Highlights
- The open-world Ubisoft game Star Wars Outlaws will feature a captivating narrative where players try to execute the biggest heist in the galaxy.
- During this story, Outlaws will introduce the new character Vail, who could rival Boba Fett’s legacy as a formidable bounty hunter.
- Ubisoft must deliver on Vail’s reputation as a top bounty hunter through engaging gameplay and a consistent, imposing presence instead of simply saying they are skilled.
The Star Wars universe is packed to the brim with named characters from household icons like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Leia Organa, and Obi-Wan Kenobi to obscure little characters who only have a few minutes of screen-time, like Salacious B. Crumb, Nien Nunb, and Yarael Poof. But if the last 47 years of fandom have proven anything, it’s that even the most minor Star Wars characters can have a huge impact on fans, and it’s exciting to think that Star Wars Outlaws could deliver another handful.
Set for an August launch, Star Wars Outlaws recently dropped its story trailer, and it finally gives fans a clear overview of what they can expect from the open-world Ubisoft game. Taking control of smuggler Kay Vess, Star Wars Outlaws will see players try to pull off the greatest heist the galaxy has ever seen. Naturally, this is going to draw the attention of not just the Empire, but the several syndicates that rule the galaxy’s criminal underworld and their hired associates. The bounty hunter Vail is one such associate, and when all is said and done, she might end up giving Boba Fett a run for his money.
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’ Vail Could Be Just as Formidable as Boba Fett
Boba Fett’s Appearances Have Been a Mixed Bag
Whether it’s boss fights in games like Shadows of the Empire or Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, multi-episode arcs of Star Wars: The Clone Wars that show a young Boba Fett trying to take revenge on Mace Windu, or an entire season of a live-action show that finally confirms how the renowned bounty hunter survived his fall into the Sarlaac Pit, Boba Fett has been given plenty of opportunities to shine.
Even then, the character’s legacy still often outweighs the version fans see on-screen, especially in the world of video games, where Boba’s latest appearance involved him stealing a bounty from Cal Kestis at the last minute and just standing around waiting for him to leave. Simply put, Boba Fett’s badass mystique has rarely been delivered on, and that gives Star Wars Outlaws‘ Vail plenty of room to fill in the gaps.
Star Wars Outlaws’ Vail Could Make a Big Impact
Revealed in the most recent Star Wars Outlaws story trailer, Vail has been hired by the Zerek Besh crime syndicate to hunt down the smuggler Kay Vess, for reasons currently unknown to the fan-base. According to Ubisoft’s official character bios, Vail is one of the best bounty hunters in the Outer Rim, which is a pretty grandiose statement, and one that Ubisoft needs to back up via both Star Wars Outlaws‘ gameplay and narrative.
In order to avoid Boba Fett’s long-running issues, Star Wars Outlaws needs to not just tell players that Vail is a talented bounty hunter, but actually show it. Star Wars Outlaws needs to show Vail hunting down a target, her unique methods, and how they make her this renowned figure in the galaxy. Before and after this reveal, Star Wars Outlaws can reinforce Vail’s imposing persona by having NPCs mention her in dialogue, and use environmental storytelling devices like wanted posters to build this persona consistently throughout the game.
But narrative should only be one-half of Vail’s impact in Star Wars Outlaws. The best way to cement a persona in a video game is to have players experience it via gameplay, and Vail’s bounty-hunting profession paves the way for a compelling and impactful gameplay loop. From the moment Vail enters the picture in Star Wars Outlaws, she should become a constant threat to the player. Like a galactic Mr. X, Vail should hunt the player wherever they go, ambushing them while they explore the open-world, and beginning a challenging mini boss fight. Even if players manage to defeat Vail during this boss fight, she should only be knocked down temporarily, starting her pursuit again soon after and becoming more powerful alongside the player until she’s presumably finally defeated during the main story.
Star Wars Outlaws
Massive Entertainment’s Star Wars Outlaws is an in-development game that will be published by Ubisoft. The sci-fi franchise’s first full open-world project, Outlaws follows Kay Vess and is set during the Imperial Era. Announced for PC and ninth-generation hardware, the game is expected to drop in 2024.
- Released
- August 30, 2024
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft , Lucasfilm Games