As an open-worldStar Warsgame of unprecedented scope,Star Wars Outlaws' developers at Ubisoft certainly had their work cut out. Not only doesStar Wars Outlawsneed to authentically express the distinct visual style of iconicStar Warslocales depicted in films, but the game must also strike a chord with its all-new locations and characters. Meanwhile, the expansive environments of an open-world game needed to be content-dense enough to keep players feeling engaged, immersed, and curious.
Star Wars Outlawsgame director Mathias Karlson and art & world director Benedikt Podlesnigg chatted with Game Rant about how Ubisoft sought to evoke and reward that sense of curiosity that is a hallmark of awell-executed open-world game. They felt it was important for players to be regularly distracted by their curiosity, and that players would also have freedom in how they choose to approach such distractions.
Star Wars Outlaws Encourages and Rewards Exploration
According to Podlesnigg,Star Wars Outlawsisn’t about choosing between side and main quests, but ratherstepping into Kay Vess' shoesand experiencing the galaxy and its content fluidly moving from one thing to another. He suggests that players take an explorative approach to the game as opposed to fixating on perceived primary objectives. In turn,Star Wars Outlawsis designed to reward such behavior.
“Star Wars Outlawsis the most fun when it is enjoyed as one experience. It’s not about primary or secondary objectives; it’s one experience in which you are emerging scoundrel Kay Vess and her companion, Nix, as street thieves in theStar Warsgalaxy.
Look around, eavesdrop on conversations… look at the world, listen to Nix… there is always something to find. The things you find are always something rewarding; it could be items needed to upgrade your abilities or a fancy new paint job for your speeder or starship but also new quests or unexpected situations.”
As an open-world game,several progression systemsserve as rewards for exploration and as the proverbial carrot on a stick leading players to pursue certain activities. This way, players interested in unlocking a new ability or an upgrade for theTrailblazermight wish to focus on something in particular to achieve that goal. Meanwhile, straying from the path along the way might result in unexpected progress elsewhere.
Star Wars Outlaws Is All About Player Agency
Freedom of movement is crucial in open-world games, andStar Wars Outlawscertainly didn’t skimp out in that area thanks to numerous planets, space flight, and speeder traversal. Equally as important, however, is for players to be free to solve problems through various means. Karlson says that beyond the choice between guns blazing and a stealthy approach, players must also weigh how their decisions might affect the dispositions ofStar Wars Outlaws' underworld factionsand even the Empire toward Kay Vess.
“Agency and freedom for you as a player are really at the heart of the experience. Not just in where to go and what to do next, but also in how you approach different situations. Do you approach it stealthily or blaster-blazing? The choice is almost always entirely up to you – including what consequences you are willing to deal with at the time.”
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“The most important and fundamental philosophy for our open-world experience is that you can be driven by your own goals and on the way be distracted by your own curiosity – and that curiosity is always rewarded.”
A scoundrel story sounds like the perfect backdrop to allow for such freedom since anadventurous character like Kay Vesswould naturally find herself exploring in the pursuit of riches, not tied down by obligations to a Jedi Order or a Rebel Alliance. To Karlson, this goal-oriented approach to the game’s open world is what playingStar Wars Outlawsis all about.
