The recently announced Star Wars Outlaws is a fascinating project, taking the beloved IP to a gaming space that has not been explored before. Being billed as the first truly open-world game for the franchise, expectations are already running high.
Star Wars Outlaws has already received lots in the way of gameplay footage and information about its main characters. It has been confirmed that Kay Vess will be the game's protagonist, with her unique background giving way to some interesting motivations and in-game abilities.
Star Wars Outlaws: Kay Vess' Background
A regular human without force sensitivity, Kay Vess is an unusual choice for a Star Wars protagonist. Although Kay lacks the pomp and extravagance of a Jedi, the character has taken clear inspirations from some other fan-favorite Star Wars characters such as Han Solo.
Kay Vess essentially falls into the lovable scoundrel character type that Star Wars consistently employs, in which everyday people have to sharpen their wits to survive by any means necessary. A lot of Kay's backstory is still quite secretive, but it can be inferred that the character has had to grow up quick and mean to survive in the hostile world of the Galactic Empire.
A thief by profession, Kay Vess' has honed her skills over her life to become a cunning and deft criminal, always looking for a bigger score to survive. From the gameplay reveal of Outlaws, it seems that Kay's only living companion is a mysterious creature called Nix who belongs to the Merqaal species. This conveys how Kay has likely been isolated and independent for most of her life.
It is likely that this will lead to Kay being quite guarded and apprehensive of new relationships, as evidenced by her only other confirmed friendship coming in the form of a droid. Kay still appears to be full of charisma and charm despite this, leading to an already layered and complex overall character.
Star Wars Outlaws: Kay Vess' Abilities
While Kay appears to be something of a lone wolf, it has been confirmed that Star Wars Outlaws will allow players to manage relationships with criminal factions. In her navigation of the Galaxy's seedy underworld, Kay will have the ability to play different crime syndicates against one another, all while managing how these organizations perceive her.
This speaks to the level of cunning and charm that Kay possesses, with the player having to use the full breadth of her personality to survive outside direct combat. Speaking of combat, Kay's upbringing as a thief has led her to hone significant stealth abilities which can be utilized in Outlaws. It seems that many combat experiences in Outlaws will allow Kay to choose between conventional fighting and stealth approaches, showcasing the versatility of her skill-set.
Kay's companions have different benefits and abilities for these approaches, with Nix in particular having many traits that can distract and misdirect enemies. It is also known that Kay's vehicle of choice on-planet is a speeder, allowing the player to quickly yet discreetly navigate the different areas of the game, while also making quick getaways. Of course, Kay also possesses her own ship, fostering traversal between planets and likely being home to its own host of potential upgrades.
It is clear that Star Wars Outlaws' Kay is fighting for survival within an extremely harsh world. Having nothing to rely on other than her own wit and charm, Kay appears to be a deeply complex character that has a lot to give to the Star Wars franchise.
Star Wars Outlaws is expected to release in 2024.