The Outer Worlds 2’s Auntie Cleo Resembles One of Gaming’s Best Villains

Summary

Auntie Cleo’s role in The Outer Worlds 2 seems to mirror Handsome Jack from Borderlands, hinting at a captivating antagonist.
The game’s plot involves Cleo’s pursuit of power and profit by ordering an invasion of a new colony.
The player’s freedom in TOW2 will likely extend to choosing evil deeds and being able to align with Auntie Cleo’s cause.

After being in the works since 2021, Obsidian Entertainment’s sequel to its 2019 sci-fi RPG FPS, The Outer Worlds 2, now has an official release date. Among the whirlwind of world premieres and new trailers at the Xbox Games Showcase, Obsidian revealed that fans can now expect to return to its retro-future-flavored corporate dystopia this year on October 29. The studio has gradually been unveiling more about The Outer Worlds 2, and fans got their most detailed look at it yet at the recent event.

In the latest trailer, a notorious figure from the franchise is prominent throughout. Auntie Cleo makes a big appearance, with the character providing narration outlining The Outer Worlds 2‘s story setup. Through her patented propaganda, Cleo describes the situation players will be in for the sequel. And though she arguably has already displayed shades of this before, from what was seen, Cleo now exhibits even more traits similar to one of gaming’s most memorable and bombastic villains: Borderlands‘ infamous Handsome Jack.

The Outer Worlds 2’s Protagonist is Already a Far Cry From the First One

The Outer Worlds 2’s protagonist has a background that defines them from the Stranger and opens doors for players invested in different builds.

The Outer Worlds 2’s Auntie Cleo Is Giving Off Heavy Handsome Jack Vibes

Auntie Cleo is Set Up to Be The Outer Worlds 2’s Big Bad Corporate Wolf

While it was shown in the first game that Auntie Cleo’s company was suffering a decline and slipping into the red, it appears she’s since bounced back. There’s been a merger between her brand and the iconic Spacer’s Choice to create a new corporate conglomerate monster called Auntie’s Choice intent on devouring its next target, the colony of Arcadia. Auntie’s Choice forces are invading Arcadia in the hopes of claiming its resources and citizens’ lives to perpetuate their profits.

Fans will play an Earth Protectorate agent in The Outer Worlds 2 coming to investigate and quell the chaos breaking out across Arcadia. On top of the invasion, strange dimensional rifts have been opening in Arcadia, and Auntie naturally wants the sole rights to these as well as to control trade routes. The framework follows The Outer Worlds‘ own brand of absurdity, especially when it comes to making light of willfully out-of-touch, greedy, and corrupt CEOs. As the EP agent, fans will be able to resist Auntie’s ambitions or potentially join them.

How The Outer Worlds 2’s Auntie Cleo Is Shaping Up to Give Handsome Jack a Run for His Money

Since his first appearance in Borderlands 2, Handsome Jack has risen through the ranks to claim a spot as one of gaming’s best bad guys, thanks in large part to his mix of menace and charm. Jack is often pointed to as being one of the best-written and performed antagonists in gaming history, and one committed to seeing his grand plans through, no matter the cost to those around them, even if they’re the most loyal.

Given TOW‘s established setting as well as Auntie Cleo’s nature, and now her seemingly expanded role in The Outer Worlds 2, where she appears to be a major if not the main antagonist, she’s poised in many ways to feel and act like Jack did in the upcoming adventure. Cleo proclaims in the trailer that she’s come to Arcadia to “spread freedom and liberate resources…for profit!” She also casually mentions “brainwashing technology,” something that Jack would no doubt be on board with, too. The two seem like peas in a pod in terms of their characterizations and presentations.

“We came to spread freedom and liberate resources…for profit!”

– Auntie Cleo, The Outer Worlds 2

During the latest deep dive, Obsidian highlighted the level of player freedom it is incorporating into the second entry, including the choice to engage in more evil deeds in The Outer Worlds 2. This will almost certainly include paths where players can choose to partner up with Cleo and help with her machinations to dominate Arcadia and, of course, corner as many markets as possible in the process. Auntie Cleo’s incarnation in The Outer Worlds 2 closely resembles Handsome Jack, and that’s promising indeed for it to potentially place her on a similar villainous pedestal.