Star Wars: Outlaws deviates from the well-explored Empire versus Rebel conflict and instead focuses on the seedier side of the Outer Rim. The game hopes to make a space pirate out of every gamer in the universe.
Outlaws will delve into the criminal underbelly of the galaxy and places players in the shoes of Kay Vess, a hardened outlaw who is only concerned with her next big job. In the game, Kay will be attempting the biggest heist the galaxy has ever seen, and with it comes a long list of veteran criminals attracted by the prospect of a big payday.
In an interview with Kotaku, Narrative Director Navid Khavari shared that the team at Ubisoft hopes to create an original scoundrel story. Khavari, best known for working on Far Cry 6 and The Division, hopes to bring a different perspective to the Star Wars universe outside of the Empire, Rebels, Jedi, and Sith.
“We always knew we wanted to create an original scoundrel story, Khavari said. “There was something exciting about looking at [this universe] from the perspective of a scoundrel like Kay, who has no experience with the Empire, Jedi, Rebellion, or the Sith.”
The director also shared that Kay Vess is unlike any other Star Wars protagonist before as she isn’t concerned with the bigger conflicts and is just looking to get by. And unlike the moralistic Jedi, stealing is just a part of her every day as a member of the underworld.
“This is a character who is just trying to get by—stealing, outwitting and conning folks,” Khavari shared. “I would love for folks playing the game to really get a sense of what it might feel like to step into the underworld.”
Outlaws will be set around the time of the Battle of Hoth (between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi), at the peak of The Empire’s rule. The timeline was specifically chosen as it represents the period when intergalactic crime was most prevalent.
“The rebels are on the back foot, and while everyone is caught up and somewhat distracted by the ongoing civil unrest, there’s a vacuum that creates the perfect opportunity for the underworld to rise and gain power out of sight of Imperial rule,” the director adds.
Star Wars: Outlaws will be a massive open-world game where players can explore big cities that are filled with criminal syndicates and corrupt Imperials. Gamers can also traverse open environments on foot or using a speeder. Lastly, players can embark on some intergalactic tourism using Kay’s ship, The Trailblazer.
Ubisoft will surely be leaning on its experience with The Division and Far Cry to create an immersive sim that is unique within the Star Wars universe. A game with speeders, open-world exploration, and seedy shenanigans sounds like a lot of fun. Hopefully, Ubisoft manages to capture what it really feels like to be a space pirate in Star Wars: Outlaws.
