Star Wars Outlaws has been a troubled outing for Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment, placing the former in a tough position while being a rather disappointing project for the latter. While the game is an excellent take on an era that could be very interesting to many Star Wars fans, its systems, and mechanics have failed to make it the adventure that they would have hoped for.
Kay Vess’ failure to capture the hearts and minds of those well-versed in George Lucas’ films and newcomers alike could be attributed to a gameplay loop that was marred by numerous bugs and glitches while certain elements seemed counterproductive to what Star Wars Outlaws aimed to achieve.
Ubisoft’s Attempts Some Damage Control in Star Wars Outlaws
With regard to elements that did not work in Star Wars Outlaws, its stealth sections drew flak from several corners of its fan base considering that failure was not an option for players. In a title that promised unprecedented freedom to explore corners of the galaxy that were hitherto unseen in the franchise, having to restart stealth sections in the event that Vess was spotted was a justified source of annoyance to many.
It is a gripe that Insomniac may be all too familiar with considering that Marvel’s Spider-Man faced similar criticisms in 2018 when it attempted to bring Mary Jane into the fold with dedicated narrative chapters that forced players to take a stealthy approach toward her next objectives.
While Mary Jane requiring the use of stealthy measures did make sense from a narrative standpoint, Vess’ backstory in Star Wars Outlaws is proof enough that while attempting a quiet approach could be beneficial to her, being spotted by an enemy could mean that she could, in theory, just take on a more direct approach.
It is a sentiment that seems to have resonated with the Star Wars Outlaws’ new creative director, who has chosen to remove the steal requirement in a recent update. It’s a move that showcases Ubisoft’s willingness to learn from Insomniac, and perhaps even emulate BioWare’s ability to buck industry trends in its latest addition to the Dragon Age franchise.
Time will tell if Star Wars Outlaws’ latest update will help the title regain some of its lost ground over the next few months.
For more Thumb Wars Gaming coverage, take a look at how Shift Up is tackling an age-old problem. If Films and TV are more your thing, perhaps these theories about The Last of Us’ upcoming second season could catch your interest.
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With a passion for gaming that is equaled only by his love for writing, Varun has either a controller, keyboard, or a guitar in his hands when he is not out exploring the middle of nowhere on a motorcycle. Soulslikes, RPGs, and action-adventure titles keep him awake at night and get him out of bed in the morning. He will never stop lamenting the lack of a Bloodborne sequel even as he spends another couple of hours exploring the Lands Between in Elden Ring.
