When Ubisoft announced its new open-world game set in theStar Warsuniverse, many speculated on what the story would focus on. The vast majority of story-centricStar Warsgames focus on the Jedi or the Rebellion, especially in recent years, which is what makes the story of the recently revealedStar Wars Outlawsexciting for many fans.Star Wars Outlawsputs players in the shoes of Kay Vess, a scoundrel navigating the galaxy’s crime syndicates while avoiding the iron grip of the Empire. It’s unlike anything the franchise has seen before in a video game, and it’s essential that it stays that way.
Star Wars Outlawsappears to primarily focus on the galaxy’s scoundrels and smugglers, an experience offered by very fewStar Warsgames in recent memory. 1996’sStar Wars: Shadows of the Empireis one of the more prominent games to do so, makingStar Wars Outlawsa long time coming for those who want to explore the less virtuous side of the galaxy. In craftingthe story ofStar Wars Outlaws, though, it’s important that Ubisoft doesn’t undermine the experience of being a scoundrel by putting Kay Vess in the same position that many otherStar Warsprotagonists have fallen into before.
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Star Wars Outlaws Can’t Just Be Another Scoundrel-Turned-Rebel Story
Star Warshas offered some truly compelling gaming experiences over its long history. From the side-scrolling titles on the SNES to the recently releasedStar Wars Jedi: Survivor, there’s often at least one game everyStar Warsfan can enjoy. While many of these games follow the Jedi or Rebel Alliance, every few years it seems a new game comes around that promises to offer a story from a different perspective. That perspective hardly ever holds up throughout the whole game, and by the time the credits roll, players are often left with yet another Jedi or Rebel story.
Two of the most prominent examples areStar Wars: The Force Unleashedand the campaign ofStar Wars Battlefront 2.The Force Unleashedpromised two things: a game that lets gamers play with absurdly powerful Force abilities, and a story centered on the Sith by way of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. While it thoroughly delivered on the first part, it only stuck to the second for about half of its runtime before protagonist Starkiller found himself essentially establishing the Rebel Alliance.
Battlefront 2’s campaign marketed itself by promising to put players in control of an elite Imperial squadron, but very quickly had protagonist Iden Versio become a Rebel after the Empire began to implement various contingency plans. Even if both of these stories were ultimately enjoyable, they undercut the original reason many gamers were excited to play each game.
When it comes toStar Wars Outlaws, it’s essential that the game’s story doesn’t ultimately undermine why fans are excited about it.Outlaws' reveal trailer and gameplayalready showed Kay Vess fighting the Empire both on her own and alongside the Rebellion, but that shouldn’t be the story’s sole focus. While the film may not be fondly remembered, it’d be most wise ofOutlawsto use the Empire likeSolo: A Star Wars Storydid. It can be an ever-present threat, but it shouldn’t be what motivates Kay’s actions like any other Rebel hero.
Star Wars Outlawsalready looks as ambitious as many fans were hoping for, if not more so in regard toOutlaws' open-world exploration. Its story will prove to be an interesting balancing act, however, as it will have to manage to show Kay Vess as a lovable scoundrel without her falling into the arms of the Rebellion as many otherStar Warsvideo game protagonists have done in the past. Avoiding such a trap will also prevent her from seeming like just another Han Solo, which could kneecap an otherwise distinct and fresh character for theStar Warscanon.
Star Wars Outlawsis expected to release in 2024.
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