Star Wars Outlaws is described as a “scoundrel fantasy,” offering an open-world action-adventure take on such a well-loved franchise. Although we can expect the game to launch in 2024, we’ve still got a significant amount to learn about it and what makes it so special outside of being the first open-world Star Wars game.
We’ve had a brief look at the setting, and we’ve met our playable protagonist and their companion, but outside of that, there’s a lot left unanswered about what’s in store from Star Wars Outlaws. Here’s everything we know so far.
Star Wars Outlaws: Cut to the chase
What is it? The first open-world Star Wars game
When can I play it? 2024
What can I play it on? Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC
Who is making it? Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft
Star Wars Outlaws: Release date and platforms
Star Wars Outlaws is yet to receive a specific release date, but it has been revealed that the game will arrive in 2024. We’ve got no idea which month or even quarter this will fall in, but given the announcement of the game is fairly recent, we wouldn’t be surprised if it fell toward the end of the year.
In addition, Outlaws is destined to arrive on Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 5, and PC, so any previous generation consoles players will need to make the upgrade before jumping into the shoes of an intergalactic outlaw.
Star Wars Outlaws trailers
The debut trailer for Star Wars: Outlaws was shown as part of the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, providing the first look at what we can expect from the newest installment of Star Wars video game adaptations.
In the two-and-a-half-minute teaser, we are shown what life is like outside of your traditional Star Wars viewpoint, and taken to a bustling, ethically questionable area that we haven’t experienced much before. The full trailer can be seen below:
The second trailer following the debut of Star Wars Outlaws was shown as part of Ubisoft Forward, and captured more in-game content rather than focusing on cinematics. In the ten-minute insight, we get to see gameplay from both on foot and the flight side of things, both including combat and an additional spotlight on stealth elements toward the start of the trailer.
Star Wars Outlaws story and setting
Star Wars Outlaws takes place between the events of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, meaning the Empire will play a pretty significant part in the narrative.
Since the story itself revolves around the Galactic Empire being hot on the heels of the Rebel Alliance, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing growth of criminal activity, a tense story is expected to unravel. However, given we only have one trailer to dissect currently there’s still a lot to learn about the story and setting.
But, we were introduced to our protagonist. You will adopt the role of Kay Vess, a scoundrel attempting one of the biggest galactic heists the galaxy has ever witnessed. Rather than taking the traditional protagonist of a Jedi-akin character, taking on a more rebellious role will have you fighting and stealing your way through missions and environments, as well as outwitting any questionable forces you come up against.
But, Kay isn’t alone in this endeavor either. The first trailer introduced us to her loyal companion, Nix, a four-legged furry alien of sorts who captivates Star Wars creature design at its finest, alongside a trench coat-adorned commando droid called ND-5.
Star Wars gameplay
Although there was a lot to unpack in the world premiere trailer, there wasn’t a whole lot of in-game content to analyze. The cinematics available show a vibrant yet dingey side to the Star Wars universe, and there’s an obvious tension between the protagonist and intergalactic authorities, but we walked away with almost no idea what to expect.
Fortunately, we received a ten-minute gameplay walkthrough at Ubisoft Forward which shed more light on what we can expect from in-game. The trailer begins with what looks like a stealth-based mission, where Kay is seen navigating an opposition-infested location with Nix. We also get to see a number of potential actions you could take to carry out a mission, like using Nix to distract potential threats while you move.
Swiftly following this, we are taken through Kay getting seen which triggers a high-speed chase and some intense combat. As we come into contact with a few members of the opposition, time appears to slow down to allow Kay and Nix some time to plan their moves and attack to escape just as things get a little hairy, which is when we are taken to the Smuggler Town of Jaunta’s Hope.
But, things don’t exactly slow down here and instead of high praise for escaping the threat, we quickly jump back to our feet in another escape after getting threatened by an Imperial ‘friend.’ As the label ‘WANTED’ pops up on our screen, we swiftly take to the skies in a hyperspace retreat and intergalactic dogfight of sorts. Between cinematic cutscenes and dialogue between ND-5 and Kay, and the occasional chirp from Nix, we navigate hyperspace in a desperate escape from the opposition hot on our tail.
The lack of direction during our space-based dogfight emphasizes the open-world nature of the game, and it looks like you have complete control over which direction to head as you try and escape, which is especially encouraged by inquisitive ND-5 asking “Where do we go next?” and Kay following up with”Anywhere we want.”
To end the gameplay trailer, we are shown a handful of environments and locations we are yet to learn more about, which we can expect to see in more detail as the release window of 2024 begins to close in.
Star Wars Outlaws news
Official Gameplay Walkthrough for Star Wars Outlaws shown at Ubisoft Forward
The first look of Star Wars Outlaws’ gameplay following its initial announcement at the Xbox Games Showcase was shown as part of Ubisoft Forward. This ten-minute trailer offered an insight into both space travel and combat alongside what appears to be a mission and cutscene before ending with a collage of a few different environments we can expect to explore and enemies we should prepare to face.
Star Wars Outlaws announced at Xbox Games Showcase
At the Xbox Games Showcase on June 11, the curtain was pulled back for the first look at Star Wars Outlaws, offering the first glimpse of the title and providing a brief introduction to the protagonist, time period, and setting of the game as a whole.
