Highlights

  • Star Wars Outlaws faces innovation hurdles due to its canon placement, limiting its ability to expand the franchise.
  • Particular editions and a limited timeline context may hinder Outlaws' potential impact in the Star Wars universe.
  • Despite its unique setting, Outlaws' position between major events limits its ability to influence galactic history significantly.

While there's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Star Wars Outlaws, the game has some problems from the outset. One of the issues fundamental to the concept of Star Wars Outlaws is its position in Disney's Star Wars canon, which will stifle its ability to innovate on the series.

Ubisoft's upcoming open-world Star Wars game has sparked controversy recently thanks to Star Wars Outlaws' pre-order editions for their lofty price and paywalling of additional content. However, amid this grim news about the game's pricing, fans can find solace in the story trailer's reveal of an August 30 release date. What it also reiterates, though, is the fact that it may not be able to achieve much in its particular period or era in the franchise.

star wars outlaws may be letting on more about its game structure
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Star Wars Outlaws May Be Letting On More About Its Game Structure Than You Think

The recent story trailer for the upcoming Star Wars Outlaws may have subtly let on much more about the game's structure than it needed to.

Star Wars Outlaws' Place On The Timeline May Rein It In Too Much

Star Wars Outlaws' slate of expensive editions has already kneecapped its reputation, but it's not the only thing working against the game prior to release. The game will be set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, focusing on the criminal underworld operating on the sidelines of the Galactic Civil War. Though there's plenty of opportunity in this era to expand the world and explore new ideas, its slim niche in galactic history stops it from pushing the envelope.

Outlaws Can't Give The Franchise What It Needs

It's an interesting time to be a Star Wars fan, in that there's currently a bit of space to breathe. The slew of projects based around the 'Filoniverse' side of the canon has led to more than a little oversaturation. The Acolyte, releasing June 4, will be heading straight into a far older era of Star Wars and give the next major project in the franchise some room to experiment.

Likewise, Star Wars Outlaws is distinct in its setting, placed in the twilight of the Galactic Civil War. Unfortunately, this is a slim spot stuck between two titans of the franchise. It's not like this game could overwrite or retcon anything from Return of the Jedi, so its story is chained to diminished stakes.

The eras between trilogies are also stuck against big movies that they can't retcon, but those parts of the canon have far more space to tell stories. The rise of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic are both fertile ground for big stories, which has been demonstrated by how both periods have been strip-mined by Disney's Star Wars shows and movies. Outlaws has no such luxury, thereby forcing its story to be a play between background characters with little hope of influencing galactic events in any notable way.

The Weakness In Outlaws' Stakes Could Be A Strength For Its Worldbuilding

That said, hope isn't lost for the set-piece dressing of Star Wars Outlaws. A small-scale story might be an asset to the franchise after all. While Star Wars currently suffers from lacking any big hook to excite fans for the future, Andor proved how well a more grounded story could work. It could give the series a break from the relentless cameos that have plagued even its best recent releases. Seeing iconic characters everywhere, though initially cool, makes the world feel smaller—something that the diverse landscapes and species shown off in Outlaws' trailer could remedy.

On the other hand, there's the point of Jabba and his inclusion in Star Wars Outlaws. Pre-order fiasco aside, the planet of Tatooine and its iconography has held the franchise in shackles; its overuse has made it seem like all important galactic events happen there. Moreover, there are not too many ways Kay Vess could play into Jabba's role in Return of the Jedi, so his presence may feel like a cameo more than a way to increase his depth. Despite this, it would be weird for the Hutts to not show up in a game about the galaxy's underworld, but developers will still need to exercise restraint when it comes to expectations for something grander.