I'm getting a very strong impression that Obsidian have become much more mercantile with this title... well, that and lucky, as well. If it's a good game it won't bother me.
However...
They announce this right after 76 got it's beta period started, if I recall correctly.
They actually release the game and ship review copies right as 76 dishes the whole subscription service thing out. During the last week The Outer Worlds has been praised very highly, and what's important - is getting directly compared, and quite often, to 76 and it's shenanigans. People would spend casheroni on this game ONLY because it ''flies'' in the face of Beth. It may seem that Obsidian has found the way to do it - don't make really good games. Rather make games that serve as some sort of a symbol for the people that they are rejecting a form of maldevlopment in gaming. It's weird.
In the mean time I'm actually getting mixed signals about whether to buy this game at all. If I will be buying, though, it will be Steam. Period.