Though Han Solo has been brought up as a comparison point due to their shared paths, it hasn’t been made quite clear yet whereStar Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess falls on the spectrum of scoundrels in the galaxy. Of course, Massive and Ubisoft would want to sell that portrayal more than anything given that it is a central crux forStar Wars Outlaws’ protagonist. But, where there are hints of Kay being morally flexible and maybe not as heroic as one might anticipate, her humble beginnings seem to ground her and afford her the warmth and empathy needed to be a scoundrel with somewhat of a heart.
There’s no doubt that Kay is a scoundrel inStar Wars Outlaws, and gameplay progression for the character seems to depict that well with player choice steeped in many of the decisions made in-game. Speaking with Game Rant specifically about what makes Kay tick, the answer is twofold according to associate art director Marthe Jonkers, narrative director Navid Khavari, and game director Mathias Karlson.
Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess Wouldn’t Be the Scoundrel She is Without Nix
Kay’s had some experience as a thief, though her ambitions have only ever been to get off-world and “break free” from Canto Bight’s Worker’s District, where the delineation between rich and poor appears incredibly prevalent. Indeed, Kay isn’t as experienced as Han Solo is by the timeStar Wars Outlawstakes place, and Jonkers says that had a huge impact onKay’s character design:
“As she starts out as a thief, much in her look was inspired by that, from the hairpin she secretly uses as a dataspike, to the soft boots that help her sneak around the streets of Canto Bight.”
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“Her jacket changed color a few times throughout the design process, but one constant element was Nix. We designed them as a duo, and his design influenced Kay’s look, like the scratches she has on the back of her jacket and the little Nix tattoo on her wrist.”
Nix in particular is emphasized by Khavari as a companion who Kay can truly shine through and not have her walls up around, which isn’t entirely surprising since Han Solo is the same way with Chewbacca and is made better for being in his company. This concept ofmaking Kay and Nix an inseparable, iconicStar Warsduowould seem to be at the core ofOutlaws, too.
“I do think there’s something particularly unique between Kay and Nix, in that they grew up together from when Kay was young. As Kay is someone who really doesn’t trust too easily, Nix represents a crack in the armor — her heart, her vulnerability.”
Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess is a Work in Progress with a Sympathetic Backstory
Star Wars Outlawshas a unique opportunity to exploreCanto Bight as it was portrayed inThe Last Jedi, but it is exciting to know that there will be a ton of narrative significance for Kay traveling back there or departing from her old haunts. Kay may have strong feelings about Canto Bight as she was raised there and perhaps only through the game’s main story has received a chance to leave, and it’ll be interesting to see how her perspective of Cantonica could color the player’s perception of it as well.
“She and Nix struggled to survive, and she took to becoming a thief to make ends meet. Kay looked to the rich and powerful coming in and out of the casinos as pulling the strings of the galaxy, and living a life she would never know.”
As for how Kay may look near the end of the game compared to how she is found at the start of it, players can expect to see a more seasoned scoundrel with experiences likely being tied to how gamers choose to tackle the scenarios laid at their feet.Star Wars Outlawsreportedly offers a ton of player choice in this regard, andplayers affecting how Kay carries herself as a scoundrelcould lead to a wealth of exciting exploits while she and Nix discover new equipment and abilities throughout the galaxy. As Karlson states:
“There are no enemy or player levels, so you are completely free to explore the world in the order you want.”
“You’ll learn new abilities and acquire new tools and equipment. You’ll even uncover additional ways to collaborate with Nix. New Nix tricks!”
Being a ‘scoundrel’ sometimes insinuates that a character may not be completely altruistic, and this may also turn out to be the case for Kay if players are able to make her turn the other way in such events. However,Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay is no less a scoundrel for keeping Nix close to her heart, and how she interacts with strangers, let alone members of villainous and murderous criminal syndicates, will be intriguing in contrast.
