Star Wars Outlaws follows Kay Vess and her companion Nix across four open-world planets in a galaxy far, far away — available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
Introduction
Star Wars Outlaws The name conjures up images of a world ruled by criminals under a starry sky. On August 30, 2024, Ubisoft Massive released the game for PS5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S, and later on September 4, 2025, it was released for Nintendo Switch 2.
The game is set between The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) a very exciting period in the Star Wars universe. In it, you play the role of Kay Vess, a young and clever robber who wants to change her life by pulling off a major heist.
Game Basics
- Developer: Ubisoft Massive
- Publisher: Ubisoft
- Release: August 30, 2024
- Platform: PS5, Xbox, PC, Switch 2
- Genre: Action Adventure
- Mode: Single Player
- Engine: Snowdrop Engine
- Metacritic: 77/100 (PC)
Star Wars Outlaws Story A Robber’s Journey
In the immediate aftermath of the Battle of Hoth, Kay Vess seeks to escape her home planet of Cantonica. She takes part in a major heist but it’s no easy task. A criminal organization is after her, and Kay must travel across the galaxy to save her life.
The story is a poignant portrayal of betrayal, friendship, revenge, and a fractured mother-daughter relationship. Famous characters like Darth Vader, Jabba the Hutt, and Lando Calrissian also play important roles.
The game’s story is described by Creative Director Julian Gerighty as a “coming-of-age journey” a journey from street thief to notorious and feared bandit.
The most powerful aspect of the story is that your decisions whether in dialogue or in missions directly affect the relationship between you and the syndicates. It gives the feeling that you are truly Kay.
Star Wars Outlaws Gameplay — What can you do?
Star Wars Outlaws is a Third-Person Open World game. You ride a Speeder Bike across planets, travel through space in your ship, the Trailblazer, and complete various missions
- Combat & Weapons: Slow down time with the Blaster’s multiple firing modes, grappling hook, and Adrenaline ability
- Stealth System: Dodge, sneak past enemies, or silently eliminate them
- Nix Companion: Your companion Nix scans the environment, distracts enemies, and steals items
- Space Combat: Space combat, laser cannons, and missiles from the Trailblazer ship
- Faction System: 4 Criminal Organization Ties Good ties get a discount, bad ties get a hard time
- Wanted System: 6-level Imperial Wanted System Multiple ways to evade the Imperial army
- Playable Planets: The game features four fully open planets where you can roam freely:
- Akiva: A jungle-filled planet where you meet Droidsmith Gedeek and hijack the Empire’s Viper Droid project
- Kijimi: A snowy city where the Ashiga Clan reigns. Here you free the Safe Cracker Ank
- Tatooine: The famous sandy planet the empire of Jabba the Hutt. The famous city of Mos Eisley is also located here
- Toshara: New location the planet inspired by the African savannah where Kay’s main campaign begins
Star Wars Outlaws Main Character
Kay Vess is brought to life in both voice and motion capture by Humberly González. She is an inexperienced but intelligent girl whose broken nose and bruises tell the story of her life.
Nix Kay’s little companion animal is voiced by Dee Bradley Baker. Nix’s design is inspired by armadillos and axolotls, and a puppet is used for her movements.
| Character | Role | Voice Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Kay Vess | Main Protagonist | Humberly González |
| Nix | Animal Companion | Dee Bradley Baker |
| ND-5 | Droid Enforcer | — |
| Jaylen Vrax | Crew Leader (later Villain) | — |
| Darth Vader | Guest Character | — |
| Lando Calrissian | Wild Card DLC | — |
Critics’ Opinion
The Star Wars Outlaws game received generally positive reviews, but some aspects were criticized:
| Website | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic (PC) | 77 / 100 |
| Game Informer | 8.5 / 10 |
| IGN | 7 / 10 |
| NME | 5 / 5 ⭐ |
| The Guardian | 4 / 5 |
| GameSpot | 6 / 10 |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | 81 / 100 |
IGN’s Tristan Ogilvie said: “This game is like the Millennium Falcon broken in places, but when it works, it transports Star Wars fans into space.”
Star Wars Outlaws Pros and Cons
Pros
- Interesting and emotional story
- Kay and Nix’s wonderful relationship
- Faction System Unique and interesting
- Unparalleled music (Grammy nomination)
- Four vast planets
- 60 Accessibility options
- Open Galaxy feel
Cons
- Stealth system weak and repetitive
- Bugs in early PC version
- Only 834 players on Steam debut
- Expensive $110-$130 editions
- Misleading Ubisoft formula
- Sales fell short of expectations
DLC expansion — more stories
Wild Card (November 2024): Kay must compete in a Sabacc tournament. It also includes the iconic character Lando Calrissian.
A Pirate’s Fortune (May 15, 2025): Search for a legendary pirate treasure with the iconic Pirates of Star Wars character Hondo Ohnaka.
Awards and Honors
The Star Wars Outlaws game achieved great success in the field of music:
- GANG Awards 2025: Best Main Theme, Best Original Song, Best Soundtrack Album and Creative Achievement four awards
- Grammy nomination: Nominated for Best Video Game Score at the 67th Grammy Awards
- The Game Awards: Best Performance (Humberly González) and Best Action/Adventure Game nominations
FAQs
Is Star Wars Outlaws game good for new Star Wars players?
Absolutely! The game’s story is written in a way that even new players can easily understand, while there are many references for old fans.
How long is the game?
The main story takes about 20-25 hours to complete. With side missions, it can go up to 40-50+ hours.
Is EA involved in this game?
No. This is the first Star Wars game since 2013 that wasn’t made by Electronic Arts — it was made by Ubisoft and Lucasfilm Games.
How’s it on the Nintendo Switch 2?
The Switch 2 version received an 81/100 on Metacritic — which is better than the PS5 and Xbox versions. That means the Switch 2 edition was released much better.
Final Verdict
Star Wars Outlaws offers a beautiful, emotional, and expansive world. Kay and Nix’s relationship is captivating, the music is internationally award-winning, and the faction system is truly unique. However, the lack of stealth and early bugs hurt its game. Overall if you’re a Star Wars fan, this is a must-play. Gain more knowledge
