Highlights

  • Star Wars Outlaws is set for an August 30 release, and will be an open-world experience set during the Imperial Era.
  • The game's running time is estimated at 25-30 hours for the main story, with potentially double that for completionists.
  • Star Wars Outlaws' more compact approach to running time may lend it a replayability factor, and offer an alternative to more massive titles.

Star Wars Outlaws is edging closer to launch, with the highly anticipated upcoming entry in the beloved IP scheduled for release near the end of this summer, on August 30. Star Wars Outlaws promises fans an adventure in the galaxy far, far away with two interesting angles– firstly being from the perspective of a freelance underworld thief, and set during the popular Imperial Era. Co-developers Massive Entertainment and Ubisoft's title is also heralded as the first "truly open-world Star Wars" experience.

Expanding on and clarifying the above, studio figureheads have previously stated and emphasized that Star Wars Outlaws will not be an "unfinishable" game. The fact that this had to be noted is telling in and of itself, as it seems to preemptively address legitimate concerns that some fans had about just how long it might take to finish. This likely came as a relief to players who were excited about Star Wars Outlaws' premise, setting, and characters, but wary of the possible time commitment involved. With SW Outlaws' stated running time being somewhere in the mid-20s to 30-hour range for the campaign, this is fairly reasonable, and gives it a leg up in this regard in a few key ways.

Star Wars Outlaws ' various pre-order versions and bonuses did cause a bit of a stir when they were revealed due to the pricing tiers and exclusie content included in some.

star wars outlaws how long to beat
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Star Wars Outlaws Developer Reveals How Long the Game Takes to Beat

Star Wars Outlaws' creative director reveals about how long the open world Star Wars game will take to beat for most players.

Star Wars Outlaws' Stated Running Time Looks to Bring a Great Balance to its Design

Open-world titles and RPGs, which often cross over extensively on the Venn diagram of genres, have grown tremendously over the last couple of generations. Ubisoft's approach to open-world design and the sheer length of its titles in particular have inarguably made a mark on gaming. At the same time, it has since garnered an often negative connotation, becoming increasingly polarizing as its influence and use has become more widespread, both within the studio's own works and the industry at large. The developers have seemingly taken the criticism in this area seriously, and Star Wars Outlaws will ostensibly offer a more slimmed-down experience than what might have been initially expected given its pedigree, which theoretically bodes well.

Star Wars Outlaws' Running Time Could Land in a Goldilocks Zone

According to creative director Julian Gerighty, Star Wars Outlaws will take most players on average around 25-30 hours to complete the main story. Completionists and those who enjoy more leisurely exploring are looking at roughly double this figure, with 50-60 said to be the amount required for such. This comparatively more compact approach, narrower in general yet still with plenty to see and do in terms of substantial and quality content, could be one of Outlaws' biggest positives.

One potential upside of the above is that, since one of its major draws is allowing fans to role-play their version of protagonist Kay Vess, picking and choosing which criminal Star Wars factions and characters to work with or against, this could lend Star Wars Outlaws a solid replayability factor. Going through a second time and deciding on different options or approaches to quests, skills, and interactions to see alternate outcomes and character beats, all without requiring an inordinate amount of time, might turn out to be one of its best aspects, and highlight the benefits of a more concise playtime.

Star Wars Outlaws will also offer an array of optional mini-games and other related activities. Admittedly, this is also standard for titles like it, but if integrated well, might provide another avenue for extra fun and detail, while still not strictly required to see the core story through. If it is able to hit a sweet spot of being relatively short and satisfyingly engrossing but not unduly overwhelming via its narrative, mechanics, and the various planets that Star Wars Outlaws will include, while at the same time not going too overboard with time commitment, Star Wars Outlaws could display the perfect balance in its design and vision regarding length.