We have known for quite some time that Ubisoft was making a Star Wars game, but Outlaws was unveiled without gameplay yesterday at the Xbox Games Showcase. Today at Ubisoft Forward, we got 10 minutes of footage to know what the developer’s open-world Star Wars game will look like. While many think of Far Cry or recent Assassin’s Creed entries as the template, we were given something that defied expectations that exceeded the UI-cluttered games they are known for.
Ubisoft Shows Off Star Wars Outlaws Gameplay
While we have experienced big worlds in Star Wars games, the Outlaws gameplay shows the first open-world game set in the galaxy far, far away. Set between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. We will get to step into shoes different from those we have become familiar with between shows, movies, and games. You will play Kay Vess, a woman looking for a place to call home and be free from the clutches of the Empire. It will take us into the underworld, often not seen too deeply in the franchise as an outlaw.
The gameplay shows the different ways to approach hostile situations. Kay can sneak around to take down enemies or go past them without getting her hands dirty. If you want to go aggressive, various blasters let you shoot your way out of a problem. Regardless of your strategy, you can use machinery to create cover, pick weapons on the go to clear out rooms of enemies, and use the environment as your weapons.
The movement from what we saw in the Star Wars Outlaws gameplay presentation looked fluid. Kay could vault over objects in her way, use her grappling hook to get out of a tight spot or grab a vehicle. A speeder quickly got her to a town while fighting enemies chasing her. Then, when the mission was over, it was time to fly into space. The ship automatically takes you out to space, but once you are far enough, controls are handed over to fly and dogfight attacking ships.
The Star Wars Outlaws gameplay highlighted the various planets you could travel to, showing the industry’s current taste for space travel with Starfield‘s upcoming release. Some of these planet environments include the classic Star Wars desert terrains we often see, lush forests, and vibrant cities. The upcoming game is being developed by Massive Entertainment. The developer is best known for The Division 2.
Star Wars Outlaws will release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. It is expected to release in 2024, but no date has been announced.