Upcoming action-adventure titleStar Wars Outlawstells a sprawling story, set in locations both old and new across the galaxy. Players will get to embark on an epic heist as they follow the story of scoundrel Kay Vess, her merqaal pet Nix, battle-weary droid ND-5, and more.Star Wars Outlawsoffers a meticulously designed, detailed open world for players to explore and features a group of all-new characters joining the expansiveStar Warssetting for the first time.
Game Rant spoke to narrative designer Navid Khavari and actor Jay Rincon, who plays ND-5, about the process of bringingStar Wars Outlawsto life. The pair discussed their own longtime love ofStar Wars,what it was like getting to create an original droid character, and the important elements needed to craft a compelling heist story. Both were excited for fans to meet Kay,Nix, ND-5, and the rest of the crew whenStar Wars Outlawslaunches later in 2024.This transcript has been edited for clarity and brevity.
TheStar Wars OutlawsTeam Were LongtimeStar WarsFans
Q: Getting involved in theStar Warsworld, where everything you do can theoretically influence so many different things - what’s that like? To be involved in this world where your character could appear somewhere else in the future? Writing stuff and creating different storylines or worlds or characters that could potentially be used - what’s it like to play in that sandbox?
Khavari:I don’t mean to sound like hyperbole - you see interviews like “it was a dream” - but this is a dream. I have lovedStar Warssince I was like six years old, playing with the Kenner toys. So to think that - we’re connected. I think that that’s the most interesting thing about starting onOutlawsand working onOutlaws,is that you’re connected to this wider galaxy. And you really feel that when you talk to Lucasfilm or talk to anyone fromLucasfilm Games, because they are always there to say “Oh, remember that this is connected to this. And this is connected to stuff I can’t talk about.” And it’s done in such a caring way. Because it’s like you’re part of a family, if that makes sense. It’s like you’re part of a wider fabric.
Rincon:It always exists; you may be in the peripheral, it’s in your peripheral. And you’re part of this larger fantasy. And that is obviously part of the charm. So, on day one, to right now, when you come to work, you’re always reminded that we’re in this galaxy. It’s incredible. But does that make it put pressure on you? No, I don’t think so. I think it makes you more excited. And every day, it elevates what you would normally do through momentum.
Q: As for thoughts like, “I could see this at Disneyland.” Do those thoughts cross your mind?
Rincon:For me, not specifically like that. But one of the things that I thought of was when I was a child and hadStar Warsunderwear, toys, dolls, stuff like that. One of the things that for me would be a major accomplishment would be to walk around one day and see a child playing with an ND-5 action figure and know that I was a really, really big part of bringing that character to life. I don’t even know how I’ll feel when I see that.
Khavari:To be quite honest, I think I’m so close to it right now that it hasn’t hit me that that’s even a possibility. But similarly, even just walking around events and seeing content creators and press playing our game. Finally, you know. It makes it actually real. And already seeingcosplayers, already seeing people building ND-5, already seeing that community forming around this game. For me, that’s reward enough. I can’t even fathom other possibilities.
Rincon:But I do hope so. The ultimate goal of this is to bring joy to people, to entertain - in a franchise that has done that as well as anything has in entertainment. Of course, we want to have our place and for it to continue to echo and resonate.
Director And Performer Collaboration In Telling Heist Stories
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the collaborative aspect of Narrative Director and performer? How you work together to craft the character and bring somebody to life that people don’t necessarily know, and introduce them - how does that work?
Khavari:Well, definitely in the early stages, what we were always trying to do is look at “Okay, we’re betweenEmpire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi,so let’s look at the context here.” There’s already a solid blueprint, tonally, of what that is. But what are we bringing that’s new? And so, yes, there’s this sort of “scoundrel fantasy” that we honed in on. Yes, there’s that sort of archetype that’s there to play with. I think our “oh, okay, these are the types of characters we want to make” was when we realized these aren’t Jedi, these aren’t Sith, these aren’t rebels.
Them not being rebels was a big one - these are people on the ground that aren’t connected to some wider battle. And so then, almost very organically, Kay emerged with Nix. This thief, this loner, this person that goes it alone, that actually maybe is a little bit cynical about all those bigger, wider contexts. And then you look at ND-5, as well. Okay, you know, there are so many fantastic droids out there. But what happens to the droids from theClone Warsafter the Clone Wars end? Like, we know generally, but what happens if one of them ends up in the underworld? And then what happens if they’re carrying that kind of baggage?
And then it really all became about “How do we focus on character? How do we focus on relatability?” That was really, I think, core to it. And then you spend months and months debating the different characters. The character team works with the look. It’s amazing. Jackets on droids start to emerge. But it’s not real, truthfully, until you begin casting, and you begin getting these fantastic performers like Jay to really breathe life into it. I always say, “Your script is not finished until they’re saying the words.” We had to even go back and say, okay, wait a second.Humberly [Gonzalez]is bringing so much heart to Kay - how are we fashioning that? And Jay, as well, often talked about how do we bring heart to ND-5? This is a battle-weary droid that’s feeling those emotions. So, handing it off to [the performers] was actually really special and part of the creative process.
Rincon:And then that’s the beginning for us - hearing his entire backstory and everything, the creative process to bringND-5up to the point where we’re now on board. Navid is my gateway to all that information. And then we would talk, every day, before we even got started. Like you said, tonally, not just energy-wise, and how you fit in this massive galaxy, where your little place is. But droids, we’re all well-versed in droids, the melody that they speak, how they sound, their sardonic humor. And then you want to fit within those confines, because it still isStar Wars,but you want to be as unique as you’re able to. And this journey is ours.
And so you start to play with how far you may push it - how much can you humanize this story? How far am I allowed to go? What are the levels of emotion that are too much or too little? And in the world of a droid, it can be too little, and it obviously can be too much. And so we talk about that. And Navid is always there to help guide, and for us to collaborate and build. So it’s very, very, very important that you’re always communicating.
Q: Heist stories have this kind of complex element of you’re trying to kind of play with expectations. There’s different ways you may approach them. You think that you know what the story is, sometimes you don’t. Can you talk a little bit about what it was like making a heist story?
Khavari:So much fun. It was a joy. There’s just these moments of joy throughout. Because it’s an ensemble, and some of the games I’ve worked on previously really focus on one hero, or one person’s specific journey. Having the opportunity to have all these different characters, I think that’s the core to aheist film. Every person has their role in the heist and everyone is going to play off of each other. So it’s really crafting those kinds of archetypal heist characters. That’s where a lot of the joy comes from.
And also charting their growth during the heist, because I think that’s also crucial. When you look at a film likeOcean’s Eleven,or even some of the otherStar Warsproperties, they have to sort of grow and change during that process. Kay herself, both in gameplay and narratively, is moving from a thief, to then starting to embrace a little bit of that gunslinger / bank robber aspect. Even ND-5, who can sometimes be the “voice in the sky,” but is also kind of a tank, and might take on some of that role in the heist. And then fleshing out this crew that Kay’s gonna go across the entire galaxy to gather together. I think it’s finding surprises in that growth - but also, you’ve really got to verify that the heist pays off. And so, we put a lot of time into not only the whole process of gathering that gang together, but also - once it’s time to really play, it’s time to play.
The Creation Of ND-5
Q: I want to know about the process of bringing a droid to life? How do you put in a performance, but also make it sound like a robot?
Rincon:From stage one of just auditioning, you don’t really know what you’re auditioning for. So you go through many different rounds. And so, by the time you show up on day one to perform, and find out you are a droid in this galaxy, as I said before, there’s already so many preconceived notions and ideas. We’ve all heardC-3PO, and the “bip bop boops,” of various droids. R2-D2’s performance is still, in my opinion, the best.
So my goal would be to try and have my own little say or spin on it. But immediately, right out of the gate, as far as mocap is concerned, you have cameras that are watching all of your performance. I don’t have that.I’m a droid. So you immediately eliminate any use of facial expressions, which takes away a lot of your tools as an actor, so it is primarily voice. Our droid being a voice of few words, and not as melodic as other droids in the series, takes away a few more of your tools. But then we just communicate as much as possible.
That was part of the challenge that was so exciting: everything had to be from an organic and real place. Because that was your one major tool you could use: the connection between the two performers, or anyone in theTrailblazer.It all had to be genuine and honest. And it just means you have to know more about what your story is, your part to play in the larger part of the story. Because you can’t rely on any fancy mechanics, or quips, or your own little melody. But then, as you work, you start to feel it. It’s in your bones, and you kind of just transform on a daily basis. To be honest, it’s such a joy. I showed up every day and I loved being ND-5, and being a part of it. I hope that I get to continue to do so. And I really can’t wait to see it on screen.
Khavari:He’s underselling himself a little bit here, I have to say, because one of the most amazing things about seeing Jay work was watching his physical transformation as he walked out onto the stage. He’s a charming dude, a cool dude. But the moment he would step onto the stage - you know, I distinctly remember him looking even at the character concepts, and saying “so, he has a bit of a hunch, you know, should I incorporate that?” - and just seeing him start to play with the walk, the gait, all of that, which is telling a story in itself.
Rincon:You gotta see the duster that [ND-5] wears. Obviously now, we jokingly laugh about it, because it had a response that was entirely unexpected. But on day one, we’re sitting there looking at everything, and we’re walking around in the volume working on the physical mechanics ofhow a droid would move. How would a droid move in real time, in regular time? But now, fast-forward, this is a droid that’s seen a lot. It’s lived a long time. It’s not only you carrying things in your mind, but physically in your body. It’s with you So you wear that, and man, does that lead and dictate your performance immediately. There was a lot to play with, courtesy of Navid - thank you so much.
Khavari:It was a team effort.
Q: What are you most excited to see people experience, or do, or respond to, in the game?
Khavari:You know, it’s funny. As I was playing through the game - it’s a lot to get through - as much content as I was playing, one of the things I’m really excited for folks to experience is that related-ness to the characters. We really aim for them to feel like one of us, not like they’re some far away, unattainable character. That they’re among us. And I think that goes back to our philosophy of thisopen world, action-adventure story- it’s about stepping intoStar Warsand giving players that experience. I think it’s cool.
Rincon:It’s as simple as: I can’t wait for people to fall in love with the characters, like ND-5, as much as we have. We put a lot of time into it. It’s become a piece of us, so we want it to be part of you. I can’t wait to see the looks on peoples' faces when it does.
[END]
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.
