Gab Hernandez 
Our Star Wars Outlaws review shows that for all of the game’s hype, at the end of the day, it’s a predictable Ubisoft product for better or worse.
While every video game can be broken down as a product for sale, Star Wars Outlaws is the convergence of two tried-and-true formulas in pop culture and gaming. Ubisoft has churned out so many open-world games that the company’s name has become a genre unto itself. Meanwhile, Star Wars has entered a repetitive rhythm with its content. With those two combined, one can’t help but feel Star Wars Outlaws was primarily conceptualized in a marketing board room.
One thing that unifies Star Wars and Ubisoft games is the criticism that they’ve become “too safe.” Many fans were curious to see if Star Wars Outlaws would break the mold or simply revel in the things that people expect it to be. And ultimately, Star Wars Outlaws is definitely the latter.
The Good:
- Star Wars Outlaws feels very Star Wars, with beautiful vistas and action-packed missions.
- The game has a lot of content and rewards player exploration.
The Bad:
- Sticks closely to the typical Ubisoft open-world formula.
- The story is mediocre and the two lead characters lack chemistry.
- The game suffers from multiple glitches and performance issues at launch.
Review Details:
- Platforms available: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Reviewed on: PC
- Official release date: August 27, 2024
An exciting Star Wars amusement park ride
Even the most ardent critics of Star Wars movies can’t accuse the franchise of lacking in presentation quality. Star Wars Outlaws maximizes the unique galactic setting, letting players enjoy the world of Star Wars in a way only a video game can. The set-pieces, sound design, and variety of open-world hubs make every new mission an exciting space road trip.
In our review, the missions in Star Wars Outlaws also feature some thrilling sequences, some of which could rival any action scene from the new trilogy. The game also takes place between Episode V and Episode VI, one of the most iconic periods in Star Wars history, with plenty of fascinating characters and locales to check out.
In sharp contrast to other Ubisoft open-world titles, there’s markedly less “UI pollution.” There are surprisingly few pop-ups, pointless collectibles, and “Ubisoft Towers” don’t return. Without those obvious spires of mini-map revelations, exploration feels far more organic than in previous Ubisoft titles. With how many secrets and small details that the world offers, this is a massive boon for Star Wars fans.
Big galaxy, shallow content
However, as vast as the Star Wars Outlaws galaxy is, our review found that its many planets don’t offer the depth they promise. While little details and subtle world-building are effective, the meat-and-potatoes missions and most prominent side content lack variety. Combat feels repetitive, a disappointment given the diversity of Star Wars weaponry available to rogue characters.
The space portion of Star Wars Outlaws offers shockingly little excitement, and starship combat does not live up to expectations set by the game’s trailers. Not that players will have to worry about space combat, as the Trailblazer ship outruns enemy crafts easily.
The game also suffers from various bugs and performance issues at release. While Ubisoft will patch these out in time, it’s disappointing to see AAA projects consistently launch with major issues (and without availability on Steam). Finally, Star Wars Outlaws’ story is basic space opera fare, lacking in charm and memorable characters.
Bottom line: Star Wars can be an exciting adventure to explore when it’s at its best, but it lacks in charm and originality.
