In 2020, Massive Entertainment revealed Lucasfilm Games’ new Star Wars series game concept. The developers discussed an open-world game featuring a villainous smuggler as the protagonist, which was approved.
Contrary to some expectations, the team wasn’t developing Star Wars 1313 but rather Outlaws, which garnered player disapproval well before its release. Today’s article will examine the primary issues encountered by Ubisoft’s most recent release.
Briefly about the development
The game was developed by a collaboration of 600 individuals across 11 Ubisoft studios, including Massive Entertainment. Julian Gerighty, who previously worked on both installments of Tom Clancy’s The Division, served as the creative director. He was later joined by Narrative Director Navid Khavari, known for Far Cry 5 and 6, and Lead Writer Nikki Foy, recognized for her work on Watch Dogs | Legion and Far Cry 6 DLC. Lucasfilm Games stepped in to assist with the lore and timeline of the Outlaws, set between episodes 5 and 6 of the film series, due to the perceived lack of narrative depth in these games.
It is not evident from the available information that the development process involved disputes or strict mandates from Lucasfilm Games, unlike the situation with Respawn’s Star Wars Jedi | Fallen Order. Nevertheless, the announcement did resonate with the players.
Raw product
Massive Entertainment revealed the trailer and first gameplay footage in June 2023 during the Xbox Games Showcase and Ubisoft Forward events. Players appreciated the world design and the seamless travel to different planets without the need for downloads, a feature not present in Starfield. However, the game received criticism for its subpar graphics, awkward shooting mechanics, less-than-fluid gameplay, and simplistic enemy AI.
Growing discontent emerged this year following the release of the story trailer, which focused on the main character, Kay Wess. Players expressed dissatisfaction with the recurring theme of battling a syndicate, as seen in games like Ghost Recon | Wildlands, Assassin’s Creed | Syndicate, Far Cry 5 and 6, and Watch Dogs Legion, as well as with the appearance of Kay, portrayed by Humberly Gonzalez.
The developers attempted to justify her appearance and physical attributes, such as a broken nose and scars, as a representation of “life experience.” However, this explanation did not resonate with the concerns of the players.
Counter criticism
Speaking to the Washington Post, creative director Julian Gerighty said he would not comment on the players’ reactions:
“There is no point in such criticism, and this discussion is not worth paying attention to. If you respond to those who pursue only the negative, a normal dialogue will not work.”
The situation appeared to be calming down due to the developers’ subdued response, but Lucasfilm CEO Kathleen Kennedy’s entrance changed the atmosphere. In a New York Times interview, she commented that the toxicity in the Star Wars fandom stems from its “male predominance.” While Kennedy’s remarks were about the film series, the gaming community interpreted her words differently.
$130 Cut Content and 75K Dislikes
In April, it was revealed that Ubisoft would include a completed mission featuring Jabba the Hutt exclusively in the Season Pass, available with the Gold Edition for $109 and the Ultimate Edition for $129. Traditionally, Season Passes have been reserved for future content and upgrades, but this move by Ubisoft has sparked a fresh wave of dissatisfaction.
As the release date drew closer, journalists kept revealing details and gameplay features of the game, while the community kept uncovering new flaws. For example, a month before the release, IGN published 10 minutes of gameplay, the video received over 75 thousand dislikes.
Players have expressed dissatisfaction with subpar graphics, lackluster optimization, and battles featuring simplistic artificial intelligence.
@FromTheAtticTV said:
“The game itself seems cool, but… Doesn’t it look terribly raw for something coming out in August?”
@shayshalevv added:
“So, are we going to ignore the drops and San Andreas-style explosions?”
The observations were accurate, yet the criticism surpassed the wave of scrutiny that recent Ubisoft releases have faced, with audiences typically responding with either irony or indifference.
PR campaign
On July 22, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot announced that the company had invested a record sum in the advertising campaign for Star Wars Outlaws. Following his statement, there was a noticeable increase in enthusiastic comments about the game.
Moreover, skepticism arose among players regarding the previews provided by journalists and bloggers after Ubisoft sponsored a trip to Disneyland in Los Angeles. Officially, this was to facilitate interaction with the development team and to play the completed build; unofficially, it was seen as a means to elicit gifts and positive emotions for a more favorable game review.
For instance, GmanLives commended the game’s visuals, attention to detail, and combat mechanics. However, he subtly described the game as a standard third-person action title with elements of stealth. The only drawback he noted was a hacking mini-game, which he felt disrupted the game’s pace.
Release
The official launch of Star Wars Outlaws occurred on the 30th of August. On this day, premium edition users on PS5 added another negative comment to their feedback. Owners of the Gold and Ultimate editions were granted early access to the game by three days; however, the installation of the day one patch (1.000.002) necessitates starting the game anew, as per Ubisoft’s instructions.
The company has not disclosed the reason, but the players have received some compensation | a cosmetic item for their ship and 100 Ubisoft store points, which can be earned by progressing through various games.
As of August 30, Star Wars Outlaws holds a score of 77 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic. The game is recommended by 71% of critics. Generally, journalists concur with the players’ initial impressions | Outlaws boasts vibrant graphics, colorful planets, well-crafted companions, and an immersive open world. However, the experience is marred by a lackluster storyline, repetitive stealth mechanics, an incomplete reputation system, and numerous technical issues.
Star Wars | Outlaws received low ratings from players
Metacritic has opened ratings for Star Wars | Outlaws, but the outcome is disappointing | a score of 4.8 out of 10. It’s been two days since the game’s release, allowing the general public to post their reviews. The consensus is not favorable. Currently, Ubisoft’s Star Wars | Outlaws stands at a 4.8 rating, which seems to be decreasing as time goes on.
Dissatisfaction stemmed from numerous factors | lack of optimization, antiquated gameplay, a dull open world filled with monotonous activities, a mediocre storyline, among others.
What are your thoughts on Star Wars Outlaws? If you’ve had the chance to play it, what are your initial impressions? Feel free to share your views in the comments.
