Can you respec in The Outer Worlds 2?

Can you respec in The Outer Worlds 2? We've all made bad decisions before. Whether you pick impulsively or don't select skills and perks that blend well, having a respec mechanic at your disposal gives you the chance to start over without starting over. In The Outer Worlds 2, your build is made up of a variety of skills, traits, and abilities. You can even inflict yourself with negative flaws, so a perfectly symbiotic build takes some thought.

The Outer Worlds 2 perks, skills, and flaws have changed dramatically from the first game, and build choices have a far bigger impact on your experience. In The Outer Worlds, you could reset some of your skills, but what about the RPG game's sequel? Here's what you need to know about respeccing in The Outer Worlds 2.

No, Obsidian has confirmed that there is no respec feature in The Outer Worlds 2, meaning your build choices as an Earth Directorate agent are permanent. This is purposeful, with design director Matt Singh having been quoted as saying, "we really feel all of your choices should matter. They should be meaningful changes to your gameplay experience."

While the above quote from Singh comes from an interview with IGN, game director Brandon Adler referred to respeccing in the first game in conversation with RPG Site. He says, The Outer Worlds 2 "does not have a character respec option. This is a feature removed from the last game - but it's one removed for reasons of game design philosophy above all else."

In The Outer Worlds, a full respec was also unavailable, but some skills could be reset using the Vocational Respecification Machine. With this now entirely removed, there is no safety net, and every decision you make is final. While this is partly for choice permanence, it is presumably also due to the huge consequences each skill, background, and trait choice now has on gameplay.

With the knowledge that you can't respec in The Outer Worlds 2, plan your build with care. Check out all the TOW2 skills, plus the strange and absurd new The Outer Worlds 2 traits, and make sure you don't make any bad choices - unless they're intentional.