landscape, blending the natural and mechanical realms, definitely has an air of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora about it. Similarly, watching Slade glide through an icy tundra before swooping past sandy beaches with the help of his jetpack feels like something out of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom at times.

Check out some of the best action games to get stuck into while you wait for Outcast: A New Beginning.

Jasmine Gould-Wilson
Jasmine Gould-Wilson
Senior Staff Writer, GamesRadar+

Jasmine is a Senior Staff Writer at GamesRadar+. Raised in Hong Kong and having graduated with an English Literature degree from Queen Mary, University of London, she began her journalism career as a freelancer with TheGamer and TechRadar Gaming before joining GR+ full-time in 2023. She now focuses predominantly on features content for GamesRadar+, attending game previews, and key international conferences such as Gamescom and Digital Dragons in between regular interviews, opinion pieces, and the occasional stint with the news or guides teams. In her spare time, you'll likely find Jasmine challenging her friends to a Resident Evil 2 speedrun, purchasing another book she's unlikely to read, or complaining about the weather.