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The Rookie's Reward is the perfect gun to start your adventure in The Outer Worlds 2, and it's easy to get if you know the trick.
The Outer Worlds 2 has arrived, and you can spend dozens of hours exploring this vibrant sci-fi universe and collecting a veritable armory of powerful gear and weapons. It turns out, though, that one unique weapon is safely stashed inside The Incognito, your space-faring ship.
At first glance, it may seem impossible to obtain this special gun in the first half of the game, but there's actually a secret way to access it the moment you get past the prologue. Even better, this gun's unique ability is that it grows more powerful the longer you use it.
Here's everything you need to know about obtaining the Rookie's Reward submachine gun in The Outer Worlds 2, including the secret trick to unlocking its case and whether it's actually worth using during your adventures.
How do you get the Rookie's Reward unique weapon in The Outer Worlds 2?
You'll find what you're looking for in this room of The Incognito.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Normally, it'd take a long time to get your Lockpick skill this high.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Look past Niles and the Workstation, though, and you may find a secret.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
This lever disables the lock on the cabinet, giving you access.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Now you have the Rookie's Reward unique weapon.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Following the short prologue section in The Outer Worlds 2 (after you've wakened from hibernation and can travel to Paradise Island on Eden), you'll have free rein to explore the entirety of The Incognito, your trusty ship and home.
It's here you can find a new unique weapon to add to your arsenal, and you can do so the moment you're given the controls. Here are the steps, quick and simple:
- Find the room in The Incognito with the Workstation, various lockers, and the locked cabinet.
- Ignore the cabinet (it requires a Lockpicking skill of 11, which is very high), and turn toward the Workstation.
- Climb on top of the boxes stacked in the corner next to the Workstation, and find the lever hidden behind them.
- Interact with this lever to power down the cabinet and disable its lock.
- Return to the cabinet and collect your prize, the Rookie's Reward unique weapon.
I wish I had discovered this secret earlier, because the Rookie's Reward is actually quite an interesting weapon, and its value only increases the longer you have it.
What does the Rookie's Reward gun do in The Outer Worlds 2?
The Rookie's Reward isn't the most exciting to look at, but its unique skill is interesting.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
The more you use this gun, the stronger it becomes, with each level increasing its damage, magazine size, and fire rate.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
Just an hour of gameplay improved the Rookie's Reward a decent amount.
(Image credit: Windows Central)
The Rookie's Reward is an "assuming gun" based on its official description, and that largely tracks. This is a straightforward fully automatic submachine gun; unlike most unique weapons with special interactions or damage types, this gun's unique modification doesn't change its fundamentals.
Instead, the Rookie's Reward also gains experience from your kills, and it can level up over time. As you earn levels (simply by killing enemies with it), the Rookie's Reward will permanently increase its damage, fire rate, and magazine size — and each level earned will come with a celebratory explosion of confetti.
You can earn levels relatively quickly with the Rookie's Reward, and the improvements are immediately noticeable. At first, this gun fires quite slowly and doesn't boast a lot of ammo, but even at level 12 (when I found it) I was still able to stay competitive in fire fights — and that's without any skill points in Guns or gun-related perks.
After about an hour of gameplay, the Rookie's Reward had reached level 5 and was considerably more effective at dispatching opponents. I assume this gun does have a maximum level (possibly level 30, the same as the player), but I haven't reached it yet and can't say for certain.
I'm enjoying the Rookie's Reward enough that I'm going to continue relying on it moving forward. My only complaint is that it can't accept a barrel mod, so I can't silence it or change its damage type. That aside, it's a fun unique weapon, and I'm excited to see just how much it can grow.
FAQ
What is The Outer Worlds 2?
The Outer Worlds 2 is the latest video game from Obsidian Entertainment, one of Xbox's top first-party studios. Like its predecessor, The Outer Worlds, TOW2 is a semi open-world sci-fi RPG with vibrant visuals, varied role-playing gameplay, and a dark sense of humor. The Outer Worlds 2 released on Oct. 29, 2025 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.
Is The Outer Worlds 2 on Xbox Game Pass?
Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 is available on Xbox Game Pass. More specifically, it can be downloaded through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass, and can be streamed through Xbox Cloud Gaming. The Outer Worlds 2 is also an Xbox Play Anywhere title, so your progress syncs across Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC.
Is The Outer Worlds 2 worth playing?
Yes, The Outer Worlds 2 is worth playing, and has enjoyed positive feedback from critics. In our The Outer Worlds 2 review, we gave the game a Windows Central "Must Play" award alongside our 4.5/5 star score. I've been playing The Outer Worlds 2 myself, and I am enjoying it a lot — but if you absolutely hated the first game, you probably won't love the sequel.
Do I need to play The Outer Worlds 1 first?
While both The Outer Worlds games are set in the same universe, the stories aren't directly connected. I still recommend the first game and think it's worth a play through, but you don't have to play it to understand The Outer Worlds 2 and enjoy it fully.
How long is The Outer Worlds 2?
Like most RPGs, how long it'll take to complete The Outer Worlds 2 depends on your play style. For most players, it'll likely take between 30 and 40 hours to finish the game. Players who rush through the game can do so in around 20-25 hours, and those who take their time (like me) can easily get 50 hours of fun out of The Outer Worlds 2.
Which version of The Outer Worlds 2 should I buy?
For most people, the standard version of The Outer Worlds 2 will be best. If you're playing The Outer Worlds 2 through Xbox Game Pass, you can also consider getting the Premium Edition Upgrade, which gives you access to two DLC expansions as they release and some in-game perks, including unique gear.
Hope you enjoyed this news post. Feedback welcome.
Posted Friday 31 October 2025 at 4:24 pm AEST (my time).
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