Outer Worlds 2: Auntie's Choice vs. Order - Which Faction to Choose?
Welcome to the fringes of space, Captain. In *The Outer Worlds 2*, your journey through a brand new star system is defined by a monumental choice, one that will shape the fate of entire worlds and their inhabitants. The central conflict pits two powerful and ideologically opposed factions against one another: the corporatocracy of Auntie's Choice and the enigmatic zealots of The Order of the Ascendant.
This isn't a simple case of good versus evil. Both factions present compelling arguments and undeniable flaws, leaving you, the player, in the difficult position of mediator, kingmaker, or destroyer. Your decision will have far-reaching consequences, so before you commit your loyalty, let's break down everything you need to know about this brewing war.
Who is Auntie's Choice?
If the slick corporate branding and relentlessly cheerful slogans feel familiar, they should. Auntie's Choice is the natural evolution of the Halcyon corporations, a powerful merger born from the commercial philosophies of entities like Auntie Cleo's. They represent the smiling face of absolute corporate control.
Their ideology is simple: profit is progress, and progress is happiness. Auntie's Choice aims to bring "stability" and "prosperity" to the star system by managing every aspect of life, from employment and housing to the food on your plate and the thoughts in your head. They are masters of marketing, capable of packaging oppression as opportunity and control as comfort.
- Goals: To establish a perfectly efficient, consumer-driven society where the corporation provides for all needs, ensuring a compliant and productive populace. They seek to absorb or eliminate all competition, including the unpredictable Order.
- Methods: Expect a heavy reliance on propaganda, economic manipulation, and a heavily armed corporate security force that maintains a veneer of friendliness. They'll offer you lucrative contracts, exclusive gear, and a clear path to wealth and power, as long as you don't question the fine print.
- Why Side With Them? If you believe that order, stability, and a reliable paycheck are worth the price of personal freedom, Auntie's Choice is your faction. They offer a predictable, if sterile, future for the system.
What is The Order of the Ascendant?
Emerging from the fringes, The Order of the Ascendant is a fascinating and dangerous mix of rogue science and quasi-religious dogma. They see the universe not as a resource to be exploited, but as a puzzle to be solved, a higher state of being to be achieved. They are scientists who have traded their lab coats for vestments.
The Order believes that humanity is on the cusp of a great evolutionary leap, a transcendence that can only be unlocked through their unique, and often ethically questionable, research. They operate with the fervor of a cult, convinced that their work is a sacred calling that places them above the petty morality of corporations and common folk.
- Goals: To achieve "Ascension," a vaguely defined event that promises to elevate humanity to a new level of existence. This goal is pursued with a single-minded devotion that dismisses all potential collateral damage.
- Methods: Their quests will involve delving into forbidden alien ruins, conducting bizarre experiments, and interfacing with technology that defies conventional understanding. One of their key objectives revolves around a mysterious device known only as the "Computroni."
- Why Side With Them? If you are driven by curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge above all else, The Order offers a tantalizing path. They promise answers to the universe's greatest questions, but their methods may cost you your own humanity.
A War of Ideology: The Player's Role
You are thrown into the middle of this cold war, which is rapidly heating up. Your actions will determine whether it escalates into a system-wide catastrophe or is resolved. Key questlines, such as "An Equitable Arrangement," will challenge your diplomatic skills, pushing you to find a middle ground between two factions that refuse to compromise.
Can you broker a lasting peace? The path of the diplomat is fraught with peril, requiring high dialogue skills and a keen understanding of both factions' motivations. You may be forced to make difficult concessions and betray trusts on both sides to prevent open war.
Alternatively, you can fully commit to one side, leading them to victory and crushing the other. Or, if you're feeling particularly chaotic, you can choose to antagonize both factions, making powerful enemies at every turn but potentially carving out a path for true independence for the system's inhabitants.
Making the Final Choice (Major Spoilers)
The ultimate decision you make will have a tangible impact on the game's ending. There is no single "correct" choice, only the one that aligns with your character's journey.
- An Auntie's Choice Victory: Siding with the corporation leads to an ending where the star system is pacified and absorbed into a massive corporate empire. Life is safe, clean, and predictable, but all traces of dissent and individuality are eventually erased in the name of efficiency.
- An Order of the Ascendant Victory: Helping the Order achieve their goals results in a wild, unpredictable conclusion. They may succeed in triggering their "Ascension," with reality-altering consequences for everyone, for better or worse. It's an ending filled with scientific wonder and existential horror.
- A Brokered Peace: The "An Equitable Arrangement" path can lead to a fragile truce. This ending is often bittersweet, suggesting that while you averted immediate disaster, the fundamental conflict between these two ideologies will likely resurface in the future.
- The Independent Path: Making enemies of both factions is the most challenging route. If you succeed, you can dismantle both power structures, leaving the system's future in the hands of its people. This can lead to a chaotic but hopeful new beginning.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Can you change your faction allegiance later in the game?
A: While you can work with both factions for a time, you will eventually reach a point of no return where your choices lock you into a specific path. Choose wisely.
Q: Is there a "best" faction to choose?
A: No. The "best" choice is entirely subjective and depends on your personal role-playing preferences. Both factions are morally gray, and each path offers unique quests, rewards, and story outcomes.
Q: What are the gameplay benefits for each faction?
A: Siding with Auntie's Choice typically grants you access to top-of-the-line conventional armor and weapons, as well as significant monetary rewards. The Order of the Ascendant provides unique, experimental science weapons and gear with strange and powerful effects.