Beware: Star Wars Outlaws Gangs Will Hunt You Down
The open-world action game Star Wars Outlaws is set for release next month, and developer Massive Entertainment has already showcased some of the thrilling speeder bike chases and laser battles in various trailers. Recently, they’ve provided more details about the player’s journeys across the galaxy, including the size of the explorable planets and the consequences of angering the Hutts. Essentially, upsetting the Hutts will put a price on your head.
“Your reputation moving in the positive direction unlocks a lot of things for you,” says Mathias Karlson, game director at Massive, in an interview with IGN. Aligning yourself with factions like the Hutts, Pykes, Ashiga Clan, and Crimson Dawn can grant access to certain zones without hostility, open up new landing pads, and provide discounts with rogue traders, leading to “exotic rewards.”
On the flip side, if you fall out of favor with these factions, you’ll face dynamic repercussions. “If you really get on their bad side, they will send hit squads out for you in the open world to try and take you out,” Karlson explains.
This system of emergent gameplay ensures that the player’s actions have significant and varied consequences. Good reputation can also provide unexpected allies during conflicts. Karlson mentions, “If you’re being chased by the Empire and cross paths with a syndicate you have a good reputation with, they might join in and help you out.”
This mechanic is reminiscent of faction interactions in The Division series and the dynamic skirmishes in Far Cry, though Star Wars Outlaws ties these interactions directly to its reputation system. The idea of hit squads also brings to mind the mercenaries in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey.
The IGN video interview further explores the scale of the planets in Star Wars Outlaws. Some planets are compared to two or three zones from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, and crossing the surface of Toshara by speeder bike takes about five minutes. Julian Gerighty, creative director at Massive, acknowledges that while this may not seem extensive, the journey is filled with distractions and activities.
Gerighty adds that the game will feature geographical easter eggs and iconic locations for fans to explore, enhancing the sense of virtual tourism. “We can lean into the virtual tourism aspect of, ‘Hey, what is the distance between the moisture farms and Mos Eisley and the cantina?” he says. The game will start with a structured intro leading to a crash landing on Toshara, a moon created with LucasFilm Games, and then open up to a non-linear exploration of other planets.
While the visual design of Star Wars Outlaws is captivating, it remains to be seen how the open-world gameplay will stand out from typical Ubisoft formulas. The IGN video offers an extensive look at the game and is worth watching for those excited about the release.
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