Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess: A More Relatable Take on Han Solo Inspiration

Star Wars Outlaws’ Kay Vess: A More Relatable Take on Han Solo Inspiration

Star Wars Outlaws’ lead character, Kay Vess, draws on an array of classic adventurers for inspiration, including the likes of Han Solo and Indiana Jones.

Detailed in Edge Magazine, Julian Gerighty, the creative director behind Star Wars Outlaws, delved into the eclectic mix of iconic characters that influenced the game’s lead. “The archetype of a scoundrel brings to mind figures like Han Solo, Lando Calrissian, Indiana Jones, James Bond, Captain Jack Sparrow,” said Gerighty.

Gerighty shared a personal connection with these inspirations, noting, “The scoundrel’s path resonated with me the most from the original Star Wars—Han Solo and Chewbacca were my favorites.”

However, for Kay Vess, the developers at Massive Entertainment aimed to create a character with whom players could feel a stronger kinship. “We wanted Kay to be more accessible, someone still green, a small-time crook thrown into a narrative much larger than they anticipated,” Gerighty added. He describes Kay as a “small fry in a vast ocean, navigating amidst predators.”

This melding of influences seems fitting for Kay, who is positioned as a shrewd scoundrel in a game that promises escapades worthy of Han Solo himself.

The Edge interview also touched on the game’s world-building, with Gerighty revealing the planetary scales in Star Wars Outlaws to be substantial yet reasonable, comparing them to the regions in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey for a balance that suits both gameplay and development.