Star WarsOutlaws just got its story trailer, and I have to admit, the more I see, the less excited I feel. Initially, I was thrilled about the prospect of the “first-ever Star Wars open-world game,“despite knowing what to expectfromUbisoft. With its gorgeous visuals, seamless transition from planet to space orbit, and intriguing mechanics like speeder chases and a dynamic Reputation System,Outlaws seems like a somewhat fresh takeon that beloved universe far, far away.
Following In Avatar’s Footsteps
The recent trailer didn’t highlight the open-world side of the project to make me question Outlaws' structure, showcasing some of its key characters and plot devices instead. However, in the meantime,Massivehas launchedAvatar: Frontiers of Pandora, another open-world game based on a popular franchise. Initially intriguing, Avatar turned out to embody a tired open-world formula reminiscent of theFar Cryseries. I had hoped Outlaws would avoid such comparisons, but after Avatar, that hope dwindles.
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Instead of an exciting setup filled with interesting characters and promising missions, the footage presented a slew of rather unremarkable faces, and a pretty generic “one last heist to finally break free” setup that we’ve already seen a million times. Sure,a droid in a trench coatand a cute pet companion look nice, but other characters, like various criminal bosses and bounty hunters just don’t stand out.
To compensate, Outlaws includes nods to Star Wars fans' expectations, featuring iconic characters like Jabba the Hutt, Han Solo, and Lady Qi’ra, among others. I hope the creators don’t just rely on familiar faces and places to generate excitement. LikeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, which introduced original elements to enhance the story, Outlaws aims for a balance between familiarity and originality, and I hope it succeeds.
Gameplay Loop Raises Too Many Questions
My main concern is how vaguely the creators talk about what exactly players will do in this expansive world, featuring multiple planets with cities and settlements. The reputation system is mentioned regularly, but there are little to no explanations about its actual depth. So far, it all seems suspiciously similar toAssassin’s Creed Odyssey’s conflict between Sparta and Athens, where you increase one side’s influence in a region and then participate in a standoff that changes the region’s map color for some time. Or maybe some mercenaries will appear to chase you down again — just like in Odyssey. If Outlaws' choices revolve solely around which group Kay Vess should deliver the new intel to increase the respective reputation number, it could quickly become repetitive.
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Even the game’s first-ever hands-on preview (viaGame Informer) surprisingly lacks excitement. From what I gathered, the gameplay loop appears to be somewhat limited, primarily involving clearing criminal bases using stealth or loud assault, with targets determined by your current Reputation level. It also seems like Outlaws heavily emphasizes “innovative” features such as lockpicking or hacking mini-games, using your companion’s ‘sense’ to reveal hidden objects, and other elements widely common in the genre for the past decade.
I’m also not sold on the game’s itemization and customization yet. We play as a pre-established protagonist with her weapon of choice (a trusty smuggler’s blaster), with only minor details like changing skins for the Trailblazer ship, Kay’s speeder, and perhaps Nix’s color being announced so far. What’s the point of exploring huge biomes then? Will there be enough adventures beyond the usual ‘camp clearing’ stuff? Is it worth clearing Empire bases just for the sake of intel that factions might be interested in? These are still unanswered questions, and I hope that Massive will come up with something more compelling than a basic craft system and upgrades that can be exchanged for resources found in distant corners of the world.
Ubisoft Needs To Take Risks
It seems Ubisoft is playing it too safe with Star Wars Outlaws, unwilling to take risks with its first big-budget game under this legendary IP. As a result, it gives off a strong impression of yet another ‘Open World: The Game’ under the Ubisoft Originals label, albeit with a fresh coat of Star Wars paint on top. And that’s exactly what happened with Avatar before, which launched with so little excitement surrounding it that I wonder if anyone is still waiting for its Season Pass content. Maybe these games need more creativity and passion to stand out, rather than than merely blending in with the company’s heavy-hitters like Far Cry andAssassin’s Creed.
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And don’t get me started on the pricing of this one,which has already sparked controversy. Companies have been pushing for more expensive games for a while now, but with Outlaws' Ultimate Edition costing a whopping $130, Ubisoft may have gone too far. I mean, we all know it’ll be heavily discounted during autumn sales just a few months after launch, so why pre-order or buy it on day one?
Setting aside my concerns, Outlaws will likely be a solid 7.5 game, and if Massive can capture the right atmosphere, craft memorable locations, and ensure a stable launch, it should satisfy many Star Wars fans, myself included. I just wish that Outlaws would feel like something truly passionate and distinct rather thanjust another AAAA-product. So far, it’s not convincing.
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