Star Wars Outlaws creative director Julian Gerighty said the game was designed to feel distinct through progression tied to people and places in its world, alongside a player-directed mix of scoundrel activities. That is a statement of creative intent—not proof that the released game is objectively unlike other Ubisoft open-world titles.
What Gerighty said would make Outlaws feel distinctive
In a July 2024 report on a GamesIndustry.biz interview, Befenn attributed the distinction to Massive Entertainment’s studio identity and to how Kay’s abilities are developed. Rather than use a conventional skill tree, the reported approach has players seek out experts in the world, forming what Gerighty described as a “padawan/master relationship” that leads to upgrades. The report also attributes to him the line, “Everything is ingrained in people and the world.” Befenn’s account is the available source for those remarks; they should be read as reported comments, not as independently verified direct quotations.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Star Wars Outlaws - Limited Edition (Amazon Exclusive), PlayStation 5 | $35.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Star Wars Outlaws /PS5 | $21.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PS5) | $59.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Star Wars Outlaws Limited Edition (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) (PS5) | $43.48 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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The Art of Star Wars Outlaws | $30.47 | Buy on Amazon |
The design idea is straightforward: progression is presented as something discovered through characters and the setting, rather than only as a menu of skills. Whether that makes the game feel meaningfully different in play is a separate judgment from the developer’s stated intention.
How the open world is meant to work
In an official StarWars.com interview published July 23, 2023, Gerighty described the open-world format as a way for players to visit familiar and new Star Wars locations and “really discover and direct the experience that they want.” He said, “They’re going to be really driving their adventure with all of the opportunities that an open world means.” He also framed the creative challenge as, “How could we have a lot of different experiences within this open world?”
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- Only at Amazon Limited Edition Content - The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
- Discover a galaxy of opportunity. Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Experience an original scoundrel story. Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: 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 missions. Take 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 seat. Pilot your ship, the Trailblazer, as you engage in thrilling dogfights with the Empire and other foes. Find the right opportunities to chase, evade, and attack to get the upper hand.
His answer centered on the scoundrel fantasy: combining “driving, flying, smuggling, shooting, sneaking” as players make their way through the underworld. Those activities point to the intended range of play, but they do not establish how often each appears, how missions are structured, or how much freedom players have in any given encounter.
What the game actually is
Star Wars Outlaws is a single-player, open-world action-adventure set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It follows Kay Vess and her companion Nix through the criminal underworld, with Ubisoft describing the core fantasy as fighting, stealing, and outwitting crime syndicates. The premise and format are listed in Ubisoft’s official game FAQ.
Rank #2
- LIMITED EDITION CONTENT* The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
- Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Take 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.
The game launched on August 30, 2024, according to StarWars.com’s launch announcement. Ubisoft lists it for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, and Amazon Luna across its official FAQ and store listing. The FAQ says the game is not currently Steam Deck verified; that status can change, so consult Ubisoft’s current FAQ if compatibility matters.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to judge the “not just another Ubisoft game” claim
The available comments identify design goals, not a neutral comparison with Ubisoft’s other games. To assess the distinction for yourself, focus on the systems the comments actually raise:
Rank #3
- PRE-ORDER BONUS* Pre-order to get the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack including a Trailblazer spaceship cosmetic and a speeder cosmetic.
- GOLD EDITION CONTENT* Play up to three days early with the Gold Edition, which includes the base game and the season pass.**
- Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Take 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.
- Progression: Do expert encounters and world-based upgrades feel like a meaningful alternative to choosing skills from a conventional tree?
- Exploration: Does finding people, places, and opportunities lead you to direct your own route, or does the world mainly guide you through familiar objectives?
- Mission agency: Do approaches such as sneaking, shooting, or outwitting syndicates change how situations play out? The cited interviews state an ambition, not the degree of choice in the finished missions.
- Activity mix: Does the shift among driving, flying, smuggling, and other scoundrel activities make the adventure feel varied to you?
These are useful comparison points, not a verdict that Outlaws is unlike other Ubisoft games. The sources cited here do not offer a systematic comparison or evidence measuring how distinctive its systems are.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- PRE-ORDER BONUS* Pre-order to get the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack including a Trailblazer spaceship cosmetic and a speeder cosmetic.
- LIMITED EDITION CONTENT* The Rogue Infiltrator Character Pack includes cosmetics for Kay and Nix.
- Explore distinct locations with bustling cities and cantinas. Race across sprawling outdoor landscapes on your speeder. Each location brings new adventures, unique challenges, and enticing rewards if you’re willing to take the risk.
- Live the high-stakes lifestyle of an outlaw. Turn any situation to your advantage with Nix by your side: fight with your blaster, overcome enemies with stealth and gadgets, or find the right moments to distract enemies and gain the upper hand.
- Take 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.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
