Star Wars Outlaws - Gameplay, Characters, And Everything We Know

Star Wars Outlaws launches in August and marks a bold new era for the franchise. Hot off a tour of a different sci-fi franchise, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora studio Massive Entertainment is leading development on the open-world adventure, transporting fans to the criminal underbelly of that universe as rival gangs and syndicates find a way to thrive under Imperial rule.

One big departure from previous Star Wars games is that Outlaws is one of the rare entries in the franchise where you're not in control of a Jedi, as you'll be playing as the scoundrel Kay Vess instead. A classic Han Solo type, Vess is a rogue familiar with the seedier side of the galaxy and she's aiming to pull off a major heist that'll allow her to live out her life in luxury.

Here's everything that we know about Star Wars Outlaws so far, including its release date, post-launch plans, and a look at its interstellar gameplay.

Star Wars Outlaws Release Date

Star Wars Outlaws will launch on August 30, a release window that will see it face some competition. Monster Jam Showdown arrives August 29, but headed into the early days of September, the new Ubisoft-developed game will also be facing off against STALKER: Heart of Chornobyl when it releases on September 5.

Star Wars Outlaws Early Access

If you're looking to explore the criminal underbelly of Star Wars, the Gold and Digital Ultimate edition preorders include three-day early access to the game starting August 27. A subscription to Ubisoft Plus will get you access to the Ultimate Edition on PC at no additional charge.

Star Wars Outlaws Platforms

Like a growing number of upcoming games, Star Wars Outlaws will be leaving last-gen consoles behind as it charts a course for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.

Star Wars Outlaws Preorder Bonuses

Preorders are now live for all platforms, and each version of Star Wars Outlaws comes with its own preorder bonuses. All versions include the Kessel Runner DLC pack--a spaceship and a speeder skin--and preordering a physical copy of the standard or Gold edition at Target will also get you an exclusive steelbook case. Amazon is offering an exclusive Limited Edition with extra in-game content, while GameStop has a different exclusive version with its own set of exclusive in-game costumes.

For more details, you can check out GameSpot's complete breakdown of every Star Wars Outlaws edition up for preorder and what they all have to offer.

Star Wars Outlaws Story

After years of Jedi adventures, Star Wars Outlaws is putting you in the boots of a scoundrel by the name of Kay Vess, who finds herself on the galaxy's most wanted list. Vess has to explore distant planets in an effort to start a new life, Vess has to fight, steal, and outwit her way through a deadly galaxy as she tangles with various syndicates and criminals in an adventure that's set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

At the same time, Vess is attempting to pull off the biggest heist that the Outer Rim has ever seen, but that plan will require her to think several steps ahead of the criminal syndicates and the Empire. According to narrative director Navid Khavari, Outlaws shines a light on the Star Wars underworld, which has fittingly stuck to the shadows since the rise of the Empire.

"What happens when you have a civil war consuming the galaxy? Well, criminal organizations and syndicates, they find a space to rise up," Khavari explained. "This [era sees] them thriving and seeking all kinds of opportunities--them at their strongest, to a certain extent. To enter into the underworld within that window felt like a perfect starting point for someone like Kay and for the player."

Star Wars Outlaws Post-Launch Expansions

While details on post-launch content are slim, Star Wars Outlaws players will be able to keep exploring the game with two DLC "narrative" expansions. One of these missions, Jabba's Gambit, will be available day-one when Star Wars Outlaws launches, but Ubisoft has been criticized for locking this quest behind the season pass.

"Just as Kay is putting together a crew for the Canto Bight heist, she receives a job from Jabba the Hutt himself," the synopsis for this DLC reads. "Turns out that ND-5 owes Jabba a debt from years ago, and he has come to collect."

Does Star Wars Outlaws Require An Active Internet Connection?

Box art for Star Wars Outlaws includes a message that internet is "required" to install the game, even if you're buying a physical edition. This is likely for a day-one patch to be installed, similar to other Ubisoft games like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, but it's worth noting the warning doesn't mean an internet connection will be required to play the game.

Kay Vess

So who is Kay Vess? Ubisoft describes her as a scoundrel who knows how to talk her way out of a hairy situation or settle a dispute with a blaster. Brought to life by actress Humberly Gonzalez, who provided the voice and motion capture for the character, Vess has a bounty on her back and plenty of heat. On the bright side, she has two allies in her quest to find a better life: Nixx, an adorably fluffy companion, and ND-5, a BX-Series Droid Commando that has become a fan-favorite in the Star Wars community for its killer combo of fashion sense and dry one-liners.

"The beauty of having a character like Kay Vess is this is her first step into the underworld and we're experiencing that alongside of her," Khavari said. "She is also a cunning thief, that is her trade. That's where she came from. And [she] and Nix together have sort of been fighting every single day to survive. One of the things we always talked about as a team is, we put ourselves in the mind of Kay and how she acts. She's not perfect, she hasn't figured everything out yet, and that feels great. That feels natural and fresh in what we're trying to do. And so, being able to go into that journey with her--to watch her navigate the underworld and have that sort of experience where you're learning it alongside her--it feels great. I think that the team is super excited about that."

Star Wars Outlaws Gameplay

The first gameplay reveal for Outlaws showed off a lot of what Kay is capable of. As a rogue in a dangerous galaxy, Kay is used to shooting first and asking questions later, and she'll be able to get into blaster shootouts and outer space dogfights during the course of her journey. Interestingly, diplomacy is also a vital part of the game and Kay will be faced with moments that she'll need to talk her way out of or face deadly consequences in this open-world Star Wars game.

Interestingly, the game also has crafting elements as Kay will be able to upgrade her blaster and gadgets, and Nix can tackle enemies, distract them, and interact with items in the environment. Adding some more Grand Theft Yavin flavor to the gameplay is a Wanted system, but details on how this works and how far you can push the Empire with Kay's actions haven't been revealed yet. Khavari added that Ubisoft's goal is to create a "truly cinematic" gaming experience that players can take part in.