In as big of a surprise as Luke and Leia’s shared parental heritage Ubisoft finally gave us a peek into its upcoming entry into the Star Wars universe, Star Wars: Outlaws, at Microsoft’s Xbox Games Showcase.
Developed by Massive Entertainment, a team known for Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 and another incoming game, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Star Wars: Outlaws is anticipated to launch sometime in 2024.
The cinematic trailer offers a sneak peek into the life of the game’s protagonist, a young woman navigating the murky gray area of the galaxy, living beyond the simplistic morality of the Sith and Jedi. We get to witness a thrilling chase sequence, a game of cards with her adorable pet, and an introduction to her co-pilot friend, Jalen. Yet, the trailer is primarily cinematic, leaving fans curious and excited about the actual gameplay. Ubisoft promises a deeper look into the game’s mechanics during their Ubisoft Forward event.
Previously announced in early 2021, The Star Wars Project has generated considerable excitement. The game’s creative director, Julian Gerighty, expressed at the game’s announcement that it would be “totally different” from Massive’s previous projects. Ubisoft CEO, Yves Guillemot, echoed his sentiments and described the game’s announcement as the “beginning of a long-term collaboration with Disney and Lucasfilm Games.
Star Wars: Outlaws is set in the timeline between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The protagonist, Kay Vess, is an emerging scoundrel who, alongside her companion Nix, is looking to secure her freedom and establish a new life. She must outwit, fight, and steal her way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates and join the galaxy’s most wanted.
Ubisoft Massive’s Star Wars Outlaws promises to be the first-ever open-world Star Wars game. The trailer gives us glimpses of an exhilarating heist against a vast crime syndicate in The Outer Rim, featuring Vess and her partner Nyx.
Notably, the game, crafted with the Snowdrop engine, which also powers The Division, is expected to be a great choice for an open-world Star Wars experience. Fans eagerly await the Ubisoft Forward event on June 12, where more details about the game, including the first gameplay walkthrough, are expected to be revealed.
Star Wars: Outlaws is also being praised for its potential to tell a great story with compelling characters, standing out from other Star Wars games. The game focuses on Kay as she navigates the criminal underworld of the Star Wars universe. Set during the tense period between Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, Kay prepares for one of the “biggest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen”, right as the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance reaches a critical point.
Despite being in development for a couple of years, reports suggest the game has made promising progress. While a 2024 release date is speculated, some feel it might still be unrealistic, especially with the rising production costs of AAA titles.
Nevertheless, if the final version of Star Wars: Outlaws is as impressive as its initial trailer suggests, it will be well worth the wait.
