Summary
One of the developers behind the upcomingStar Wars Outlawsrecently revealed that the game once allowed players to swim, but this was ultimately cut due to technical constraints. Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment first announced that they were working on an open-worldStar Warsgame back in 2021, and this project was eventually revealed in full at the Xbox Games Showcase two years later.Star Wars Outlawstakes place betweenThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi, and puts players in the role of an aspiring smuggler named Kay Vess as she plans to pull off one of the biggest heists in the history of the Outer Rim.
Star Wars Outlawsis the first-ever open-worldStar Warsgame, and as such it aims to fully immerse gamers in the Galaxy Far, Far, Away and its seedy criminal underbelly. As shown in previousStar Wars Outlawstrailers and demonstrations, players will explore amix of classicStar Warsplanetsand brand-new worlds, build alliances with various criminal factions and leaders like the infamous Jabba the Hutt, and evade the forces of the Galactic Empire with aGrand Theft Auto-style “Wanted” system. There will also be side activities like Sabacc, a card game with rich ties toStar Warslore that hasn’t been depicted in a video game before.
However, there is one feature that Massive Entertainment planned to include inStar Wars Outlawsthat didn’t make the cut. Shortly after this week’s Ubisoft Forward livestream,Star Wars Outlawscreative director Julian Gerightysat down for an interview withVGC. During this interview, he revealed that his team at Massive initially planned to include swimming inStar Wars Outlaws, but this was eventually cut after the first few iterations of their pitch due to potential issues with animation in light of the game’s already ambitious scope.
Julian Gerighty also revealed how longStar Wars Outlawscould take the average gamer to complete incomparison to games likeAssassin’s Creed, saying that the game contains roughly 25 to 30 hours for those simply trying to play through the story and about 50 to 60 hours for more dedicated completionists. He notes that this shorter length allowed the team at Massive to really focus on the finer details of recreating theStar Warsuniverse in an open-world format.
By this same token, Julian Gerighty says that he values the initial vision of aproject likeStar Wars Outlawsand doing his best to ensure that as much of that vision makes it into the final game as possible. However, some sacrifices often have to be made during game development, andStar Wars Outlaws’planned swimming mechanics simply weren’t feasible in light of the game’s massive scope. On a lighter note, there will be plenty else to do whenStar Wars Outlawsmakes the jump to lightspeed on August 30.
Star Wars Outlaws
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the first-ever open world Star Wars game and explore distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. Risk it all as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel seeking freedom and the means to start a new life. Fight, steal, & outwit your way through the galaxy’s crime syndicates as you join the galaxy’s most wanted. If you’re willing to take the risk, the galaxy is full of opportunity.DISCOVER A GALAXY OF OPPORTUNITYExplore distinct planets with bustling cities and cantinas before racing across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each planet brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.EXPERIENCE AN ORIGINAL SCOUNDREL STORYLive the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. With Nix by your side, turn any situation to your advantage: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.EMBARK ON HIGH-STAKES MISSIONSTake on high-risk, high-reward missions from the galaxy’s crime syndicates. Steal valuable goods, infiltrate secret locations, and outwit enemies as one of the galaxy’s most wanted. Every choice you make influences your ever-changing reputation.JUMP INTO THE PILOT SEATPilot your ship, The Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with The Empire and other foes, finding the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
