The High-Stakes Decision in The Outer Worlds 2: Aligning with Milverstreet or Kaur

The highly anticipated sequel, The Outer Worlds 2, plunges players back into the morally ambiguous and corporate-dominated future, this time in the strife-torn Arcadia colony. Fresh off its October 29, 2025 release, this first-person sci-fi RPG from Obsidian Entertainment has captivated the gaming community, forcing players to confront difficult ethical dilemmas right from the start. One of the earliest and most impactful choices—a true test of your Commander’s philosophy—is whether to side with Minister Milverstreet or Acquisitions Officer Kaur in the main story quest, “The Saboteur of Paradise.” This mutually exclusive decision, made in the Protectorate-contested settlement of Fairfield, fundamentally alters your early game experience, questlines, rewards, and even the availability of a crucial companion and future mission ease.

Understanding the Factions and the Conflict

The conflict between Milverstreet and Kaur is a microcosm of the larger war consuming Arcadia. The planet is fractured between major powers, primarily the authoritarian Protectorate—the so-called “benevolent rulers”—and the aggressively expansionist corporate conglomerate known as Auntie’s Choice, a merger of the infamous Auntie Cleo and Spacer’s Choice. The dispute in Fairfield involves the control of resources and strategic locations, with both Milverstreet and Kaur representing different methods of advancing the interests of Auntie’s Choice on Paradise Island.

• Minister Milverstreet: The Diplomat of DeceptionMilverstreet advocates for a less violent, more subterfuge and dialogue-based approach. His missions rely heavily on your Speech and other non-combat skill checks, aiming for defections and information retrieval rather than outright combat. He embodies the corporate need for control through subtle manipulation and psychological “refreshment.”
• Acquisitions Officer Kaur: The Militant ManagerKaur, in stark contrast, represents the more direct, combat-heavy, and militant side of the corporate strategy. Her focus is on immediate, physical results—sabotage, direct assault, and the acquisition of key infrastructure through force. Her quests will challenge your gunplay and melee skills, aligning more with a “crusader for chaos” playstyle.

The Path of Minister Milverstreet: Diplomacy and Companion Recruitment

Choosing to align with Minister Milverstreet sets you down a path of intelligence gathering and social engineering. This route appeals to players who prefer to navigate the complex socio-political landscape of Arcadia through conversation and carefully executed plans. The questline begins with Milverstreet tasking you to retrieve data related to “Mental Refreshment” from the Ministry of Accuracy, which directly influences public opinion and loyalty.

• Key Questline: “A Refreshing Bit of News” followed by “The Brain Benders of Auntie’s Choice” (evacuating a Protectorate settlement via sabotage or skill checks for defections).
• Significant Outcomes:
  • Companion Access: This is the only path that allows you to recruit the agent Inez as a permanent companion for your crew. Inez is a tactical support and dialogue-driven character who can be invaluable in future skill-check scenarios.
  • Future Advantage: Siding with Milverstreet is reported by the gaming news outlets to significantly reduce casualties and simplify the infiltration of the Vox Relay Station later in the story, streamlining a notoriously difficult main quest objective.
  • Rewards: Players typically receive a light armor set and rewards that favor a diplomatic build, alongside a bump in Auntie’s Choice reputation for non-violent success.
• Role-Playing Considerations: By choosing Milverstreet, you endorse the corporate strategy of subtle, systemic control and mind-conditioning over direct confrontation. You are an agent of the velvet glove, not the iron fist, which aligns with the game’s theme of corporate dystopian oversight.

The Path of Acquisitions Officer Kaur: Combat and Direct Action

Opting to side with Acquisitions Officer Kaur is the choice for players who favor a more direct, action-RPG experience. Kaur’s missions involve sabotage and physical force, making it the ideal route for a Commander specializing in gunplay, weapon mods, and heavy armor builds.

• Key Questline: “Above and Beyond Repair,” which typically involves sabotaging the Robot Repair Facility along the coast—a clear act of aggression against the opposing faction’s infrastructure.
• Significant Outcomes:
  • Inez Companion Lockout: Choosing Kaur immediately locks you out of Milverstreet’s questline, including the opportunity to recruit Inez. This is a critical factor for players prioritizing companion content.
  • Future Obstacle: While not a dead end, this path does not offer the same tactical advantage for the future Vox Relay Station mission, potentially leading to a more challenging and combat-intensive infiltration.
  • Rewards: The rewards lean toward combat, often including a powerful unique shotgun, a named piece of heavy armor, and a significant, immediate boost to Auntie’s Choice reputation for your decisive action.
• Role-Playing Considerations: This choice aligns with the theme of chaotic, profit-driven acquisition. You become the blunt instrument of the corporation, prioritizing immediate results and destruction of enemy capacity over any attempt at diplomacy. This offers a thrilling, high-octane run, perfect for those who enjoy the best sci-fi action elements of the game.

Who is the Better Choice for Your Commander?

The “better” choice in The Outer Worlds 2 is entirely dependent on your playstyle, character build, and long-term goals. This is a trademark of Obsidian’s player-driven story design—there is no purely “good” or “evil” option, only different flavors of corporate oppression and rebellion.

Choose Milverstreet If:

• Your Commander utilizes high Speech, Persuasion, Lie, and Tech Skills (e.g., Engineering, Medical) and you prefer dialogue options over firefights.
• You want to gain the unique companion Inez, whose skills complement a diplomatic or support build.
• You want an easier, less-casualty route through the critical Vox Relay Station mission.

Choose Kaur If:

• Your Commander is built for combat with high Melee, Ranged, and Defense Skills.
• You prioritize the immediate reward of a powerful unique weapon and armor for early-game combat dominance.
• You enjoy a more direct, action-packed story with more opportunities for high-stakes battles.

Ultimately, both choices are valid and lead to an unfolding of the main narrative, albeit through different mission threads and a new set of contacts. The decision is a prime example of the game’s core feature: Your Commander, Your Way. Whether you are a disciple of diplomacy or a cruiser of chaos, your choice here irrevocably stamps your character’s early journey through the Arcadia system.