Table of Contents
Ever since that fateful screen crawl drifted into view back in 1977, Star Wars has captured the imagination of millions. Over 40 years and countless films, TV shows, novels, comics, and video games later, the sci-fi saga shows no signs of losing momentum.
| Release Date | April or December 2024 |
| Developer | Massive Entertainment, Ubisoft Paris, Ubisoft Milan, MORE |
| Platform | PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows |
The next exciting entry in the Star Wars gaming universe comes courtesy of Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment in the form of Star Wars Outlaws. Billed as an open-world action-adventure game set in the underworld of the beloved sci-fi franchise, Outlaws looks set to offer an experience unlike anything fans have seen before.
So, when can we expect to get our hands on Star Wars’ first open-world outing? Will it launch on both current and last-gen consoles? And what do we know about the story and gameplay so far? Read on to find out everything there is to know about Star Wars Outlaws.
Star Wars Outlaws Release Date
Ubisoft debuted the first look at Star Wars Outlaws during the July 2021 Xbox Games Showcase. At the time, a broad 2023 release window was announced. However, a post on the Disney Parks Blog stated the game would launch in late 2024 before being updated to remove the “late” qualifier.
For the time being then, Outlaws remains slated for a 2024 launch on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. With Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora pushed back to allow more development time, don’t be surprised if Star Wars Outlaws suffers a similar delay.
Of course, with 2023 already underway, a more specific release date can’t be too far off. And you can guarantee Ubisoft will want its exciting Star Wars debut to launch before the end of its current fiscal year.
Star Wars Outlaws PS4 and PS5
As mentioned, Outlaws has been confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. So, if you’re still gaming on a PS4 or Xbox One, you’re set to miss out on this one.
It’s no great surprise really. The power offered by the latest wave of consoles allows developers like Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment to truly bring these huge open worlds to life. Restricted by 2013 hardware, the last-gen versions would likely have to compromise heavily on aspects like draw distance, texture quality, particle effects, and physics.
Of course, with PS5s still tricky to get hold of for some, the lack of PS4 support may come as disappointing news. Let’s keep hopes up that the console shortage eases in 2023, so all PlayStation owners can dive into the seedy underworld of Star Wars when Outlaws launches. We may be able to see the Star Wars Outlaws PS5 version before P4.
What is Star Wars Outlaws?
Details remain scant about what shape new Star Wars Outlaws will take as a game. The initial trailer shows off third person shooting, melee combat, space dogfights, dialogue choices, and slick visuals. Players take on the role of charismatic outlaw Kay Vess and her alien sidekick, Nix.
Set in the criminal underworld of the Star Wars galaxy shortly after Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, the game promises to let players explore the seedier side of everyone’s favorite sci-fi setting. The reveal trailer shows Imperial forces clashing with local security teams as Kay battles her way through the streets, alleys, and rooftops of someone-its-luck outer rim settlement.
Later previews gave more insight into Outlaws’ gameplay, with Kay using stealth and distraction tactics before engaging in frantic shootouts with her pursuers. A subsequent chase across the rooftops leads to a dramatic standoff against an Imperial officer, with Kay and Nix blasting off planet in search of their next adventure.
With slick gunplay, space dogfights, dialogue choices, and open-ended exploration on the cards, Star Wars Outlaws online shapes up nicely as a recipe for success. Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft clearly feel this could be something special too, with narrative director Navid Khavari stating:
“It’s been such an incredibly exciting project to work on. To be able to tap into the galaxy, especially during this time period where there’s so much happening after the events of The Empire Strikes Back… I think it’s just such a strong era and pocket of storytelling that we feel very honored and excited to contribute to.”
Preorder Bonuses
Details on preorder bonuses for Star Wars Outlaws remain unannounced at this early stage. However, given Ubisoft’s fondness for dishing out extras to early buyers, certain rewards for putting your name down seem inevitable.
The likes of exclusive skins, early unlocks, and consumable items featured across previous Ubisoft preorder promotions. So, we can reasonably expect similar digital goodies to come to Outlaws.
Of course, with not even a solid release date pinned down yet, preorder pages at retailers are yet to go live. The likes of unique starship skins, blaster mods, credits bonuses, and XP boosters would all make suitable bonuses to reward early adopters and diehard Star Wars fans alike.
How Much Will Star Wars Outlaws Cost?
Again, with no preorder listings yet live, Star Wars Outlaws’ price remains unconfirmed. However, looking to Ubisoft’s recent releases gives us a strong indicator of what to expect.
Triple-A titles such as Far Cry 6, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Watch Dogs Legion all launched at a $60 RRP. As a major release boasting strong production values, Outlaws will likely launch at a similar price point.
What’s more, previous Star Wars games like Jedi: Fallen Order and Squadrons both adopted the standard $60 pricing model. Ubisoft will be keen to recoup costs on what’s shaping up to be a very ambitious project, making a premium pricing tier inevitable.
Of course, discounts for Ubisoft’s own subscription services could well factor in. Temporary price cuts for members of services like Ubisoft+ also seem plausible in Outlaws’ post-launch days. You may be able to get Star Wars Outlaws Steam at a cheaper price. If you are looking forward to getting the game even cheaper, you can find it here on ElectronicFirst.com.
Gameplay and Setting
The preview trailers revealed thus far give us a solid taste of Outlaws’ gameplay direction. Slick third-person shooting takes center stage in frenetic gun battles, complemented by melee takedowns and acrobatic traversal.
Kay can also direct sidekick Nix to attack enemies or interact with the environment. Stealth looks to be an option too for getting the drop on unwitting foes when brute force isn’t the best approach.
The setting sees players exploring the seedy criminal underworld of the Star Wars universe. Imperial forces also look set to play a significant role, whether as enemies to be gunned down or dubious employers of Kay’s particular skill set.
While concrete story details remain unconfirmed, the timeline places Outlaws between the events of Episode V and VI. The Rebellion’s desperate struggle against Imperial domination rages on, with tyranny and chaos creating opportunities for enterprising outlaws like Kay Vess.
Is Star Wars Outlaws Coming to Steam?
While yet to be officially confirmed, a Steam release for Star Wars Outlaws seems almost inevitable. Ubisoft has adopted a platform-agnostic approach in recent years, with its major releases launching simultaneously across not just consoles but also PC storefronts.
Recent examples like Far Cry 6, Riders Republic, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction all hit Steam and the Epic Games Store alongside Xbox and PlayStation.
A multi-store presence on PC makes sound commercial sense too. While Ubisoft has its own Ubisoft Connect (previously UPlay) desktop client, past experiments with platform exclusivity have tended to backfire.
By covering all bases and launching on Steam alongside other PC outlets, Ubisoft avoids alienating parts of the potential player base. This also maximizes launch sales across Windows gamers regardless of their storefront preference.
While Steam verification remains pending, a listing in tandem with other PC platforms seems inevitable. Therefore, when Star Wars Outlaws deploys in 2024, expect to see it available for your Steam library.
Star Wars Outlaws Multiplayer Support
No concrete details on multiplayer support have surfaced yet from official channels. Historically though, shared world and cooperative play featured extensively across Massive Entertainment releases like The Division series and World in Conflict.
Even the upcoming Avatar game by the Stockholm team will include online four-player co-op. So it’s reasonable to presume the developers would ensure Outlaws follows suit in letting friends team up.
The preview footage showcases single player only so far though. And with Star Wars 1313 meeting its unfortunate demise after pivoting from a solo adventure to forced multiplayer, Massive and Ubisoft seem wary not to repeat past mistakes.
At this early stage, it’s probably safest not to expect an extensive multiplayer mode or shared persistent world. However, the option to team up for specific missions or activities would make perfect sense for Outlaws.
Game Length
Again, with the full release still a way out, confirmed details on content volume remain scarce. Ubisoft certainly doesn’t have a reputation for churning out lightweight experiences though. And previous hits like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Far Cry 6 clocked in with towering completion times.
Open World Details
Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment confirm Outlaws will take place across entire star systems rather than just individual planets. This implies an expansive open-world structure broader in scope than previous sandbox Star Wars games.
Of course, seamless freedom to explore entire galaxies proves technically infeasible, even for modern hardware. Instead, expect condensed representations of multiple planets, space stations, asteroid belts, and other celestial bodies.
The preview footage showcases ground-based gameplay so far on what resembles typical Star Wars settlements. Rustic frontier-style architecture melds with bustling street markets and seedy criminal quarters.
Main Character
Ubisoft’s Star Wars debut casts players as Kay Vess, a charismatic woman making her way in the galactic underworld. Described officially as a “scoundrel hardened by loss and idealism turned cynic,” Kay leads a crew of outlaws on heists, raids, and whatever else it takes to survive.
Kay is not doe-eyed farmhand dreaming of adventure like Luke Skywalker either. She knows her way around a blaster rifle – and her fists if need be. The gameplay footage thus far shows Kay pulling off slick parkour moves like wall runs and mantling to traverse her environment.
She’s also pretty handy behind the controls of a starfighter for those inevitable space dogfights against TIE fighters and Imperial cruisers.
Accompanying Kay is an adorably weird alien sidekick called Nix. This four-legged furry creature appears to serve as both loyal pet and invaluable asset. We see Nix attacking enemies to distract them mid-fight or manipulating control panels during stealth sections.
The leading duo is rounded out by ND-5, an impeccably dressed droid who serves as Kay’s right-hand machine. Not much is known about this character yet, but the slick trench coat and laser pistol suggest he won’t shy from trouble.
Kay and her crew find themselves caught in an escalating spiral of rebellions and unrest following the events of Episode V. The criminal underworld sees rich new opportunities from the turmoil though if you’ve got the guts and guile to seize them.
When Will Star Wars Outlaws Reviews Be Live?
Mainstream outlets likely won’t receive code for review until very close to launch. However, some online personalities may get early preview access. So, expect to see initial impressions surfacing on YouTube and gaming sites ahead of release.
For reference, Far Cry 6 review code arrived just 48 hours before the game’s October 2021 launch. So, critics and content creators had limited hands-on time before penning their final verdicts.
Don’t expect any firm reviews until Star Wars Outlaws’ release week at the very earliest. And with the launch itself currently only pegged for some time in 2024, pre-release impressions remain a long way out.
Of course, Ubisoft will want to keep story and gameplay elements closely guarded. But hopefully, we’ll get some extended hands-on showcases at events like E3 2023 to tide us over until launch.
If you wish to reserve your physical copy for the game, you can do so by visiting ElectronicFirst.com. Here, you will get the best prices.
Don’t forget to visit Electronic First Blog to learn more about the most recent information and news regarding the upcoming open-world adventure – Star Wars Outlaws.
Also if you’re interested in earning with Electronic First as soon as today, check out our affiliate program. You can share your link with friends, family or anyone. Sign up today to reap the rewards!