Star Wars Outlaws: Ubisoft’s Most Promising Creation in Years

Star Wars Outlaws: Ubisoft’s Most Promising Creation in Years

Gather a group and ask them to sketch their ideal Star Wars game, and you’re likely to hear a plethora of responses. I’d bet a sizable number would picture something akin to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, complete with its lightsaber-centric adventures, iconic characters, intriguing force abilities, and the exhilarating experience of taking down stormtroopers.

My ideal game, however, aligns more closely with what Ubisoft unveiled at the recent Xbox Games Showcase: Star Wars Outlaws. It paints the universe of a sandbox-style game led by a rogue reminiscent of Han Solo, navigating the unruly worlds of the Outer Rim. While I had secretly hoped for a Mandalorian-themed game, we’re introduced to an entirely fresh protagonist: Kay Vess, a budding outlaw carving her niche in the criminal domain.

Outlaws is set in the narrative gap bridging The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. For those not entirely in the loop with the continuous influx of Star Wars narratives, this positions Outlaws approximately a decade post-Jedi: Survivor and slightly preceding The Mandalorian. Entrusted to Ubisoft’s Swedish division, Massive — the same brains behind Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, The Division series, and the 2007 RTS classic, World in Conflict — Outlaws promises to be a thrilling addition to the gaming world.

After an exclusive preview of the demo, which I believe was recently showcased on the Ubisoft Forward stream, here are some notable takeaways:

• Outlaws showcases expansive planets, dwarfing those Cal Kestis navigates in Jedi: Survivor. In fact, Kay Vess traverses these vast terrains on her reliable speeder.
• The gameplay adopts a third-person shooting perspective, accentuating stealth. While there’s an option to confront directly, Ubisoft hints that evasion might be more strategic.
• Gameplay features include cover mechanics, stealth-based takedowns, and even some climbing mechanics. It gives off a vibe reminiscent of the Uncharted series.
• Players can undertake assignments from various galactic factions. However, antagonizing a faction results in a decreased reputation with them.
• Kay primarily wields a blaster, equipped with multiple modes. One such mode, “focus”, offers greater accuracy but seemingly at a reduced firing rate.
• There are larger firepower options, like the one Kay’s creature companion retrieves for her, offering immense power but with limited usage.
• Differing from the Jedi titles, in Outlaws, players can pilot their ship across the galaxy. It resonates with elements from No Man’s Sky and Starfield, featuring aerial combats, resource collection, and hyperdrive-enabled interstellar voyages.
• The demo illustrates a scenario where Kay’s dialogue selection infuriates a corrupt Empire official, leading her to be marked as “wanted”. It remains ambiguous how frequently such dialogue-driven decisions will shape events in Outlaws.

The inclusion of ship flight caught me off guard. Although the launch and space entry seemed automated, ruling out low-altitude flights akin to No Man’s Sky, Ubisoft emphasizes that space exploration is a significant facet of Outlaws. This theme echoed in other games showcased this year. There’s a vast cosmos to explore, teeming with secrets, and space skirmishes range from close-quarters dogfights to grander conflicts.

Kay’s aerial tussle with a group of TIE Fighters wasn’t as captivating as the on-foot gameplay. It felt reminiscent of a simplified Star Wars: Squadrons mission—her shots hardly missed, and the incoming fire from the TIE Fighters barely caused damage.

Perhaps space isn’t the game’s primary strength. Still, a particular in-game moment piqued my curiosity about Outlaws’ combat depth. When Kay gets spotted trespassing a forbidden zone, she raises her hands in surrender as the guard advances. However, she seizes an opportunity to draw her blaster swiftly, taking the first shot. Was this an exclusive demo event, or will encounters typically provide a chance to surprise foes who believe you’re genuinely yielding? It’s a dynamic approach, though it might lose its charm if overused.

Ubisoft remained tight-lipped about the storyline but hinted at a grand heist. So far, Kay’s character is promising—she’s hopeful, skilled, but grows wary around those she deems untrustworthy. Her companion, ND-15 (or was it ND-12?), though scarcely seen in the demo, is far from a conventional droid, exuding a sense of independence and flair.

My only reservation with Outlaws stems from a fear of repetitiveness. If the core gameplay solely revolves around stealth, combat, driving, and flying, it might not fully satiate my yearnings for an immersive open-world Star Wars experience. I hope for moments of subtlety, akin to Arthur Morgan’s relatable demeanor in Red Dead 2—interacting with locals, tending to my equipment, observing the world, maintaining my speeder, or simply enjoying a meal. Maybe it’s a tall order for the proclaimed “first open-world Star Wars game”, but one can hope.