In the wake of the latest virtual gaming showcase, Ubisoft Forward, a new wave of exhilarating enthusiasm coming in at light speed from a galaxy, far, and far away is sweeping across gamers from all around the world. Why? It’s all because of Ubisoft’s ambitious open-world Star Wars game, Star Wars Outlaws.
Star Wars Outlaws is shaping up to be a game that may very well redefine the open-world gaming genre with its fresh and innovative approach.
After its cinematic trailer stole the show at the Xbox Games Showcase, the subsequent gameplay showcase at the Ubisoft Forward event fed the hype further as it promised high-octane galactic action, coupled with an original storyline set in the era of the original Star Wars trilogy, Outlaws has the potential to become an unparalleled gaming experience.
At the heart of this interstellar journey is the roguish protagonist, Kay Vess, voiced by Humberly González, known for her work on Ginny & Georgia. Kay, in conjunction with her adorable companion pet Nix, embarks on a perilous adventure to outwit the galaxy’s most formidable bounty hunters, while simultaneously looting the infinite expanse of the cosmos. The game is set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, promising a high-stakes story rich with lore and punctuated by intense confrontations with various criminal syndicates and the ever-threatening Galactic Empire.
Ubisoft’s decision to break the mold with this Star Wars game is immediately apparent from the gameplay trailer, which is a clear departure from the often overwhelming open-world maps that titles like Far Cry and Assassin’s Creed that have become the core of Ubisoft’s identity.
This paradigm shift in open-world gameplay reflects a strong desire to elevate the gaming industry’s standards, a goal that Ubisoft initially set when it announced the project back in 2021.
Star Wars Outlaws emphasizes a balanced approach to gaming, encouraging players to immerse themselves in the narrative while also mastering intricate gameplay mechanics. The gameplay trailer showcases diverse options for the player, ranging from stealthily evading enemies with Kay to unleashing Nix for various tasks. This variety is reflective of the freedom that a player has to mold their journey, a freedom further amplified by the addition of branching dialogue options that can dramatically alter the game’s narrative.
Ubisoft’s decision to shift away from overly complex heads-up displays (HUD) in favor of a simpler, more unobtrusive style adds to the player-friendly experience. Accompanying this move towards simplicity, the world-building displayed in the trailer hints at an open-world experience that surpasses Ubisoft’s previous titles, featuring dense landscapes brimming with creatures, enemies, and settlements.
As for space travel, Star Wars Outlaws doesn’t disappoint. It isn’t quite like Starfield with its 1,000 or so worlds but it does promise to feature seamless transitions from atmospheric flight to interstellar exploration with a dash of exhilarating dogfights with Imperial Tie-Fighters and the liberty to journey across a universe that’s truly vast.
Ubisoft Massive, the developer team previously recognized for their work on The Division, is using its experience with open-world shooters with a more story-driven approach in Star Wars Outlaws. This integration of immersive narrative with action-packed gameplay appears to be carving a unique niche for Outlaws in the gaming landscape. But, perhaps more importantly, the Snowdrop Engine appears to have gotten a massive upgrade for Star Wars Outlaws.
In an age where most developers appear to prefer to use Unreal Engine 5, it’s nice to see Ubisoft try and buck the trend to great effect.
As the countdown to the game’s 2024 release begins, players worldwide are anticipating what could be a transformative Star Wars experience, a blend of edge-of-the-seat action, engaging storytelling, and a revolutionary take on open-world gaming.
Until then, we can only fantasize about the high-stakes adventures awaiting us in the uncharted corners of a galaxy far, far away.
