For fans of sci-fi RPGs, one of the most exciting new games on the horizon is undoubtedly Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic — an upcoming single player RPG set in the Old Republic era of the Star Wars timeline in development at Arcanaut Studios, a studio led by several veteran devs that worked on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR), Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, among other franchises.

At the head of the project is Casey Hudson, who formerly directed both KotOR and the Mass Effect trilogy while working at BioWare. Hudson has shared very little about Fate of the Old Republic beyond the fact that it's being designed as a spiritual successor to KotOR and that it's coming out before 2030, though he did touch on some further details in a recent interview according to a new report.

Specifically, according to Bloomberg, Hudson revealed that there are no plans for the use of AI within Arcanaut Studios as it works to build the new Star Wars RPG. "I just find AI to be creatively soulless," he commented. "It’s hard to imagine where it’s actually helpful in the process. I’m just really unimpressed with it."

As someone who very much detests the use of AI-generated content in gaming (and most forms of AI content in general), I'm incredibly glad to hear that Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic won't include any — assuming the current plan holds, anyway.

Notably, the topic of AI came up as a result of discussion about Arcanaut Studios, its team size, and how it will handle the labor of Fate of the Old Republic's development. Hudson told Bloomberg "We really want to avoid having hundreds and hundreds of people," as he explained the colossal team sizes at BioWare proved to be detrimental while he was there.

In order to get Arcanaut assistance when and where it's needed, Hudson noted that the developer will partner and work with contractors for support. This has become an increasingly common approach in recent years, so it's not surprising that Arcanaut is taking it.

His firm stance against AI is noteworthy at a time when various different game developers have stirred up a controversy by experimenting with the technology, with Baldur's Gate 3 dev Larian facing blowback for using it while making Divinity and later stopping, ARC Raiders using AI voice lines before replacing them, and Crimson Desert launching with AI-generated art in it that was removed.

There's also NVIDIA DLSS 5, the latest version of the firm's upscaling and performance improving "Super Resolution" tech that's coming later this year. DLSS 5 uses AI in an effort to enhance games with "photorealistic lighting and materials," though it was widely panned for looking like an uncanny AI slop filter when it was revealed during GDC.

I'll concede that AI has its use cases for things like organization and such, but I don't want to see it anywhere near the actual content of a game, and I'm happy that Hudson feels the same way about Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic.

Are you glad to hear that Arcanaut Studios isn't planning to use AI in Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic? Share your thoughts in the comments, and let me know how you feel about the game overall in our poll.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Love and appreciation for Star Wars is in the air right now thanks to the Star Wars Day celebrations of May 4 (and "Revenge of the Fifth" on the day after). The revelry about memorable adventures in a galaxy far, far away may be drawing to a close soon...but the team behind one of the most promising upcoming Star Wars projects has made some exciting announcements before it does.

That project is Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic — a brand new single player RPG for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 that was announced during The Game Awards 2025, and that will be set in the Old Republic era of the Star Wars timeline. It's the first game to return to that era since the 2011 MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, which was preceded by 2003's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) and 2004's Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic 2: The Sith Lords.

Fate of the Old Republic has been described as a spiritual successor to KotOR, and the studio making it, Arcanaut Studios, is helmed by the ex-BioWare KotOR and Mass Effect director Casey Hudson. For the last several months, it's been unclear who else is working on the game; now, though, Arcanaut has revealed several of its executive developers on the studio's website.

These include Dan Fessenden as senior technical designer, Melanie Faulknor as director of external development, Pascal Blanché as art director, Caroline Livingstone as director of production and performance, and Ryan Hoyle as chief technology officer.

Notably, Fessenden, Livingstone, and Hoyle all worked on the original KotOR, with the three all also having contributed to the Mass Effect franchise. Faulknor and Livingstone also helped build BioWare's Dragon Age titles, and Livingstone was involved with BioWare and Obsidian Entertainment's Neverwinter Nights as well — experience that Hudson touched on in a LinkedIn post on Star Wars Day.

"Our team members working on Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic come from many different development backgrounds," he wrote. "Some were with me in 2003 on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and throughout the creation of the Mass Effect Trilogy. Others have cut their teeth on industry-changing games at the likes of Microsoft, BioWare, Epic Games, Ubisoft, EA, and more."

"We're united in purpose, with a desire to live and breathe Star Wars and return to this beloved galaxy for a new adventure," he added.

The presence of veteran KotOR and Mass Effect talent on the Fate of the Old Republic development team is incredibly exciting, and gives me confidence that the RPG is in good hands. I've been waiting for a true successor to the KotOR games for over two decades now, and if there's anyone I trust to make it, it's the people that made the series in the first place.

As for when Fate of the Old Republic is set to release, it's unknown right now, as the game doesn't have a release date or even a release window. With that said, Hudson previously confirmed that the game is coming before 2030, so it'll be in our hands before the dawn of the next decade.

Are you looking forward to getting your hands on Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic? Does the presence of KotOR and Mass Effect devs make you more excited about the project? Let me know in the comments, and in our poll.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

There were tons of exciting announcements of new and upcoming games woven between award winner reveals during The Game Awards 2025. For many, though, the biggest, most exciting world premiere was the reveal of Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic shown early in the showcase.

This new Star Wars game headed to PC and consoles (Xbox Series X|S and PS5, most likely, and realistically, whatever next-gen consoles are out when it launches) will be a single-player action RPG set in the Old Republic era of the franchise’s timeline, with players able to drift towards the Light or Dark side of the Force throughout their journey.

Little else is known about the title itself beyond the fact its trailer was made with Unreal Engine 5. But something that makes the game especially exciting is that it’s being made by Arcanaut Studios — a team of veteran developers working with Lucasfilm Games that’s being led by Casey Hudson.

Longtime RPG and Star Wars fans may recognize Hudson as the director of the beloved 2003 BioWare title Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as well as the Electronic Arts studio's acclaimed Mass Effect trilogy (he also contributed on the soon-to-be-shut-down 2019 action RPG Anthem).

That he's working on an Old Republic-era Star Wars RPG again after 20+ years is incredibly exciting news for KOTOR fans — and Hudson has taken to social media to assuage concerns that Fate of the Old Republic won't launch until 2030.

"Don’t worry about the 'not till 2030' rumors," Hudson said in post on social media, following up on one in which he made it clear Fate of the Old Republic was still in early development stages. "Game will be out before then. I’m not getting any younger!"

The "rumors" Hudson is mentioning stem from a post by Bloomberg's video game reporter Jason Schreier shared early Friday morning in which he suggested expecting a release by 2030 "is an optimistic guess."

"Last night's biggest surprise was Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, led by Casey Hudson, who directed KOTOR (and Anthem)," wrote Schreier. "Exciting news for lots of people... but Lucasfilm says the studio was founded this year, which means that 2030 is an optimistic guess. Maybe it'll be a PlayStation 7 game."

It's exciting to hear that we'll supposedly get Fate of the Old Republic ahead of the turn of the next decade, though Hudson's assurance of "before then" doesn't exactly narrow down a specific release window to look forward to. I can't imagine we'd see the game any earlier than late 2028 or early 2029, but who knows?

Personally, I just want Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic to come out when it's ready, as I really want Hudson and the rest of the team at Arcanaut Studios to land this one. We really haven't had any Star Wars RPGs that match the depth and quality of KOTOR and Obsidian Entertainment's KOTOR 2: The Sith Lords sequel, and I want what sounds like their spiritual successor to be the one that not only does so, but surpasses them, too.

If that means I have to wait until 2030 or even beyond that year? So be it. KOTOR fans deserve to eat well, and the tastiest feasts aren't made quickly. Besides, looking at everything announced at The Game Awards, it's not like we're not going to have plenty of things to play while we bide our time. We might even see KOTOR 1 and 2 remakes, at some point.

I expected The Game Awards 2025 to surprise me at least a few times, but I certainly wasn't expecting an announcement of this caliber. We're getting a brand-new Star Wars game, and I couldn't possibly be more excited for this.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic has been officially announced, and it's being directed by Casey Hudson — yes, that Casey Hudson, the person who also directed the original Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect games.

Did this just become my most anticipated game? Yes, yes it did.

Let's be clear, Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic is absolutely ages away, as this is a simple teaser trailer with no gameplay to speak of. We do know it's being developed by Arcanaut Studios — a new team comprised of veteran developers and storytellers — in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games.

Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic will be a single-player action-RPG, set in the infamous Old Republic era of Star Wars, and your decisions will shape your path toward the Dark or Light sides of the Force. It's everything I could've wanted in a new Star Wars game.

We also know this trailer was captured using Unreal Engine 5, and is being developed for Windows PC and consoles (exact consoles weren't mentioned, but this game may very well be far enough way that it could come to next-gen consoles, so I'm not surprised).

We don't know much more beyond that at the moment, but I'm mostly upset I'm obviously going to have to wait a long time for this one. When the website does go live, you'll be able to see more about Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic at SWFOTOR.com.

This time exactly one month ago, Star Wars Battlefront 2 — the 2017 Battlefield-style sandbox multiplayer shooter from DICE and Electronic Arts (EA) — went through a massive resurgence as fans celebrated May the 4th, rode the high of the excellence of Andor Season 2, and clamored for a Battlefront 3 sequel. Now, it's blowing up again...and its player counts are skyrocketing even higher than they were before.

As backend SteamDB data shows, Battlefront 2 has climbed from an average of about 10-15,000 concurrent players — where it's been hovering since last month's renaissance — to an impressive 30-35,000 on Valve's PC gaming platform Steam this past weekend, with the game setting a new peak record of 35,892 on Sunday. That's double the numbers and then some.

The reason for this second and larger Battlefront 2 comeback is undoubtedly the colossal 90% off deal EA is running for the shooter as part of its ongoing Summer Sale event. The title's current MSRP on PC is $39.99, but thanks to that amazing discount, it's just $3.99 on Steam and other PC platforms like the EA app and the Epic Games Store. It's also down to just $4.99 on Xbox (unfortunately, it's at its full console price of $19.99 on PlayStation).

Another way you can play is an EA Play membership; notably, these are included with every Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscription.

• DEAL: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month memberships are $13.59 at CDKeys, giving you access to Microsoft's service for a cool discount

In case you're wondering, those are indeed the lowest prices Battlefront 2 has ever been sold for — and with more people playing the game than ever before, there's never been a better time to deploy to the battlefields of a galaxy far, far away. In fact, last month, a "reliable source" reported that a whopping 160K+ players were online across all platforms at peak hours; with current Steam numbers eclipsing the ones from then, I wouldn't be surprised if the total player counts now were higher, too.

Indeed, the amount of hype for the game that's been generated is astounding, and it's absolutely deserved. Battlefront 2 stands tall as one of the most enjoyable arcadey multiplayer shooters you can play, and is also one of the best-looking and sounding games in the industry even eight years after release. From an audiovisual perspective, the way it immersively brings iconic Star Wars battles and locations to life is a feast for the eyes and ears — especially if you've got a nice display and a quality pair of headphones like my beloved $229.99 Alienware Pro Headset.

It had an extremely rough start at launch due to the inclusion of pay-to-win loot boxes at a time when everyone (including government agencies) was cracking down on them. After those got reworked, however, it recovered and became quite popular, with DICE releasing frequent content updates until it stopped developing them to focus on Battlefield 2042 in 2020.

We, uh...know how that worked out, and it's something that a lot of longtime Battlefront fans have been bitter about ever since. Honestly, though? Battlefront 2 was transformed into a truly terrific game before development on it ended, and I'm just happy to see thousands of new players and veterans alike enjoying it again.

I'm hopeful that we'll eventually get a Battlefront 3, though between a report that one was turned down by EA due to licensing costs and the fact that the next Battlefield is in development at DICE (along with three other studios), the chances of it happening seem pretty slim. To quote Han Solo, though, "never tell me the odds" — and even if we never get another sequel, we'll have Battlefront 2 to enjoy for as long as EA keeps the servers on.

Electronic Arts' (EA) and DICE's 2017 multiplayer shooter Star Wars Battlefront 2 may be eight years old at this point (blast, I feel old), but that hasn't stopped the game from making a massive comeback in recent weeks with thousands of players flocking to the game even though content updates for it stopped in 2020. Coming off of May the 4th celebrations and the critically acclaimed Season 2 of Andor, hype for Star Wars and the Battlefront series itself is infectious right now.

Indeed, there's never been a better time to jump into the battlefields of the galaxy far, far away — especially since some incredible Battlefront 2 deals are available at the height of its resurgence. Right now, you can get the $40 game on Xbox for just $12.09 at CDKeys, while the PC version is going for $14.69 at CDKeys; those are some of the lowest prices I've ever seen it go for, so take advantage and ride the wave.

Get Battlefront 2 for less as its player counts skyrocket

As I said at the start of this article, Star Wars Battlefront 2 is going through a huge renaissance right now — the biggest it's ever had, in fact. On top of the annual May the 4th celebrations, the popularity of the second season of the stellar Andor TV show has seemingly reignited the love of Star Wars for many, and that's driven people to return to Battlefront 2 to live out their battle fantasies. Its player counts are soaring right now, and at the time of writing it's even broken its January 2021 peak of 10,489 concurrent players on Steam with a new record of 11,904 according to SteamDB.

And that's only Steam. Though unconfirmed officially, Battlefront creators that say they have inside sources have reported the game's total concurrent player count across all platforms — Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, the Epic Games Store, the EA App, PS5, and PS4 — has risen as high as 160k+ on some evenings.

I'm a little skeptical of that metric, but with how much widespread interest I've seen in Battlefront again this month, I want to believe it's true. And who knows? It could climb even higher tomorrow on May 24, which has been designated Star Wars Battlefront 2 Resurgence Day by the community.

But what is Battlefront, anyway? If you've never played, the best way I can describe it is that it's essentially a Star Wars Battlefield game, complete with the same focus on large-scale, objective-driven multiplayer battles with up to 40 players taking control of infantry classes, vehicles, starfighters, and even Jedi, Sith, and other heroes and villains on rare occasions. Compared to Battlefield, it's more arcadey and less of a sim, and does a phenomenal job of making you feel like you're in an intense encounter from one of Star Wars' many films or TV shows.

Though it has plenty of opportunities for mastery and skill expression, it's overall a very easy game to pick up and enjoy even if you're not a highly skilled FPS player. And frankly, even if you're not performing well individually, it's still a blast to just feel like you're part of a memorable Star Wars battle. That atmosphere is achieved with visuals that still look amazing even by today's standards, along with masterful implementation of the series' beloved sound effects and musical scores.

Put simply, it's an incredible game, and as part of this ongoing resurgence, fans are trying to get EA to greenlight a Battlefront 3 sequel (as evidenced by the trending #MakeBattlefront3 and #Battlefront3 hashtags). Sadly, that doesn't seem likely, but even if nothing comes from this, it's great to see Battlefront 2 exploding in popularity this long after its release.

With it surging, now is the time to take advantage of the aforementioned deals and check out what the hype is all about. Together brothers!

In the midst of a huge Star Wars Battlefront 2 resurgence, an ex-DICE developer that worked on the game says he and several of his other former colleagues would come back to the series if given an opportunity.

The comment came from Mats Helge Holm, a developer that first worked on 2015's Star Wars Battlefront reboot and the 2017 sequel as a quality assurance analyst before serving as Associate Producer on the latter's 2019 Celebration Edition (and its upgrade) that added hundreds of new cosmetics to the Battlefield-style multiplayer shooter.

When someone asked which developer said they'd come back to Battlefront on Reddit, Holm said the following: "Me, and having heard around my group of ex-colleagues, we want to get the gang back together."

It's a statement that only adds further fuel to the roaring comeback that Battlefront 2 is making right now, with the game regularly climbing to player counts as high as 7-9,000 and hitting a recent peak of 9,292 on Steam according to SteamDB data. That may not seem like a lot compared to the tens of thousands of concurrent players that newer titles get, but for Battlefront 2, it's huge. For context, since breaking past 10,000 players in January 2021, the 2017 shooter has only managed to hit a player count of 5,000 one time.

And that's just Steam. Battlefront 2 is also available on the EA App, the Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, and PS4, and can also be played by anyone with an EA Play subscription (included in the PC and Ultimate tier of Xbox Game Pass). Fans are undoubtedly playing on those platforms as well, though there's no official way to track their numbers; according to the popular creator BattlefrontUpdates, a "reliable source" says the game's total concurrent player count across all of them has risen has high as 160K+ recently, though that seems a little too good to be true.

The reason for the resurgence has largely been attributed to a series of events and releases generating significant interest in the Star Wars franchise, including this month's May the 4th Be With You celebrations, the new themed Galactic Battle season in Fortnite, and the critically acclaimed Season 2 of the TV show Andor that's been widely regarded as one of the best pieces of Star Wars media ever produced (seriously, it's phenomenal).

All of that hype has led to fans flocking back to Battlefront 2 and clamoring for a sequel on social media, with the #MakeBattlefront3 and #Battlefront3 hashtags currently trending. Even Andor actor Muhannad Ben Amor (Wilmon Paak) lent his voice to the cause, commenting in an Instagram story that "Star Wars gotta give us Battlefront 3 ASAP” and that he "grew up with Battlefront 2 — been a veteran since day one. Let’s hope Battlefront 3 happens."

The infectious excitement is likely what drew Holm to comment, though he also went on to note that getting the "original dev team will be difficult, we are spread far and wide," and that he has "no idea" if it's possible.

Holm also said that making something like an Andor-themed content pack for Battlefront 2 would be a lengthy six-month process if a properly sized team was available; DICE stopped making new content for the game in 2020, with most of its developers moving on to Battlefield 2042 or other projects elsewhere, so such a team doesn't exist right now. Notably, DICE is also working on the next Battlefield alongside three other studios.

Notably, it was also reported in 2021 that a pitch for Battlefront 3 from DICE was shot down by publisher Electronic Arts (EA) because of Star Wars' licensing costs. "It got turned down because it takes 20% more sales to make the same money", said one anonymous dev.

With all that in mind, it seems unlikely that EA will make a third entry in its modern Battlefront series (the 2015 and 2017 games are themselves reboots of 2004 and 2005 titles of the same names by the now-defunct Pandemic Studios). Still, that isn't stopping thousands of Star Wars fans from pushing it to do so. And you know what? May the Force be with them. Battlefront 2 is a fantastic game that does a fantastic job of making you feel like one of the many stormtroopers or battle droids from the films, and it deserves a sequel. Never tell me the odds.

Oh, and hey — the Xbox version of Battlefront 2 is just $12.09 at CDKeys right now, and the PC edition is $14.69 at CDKeys, too. Grab it while it's cheap and ride the wave.

Even if you're not a fan of the legendary sci-fi media franchise Star Wars, it's common knowledge that Darth Vader — the series' tragic hero-turned-antagonist, and arguably its most iconic character — fell to the dark side of the Force and wields it against his foes. What Fortnite players are quickly discovering, though, is that he's also embraced the dark side of the English language...or at least, an AI recreation of him has.

Early on Friday morning, developer Epic Games introduced an AI-voiced Darth Vader companion to the game as part of its themed Galactic Battle update. You can find him in three different locations in Fortnite's current map shown here, including the area southeast of Foxy Floodgate, one west of Masked Meadows at the entrance to a mountain tunnel, and the one at the center of the Vader Samurai's Solitude region.

Being the first player or squad to reach him will allow you to recruit him as an ally, and when you do, you'll be given the option to speak with him over voice chat; doing so will trigger a response from his conversationalist AI in the likeness of the late James Earl Jones, beloved for voicing Darth Vader since the character's inception until his passing last year. And to nobody's surprise, people are already figuring out how to trick the dark lord into saying some pretty bad things.

An example of this that went viral earlier today was a clip from streamer and YouTuber Loserfruit in which Darth Vader repeats the words "freaking" and "f***ing" back to her before reprimanding her for her "vulgarity" and speaking "like a common thug." Loserfruit, stunned by the sound of Vader casually dropping an f-bomb, could only manage an astonished "I made him swear!"

In another case, someone managed to get Vader to say a homophobic slur by mentioning it in the context of smoking, as the word is often used in British English as a term for cigarettes.

Epic says it's quickly hotfixed these holes in the safeguards that are supposed to keep the Vader AI from saying things like this, and notes that "this shouldn’t happen again." However, I wouldn't be surprised if we haven't seen the end of the dark lord's rogue antics yet given how off-the-rails other AI programs have gone before.

I'm reminded of when Google's Gemini AI told people they should eat rocks or bizarrely said "please die" to a student, though this situation is admittedly quite different. Most examples of cases like the above are from people speaking to Vader with manipulative or targeted phrases in an effort to make him say something funny, and don't occur when asking simple questions or making basic comments.

And indeed, there is something amusing about this ordeal, though it's also a bit concerning since Fortnite is one of the most popular video games in the world for young children. Note that if you have a child that plays the battle royale title and want to err on the side of caution, you can disable the new "allow written and voice communication with AI features" in Fortnite's Parental Controls menu to prevent speaking to or hearing the AI Darth Vader completely.

As for the use of James Earl Jones' voice itself, Epic has shared comments from his family giving the developer the green light, and says it's "honored to feature the voice of the late Mr. Jones and we thank his estate for the opportunity to make this happen for players."

"James Earl felt that the voice of Darth Vader was inseparable from the story of Star Wars, and he always wanted fans of all ages to continue to experience it. We hope that this collaboration with Fortnite will allow both longtime fans of Darth Vader and newer generations to share in the enjoyment of this iconic character," reads the statement from Jones' family.

This upcoming weekend sees the 2025 edition of Star Wars Day (May 4, just in case you had forgotten) and there's big news for fans of the franchise. And also Fortnite.

The new Disney+ show, Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, is having its big premiere not on the TV, but inside Fortnite. Two whole days before Disney+ viewers get to tune in.

"Jump into Fortnite’s Star Wars Watch Party island on May 2 starting at 10 AM ET to watch the first two episodes of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld. Experience the breathtaking story before the show debuts on Disney+, with episodes featuring the fan-favorite Asajj Ventress."

The viewing island will be available until May 11, and players who watch both episodes will also unlock a reward in the form of the Asajj Ventress Loading Screen within 72 hours of completion.

In addition to the viewing party (of which streamers are reminded NOT to share with the audiences, lest ye be hit by the might of Disney's lawyers) there is also a little game mode to have a play around with.

It sounds like a pretty straightforward horde mode, but with Star Wars Lightsabers and blasters, and apparently players don't take damage so, go nuts. Live out your Jedi fantasy.

The goodies don't stop there, either. Simply by connecting an Epic Games and myDisney account, players can snag a free First Order Stormtrooper skin to play with in-game. It also has a Lego style, if that's more your thing.

The Star Wars themed Galactic Battle season for Fortnite also goes live on May 2, and Epic Games promises that "this is just the start of something big from Epic and Disney!"

Color me intrigued.

On April 14, 2025, EA announced a brand new turn-based tactics set in the Star Wars universe titled 'Star Wars Zero Company'. Fast-forward to today's Star Wars Celebration Japan event, and the game has now been fully revealed thanks to a cinematic trailer and an interview with the developers from Bit Reactor and Respawn Entertainment.

Here are all the details uncovered on this new Star Wars game, which is scheduled to release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

Star Wars Zero Company is a single-player turn-based tactics game published by EA and developed by Bit Reactor in collaboration with Respawn Entertainment (the studio behind Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor) and Lucasfilm Games.

The game is set during the Clone Wars era, and players will step into the role of Hawks. Hawks is an ex-Republic officer who is tasked to lead an elite squad of battle-hardened operatives from Manalorians, Clone Troopers, Astromechs, and even Jedi on a secret mission to destroy a mysterious enemy force that threatens to consume the galaxy.

Players will embark on an epic single-player campaign where they will travel with their squad across the galaxy, taking on investigations and tactical operations. In between missions, players will build a headquarters where they can send out informants to gather intel on enemies and recruit customizable or newly-authored Star Wars characters to their squad.

Players can also customize Hawks' appearance and combat class to suit their personal playstyle and synergize their abilities with the rest of the squad in battle.

Battles in Star Wars Zero Company will be a turn-based affair similar to games like XCOM, Gears Tactics, or Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader. Players will need to use the environment to take cover from incoming fire and make strategic use of their squad's abilities to take down the enemy.

During your travels, members of your squad can forge bonds of camaraderie and unlock new powerful combat synergies as a result, which can help you turn the tide of battle in your favor.

The Force is strong in this new turn-based tactics Star Wars game

I'm a huge fan of turn-based strategic combat in games like Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, XCOM, Baldur's Gate 3, Wasteland 3, and Shadow of the Road, to name a few.

So seeing a Star Wars turn-based tactics game set during the Clone Wars (which is my second-favorite era of Star Wars media, next to the original movie trilogy) is nothing short of awesome.

Especially after hearing that we can practically create whatever squad of Star Wars characters we want, whether it's a mixed team of Jedi, Mandalorians, and Clone Troopers, or a full squad of only Astromechs.

I can't wait to return to the Star Wars universe and experience its very first turn-based tactics game when this upcoming Xbox title/upcoming PC title launches in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.

Star Wars Zero Company is the next big game set in a galaxy far, far away, and it's just a few days away from being fully unveiled.

Co-developed by Respawn Entertainment and Bit Reactor with Electronic Arts publishing, this Star Wars game is being properly shown off at Star Wars Celebration on April 19, 2025.

What is Star Wars Zero Company?

While there's little to go on right now, the art shared by Electronic Arts on Monday features a few different characters, including what appears to be a bounty hunter, a Jedi, a droid, and a clone trooper. We also know that it's a single-player, turn-based tactics game.

Respawn Entertainment is no stranger to the world of Star Wars, with the studio previously launching Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order in 2019, as well as its sequel Star Wars Jedi: Survivor in 2023. Bit Reactor is a relatively new studio by comparison, founded by developers that worked on games like Civilization and XCOM.

As someone that enjoys tactics games and wishes we got more of them set in bigger franchises, I'm extremely excited to see what the teams at Respawn and Bit Reactor have crafted, especially with a Star Wars shooter from Respawn being canceled last year.

It wasn't a perfect game, but I really enjoyed the way Gears Tactics evolved the XCOM-esque gameplay formula, and I'd like to see Star Wars Zero Company make similar advancements.

I'd also like to see an emphasis on a home base, whether it's a starship or a secret hideout. Having downtime after missions feels better if there's a tangible place for the characters to talk and rest.

I'm very curious how character deaths or knockouts will work. A huge part of XCOM is losing your soldiers on risky missions, something that Gears Tactics mostly kept outside of a handful of main characters that couldn't be permanently lost.

Star Wars Zero Company will be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, as confirmed directly by Electronic Arts. I'll be covering the full reveal of Star Wars Zero Company on April 19, so stay tuned for more!

The universe of Destiny 2 is heating up once more with the recent reveal of a Star Wars themed crossover. Crafted by Bungie alongside Lucasfilm Games, this new crossover event is bringing Imperial-themed skins for players to use, letting them dress their Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks as Death Troopers, Stormtroopers, and the Emperor's Royal Guards, respectively.

Alongside the new raiments for Guardians, there's also new ship and Ghost gear. If you've ever wanted your Ghost to look like the unfinished second Death Star from Return of the Jedi, or have your ship look like a TIE Fighter, this is your chance.

This crossover is rolling out as a part of Destiny 2: Heresy, the third chapter of the story epilogue that's been ongoing ever since Destiny 2: The Final Shape brought the finale of the Light and Darkness saga.

Back to the ship

Destiny 2: Heresy is taking players back to the Dreadnaught when they embark on a new activity called The Nether. It's been a while since the fall of Oryx in The Taken King, and with The Nether, Taken forces are pushing back against Guardians that attempt to explore the ship.

The team at Bungie is also shaking up the formula in this activity, introducing new Boons that alter the gameplay experience in radical ways. The Dreadnaught has changed since players last saw it, which means challenging opponents and boss fights await as Guardians attempt to take down the ship's weaponry and reverse the Taken corruption.

“We’ve also experimented with player modifiers, with increased health pools, no regenerating of health, low ammo drops and revive tokens, and a modification on healing in the sandbox over the course of play,” said Destiny 2 senior designer Ryan Harris, speaking with PlayStation Blog. “Players should look to build their loadouts geared for survivability as the game mode modifiers increase health pools of players significantly while also stopping all health regen.”

If you're eager to start exploring the Dreadnaught while decked out as one of the Galactic Empire's best, you won't be waiting long. Destiny 2: Heresy is slated to begin on Feb. 4, 2025 across all platforms.

Looking ahead, Destiny 2 is set to continue changing with more frequent (but smaller scale) DLC packs in the future, with major updates planned for later in 2025. Bungie is also continuing work on its upcoming extraction shooter Marathon.

Destiny 2 is currently available on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4.

What you need to know

• Star Wars Outlaws, developed by Massive Games and published by Ubisoft, is a third-person action adventure with stealth mechanics set in the Star Wars universe.
• Some early gameplay segments feature punishing stealth requirements that have led to players struggling to progress.
• Star Wars Outlaws creative director, Julian Gerighty, revealed a patch for the frustratingly difficult stealth missions that would release "in about ten days", around September 17.
• The team is also considering additional missions later in the game to retool and adjust for better difficulty balance.

Star Wars Outlaws just released one week ago, and the team at Massive Games is already tooling away at a patch to rework the difficulty of some of the game's more controversial early missions. According to comments made by creative director Julian Gerighty to GamesRadar+, Ubisoft has a patch in the works that will retool the problematic missions after seeing data that indicates they are not working as intended. The patch can be expected "maybe in ten days", according to Gerighty, which would put the update's release around September 17.

Gerighty's comments claim the game's aggressively punishing stealth missions were to create tension, but are ultimately not performing as the team intended. Instead, players are struggling and finding those early missions unfair, which Gerighty agrees is an accurate take. Gerighty also stated that the difficulty spike was something that only crept in within a week or so of the game's launch. He described the difficulty of the early mission on Mirogana as incredibly punishing and a mistake that the team would continue to work on.

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox
  Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

While the first patch targets the difficulty of Star Wars Outlaws' early missions, that doesn't mean later challenges are off the table. Additional updates and tweaks could be made to rebalance the game based on player feedback and collected gameplay data. "I think there are millions of low-hanging fruits where we can make it so much more enjoyable and understandable," Gerighty said concerning reworking the difficulty. 

Gerighty stated that the patch wouldn't necessarily remove the fail states that are proving to be a problem for players, so much as it would aim to find other ways to help those who are stuck to progress. This could be done by introducing additional context clues or otherwise changing the context in which players approach the roadblock. Game director Mathias Karlson also made a statement on the struggles players were experiencing with progression, stating that the team wanted to keep players "in that knife-edge range" of tension. However, the team takes player feedback and data into consideration when determining whether a segment needs to be retuned. 

Star Wars Outlaws has four difficulty settings available at launch: Explorer (Story), Adventurer (Easy), Outlaw (Normal), and Scoundrel (Hard). It has not yet been said how those difficulty settings will be affected by changes to the problematic missions. "The overall idea for a heist in the Star Wars galaxy is intriguing. However, Outlaws' plot wouldn't be able to stand on its own feet if it wasn't propped up in Star Wars nostalgia," said Windows Central's own Rebecca Spear in a review of Star Wars Outlaws. While the difficulty didn't seem to be an issue for Rebecca, frustration in the game's stealth mechanics could be found in other opinion paces highlighted in our Star Wars Outlaws review round-up. 

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Rather than being on Steam, the latest Ubisoft PC games have only been available on Ubisoft Connect, which is the publisher's own digital distribution service and game launcher. This means that certain Ubisoft games aren't available to play on Steam Deck out of the box. 

Thankfully, a helpful open-source plugin launcher known as Decky Loader makes it easy to access Ubisoft Connect and, therefore, any Ubisoft PC game on Steam Deck. I'll go over how to install Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck using Decky Loader so you can start playing your library of games on your Linux-based gaming handheld. 

Steam Deck controls are not supported when accessing Ubisoft Connect this way. You will either need to hook up a mouse and keyboard to your Steam Deck (check out our best Steam Deck accessories for suggestions), or create your own button map or download customized controls that someone else has already created. While it is possible to install Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck via Decky Loader, the game always crashes when you attempt to run it. 

How to install Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck using Decky Loader

Arguably, the easiest way to get Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck is via Decky Loader. If you haven't downloaded this program yet, you'll need to do that first. For assistance, go to our guide on how to get Decky Loader on Steam Deck then come back here.

1. Press your Steam Deck's QAM button (Quick Access Menu — the three-dot button on the right) and select the newly added NonSteamLaunchers app (If it isn't there, then Decky Loader wasn't installed properly. Look at our Decky Loader on Steam Deck guide to check your steps).
2. Select Game Launchers. 
3. Toggle on Ubisoft Connect. 
4. Scroll down and toggle on Separate Launcher Folders if it hasn't been toggled yet. 
5. Next, select Install then wait while installation completes.
6. When done, press the Steam button. 
7. Go to Library. 
8. Use R1 to switch to the Non-Steam apps and select Ubisoft Connect. 
9. Select Play to open the app.
10. Login to your Ubisoft Connect account. 
11. Navigate to your library of games. 
12. Download/install the game you want to play. Star Wars Outlaws or Assassin's Creed Shadows, for instance. Then, wait while the game installs. 
13. When the game is ready, select it to start playing on Steam Deck.  

It isn't the most intuitive set of steps, but there's no denying that Decky Loader is one of the most convenient and fastest ways to access Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck. 

Ubisoft Connect via Decky Loader FAQ

You might have some more questions about Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck or Decky Loader. This area should hopefully catch any additional inquiries you might have. 

Start playing your Ubisoft Connect games on Steam Deck

The Steam Deck is basically a gaming laptop with controllers attached, but it's a bit more limited out of the box than the ROG Ally or Legion Go, which are Windows 11 gaming handhelds. Thankfully, you're not limited to playing only your Steam games on Steam Deck if you take the time to install Decky Loader and then use that service to download other game launchers like Ubisoft Connect. 

Based on what we've seen with games like Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, it's unclear if Ubisoft's future games will come to Steam at all. As such, it's a good idea to make it possible to play these adventures from your preferred gaming device. That way, you won't miss out on any PC games that aren't available via Steam. Just be prepared to either play these games with a keyboard and mouse on Steam Deck, or else create your own customized controller map. 

It's been a long time coming, but Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws has now officially launched for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5. There are three different versions of the game available, but thanks to some awesome deals going on right now, they're all discounted. When it comes to PC versions, the Standard Edition, which usually sells for $69.99, is only $52.59 at CDKeys, the $109.99 MSRP Gold Edition is down to just $85.49 at CDKeys, and the $129.99 Ultimate Edition is lowered to $99.89 at CDKeys.

You can also find the Xbox versions for sale right now too. While not a huge discount, the Xbox Standard Edition is lowered to $69.00 at Walmart, the Gold Edition is only selling for $102.59 at CDKeys, and finally, the Ultimate Edition is only $119.69 at CDKeys.

What is in each Star Wars Outlaws edition?

There are three editions of Star Wars Outlaws, with the more expensive options providing more in-game goodies. For a full edition rundown, check out our Star Wars Outlaws buying guide, or look at this recap below: 

• Standard Edition: Simply gives you the base game. 
• Gold Edition: Gives you the base game, Season Pass with two narrative expansions, an exclusive launch mission, and character cosmetic pack.
• Ultimate Edition: You get the base game, Season Pass, Sabacc Shark bundle, Rogue Infiltrator bundle, and a digital art book. 

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Assemble a heist crew in a galaxy far far away

• 💻 PC deals: Standard Edition — was $69.99 now $52.59 at CDKeys | Gold Edition — was $109.99 now $85.49 at CDKeys | Ultimate Edition — was $129.99 now $99.89 at CDKeys 
• 🎮 Xbox deals: Standard Edition — was $69.99 now $69.00 at Walmart | Gold Edition — was $109.99 now $102.59 at CDKeys | Ultimate Edition — was $129.99 now $119.69 at CDKeys

I've already beaten Star Wars Outlaws, so I can talk about the overall playing experience. I scored it 4/5 (basically 80/100) in my review, and that's about where it landed critically, as you can see from this Outlaws review roundup put together by my colleague. Ubisoft's latest Star Wars game doesn't really push any new boundaries and the story isn't the best, but it is a fun game that allows you to sneak into Imperial compounds, play the role of a scoundrel, and explore familiar locations found across the nine Skywalker Star Wars movies. We can even help you get started with our Star Wars Outlaws beginner guide.

Rather than playing as a Jedi or even taking part in the Empire vs Rebellion War, play as a young criminal named Kay Vess, who is just starting to make a name for herself. As part of that, you'll get to meet various syndicate leaders, including Jabba the Hutt. It's up to you to increase protagonist Kay's reputation with these groups by knowing when to help one gang and when to betray another. The more a syndicate likes you, the more perks you'll get in their territory. 

Combat is pretty punchy, allowing you to stealthily take down enemies if you haven't been spotted or rely on your blaster and grenades if you're being pursued. It is a little weird that you can't shoot regularly on a speeder bike, though. Since Kay is a Slicer (basically a hacker) she has tools that allow her to pick locks and hack into terminals. After agreeing to a job from a syndicate or other NPC, you'll usually end up sneaking around in vents, picking off guards, and collecting valuable loot. 

Something that sets Outlaws apart from other stealth games is that you have Kay's fuzzy friend, Nix, to help you distract enemies or push distant buttons without being spotted. The more creative you get with commanding Nix, the more convenient it can be to pull of a job. You can make Nix and Kay more powerful by finding upgrade components, leveling up, and unlocking new abilities. 

Unlike some previous Ubisoft games, the PC versions of Star Wars Outlaws are not available on Steam. This means PC players must purchase the game from the company's own distribution and launcher service, Ubisoft Connect. But if you want to get these games at a discount, your best bet is to purchase the PC version at CDKeys. Even if you're purchasing for Xbox Series X|S, CDKeys currently has the best discounts on the Xbox versions. 

Star Wars Outlaws doesn't work on Steam Deck due to few issues including Star Wars Outlaws' PC system requirements being somewhat hefty and the game not being on Steam. The same is true even when Outlaws is installed on Deck with a workaround like Decky Loader. Because of this, it's unclear if the game will ever work on Steam Deck.

However, Outlaws plays very well on more powerful Windows 11 gaming handhelds such as ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go. I myself have put over eight hours into the game on my ROG Ally X. But you'll want to adjust both in-game and system settings to get the adventure to run as smoothly as possible. For help with that, check out our Outlaws handheld guide.

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We've been waiting far too long for an interesting new Star Wars games not made by EA, and it's finally here. Star Wars Outlaws follows the adventures of scoundrel Kay Vess as she maneuvers around the galaxy's most notorious criminal syndicates. It's a massive, open-world action-adventure game with seven planets to explore, and in typical Ubisoft fashion there is a lot to keep in mind as you explore.

Star Wars Outlaws also features many unique mechanics and gameplay systems compared to other Ubisoft games, though, so even familiar fans may find themselves scratching their heads at first. Here's our ultimate beginner's guide to Star Wars Outlaws, with seven tips and tricks to turn you from bumbling novice to veteran scoundrel in moments.

If you keep these in mind, everything else you need to know about Star Wars Outlaws will come naturally.

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox, digital) | $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox, digital) | $105.59 at CDKeys (Save $4!)
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC, digital) | $54.09 at CDKeys (Save $56!)
• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox, physical) | $69.99 at CDKeys

1. Play until your ship is in Jaunta's Hope

Star Wars Outlaws may be an open-world game that spans seven detailed planets, but it actually takes a while before your reigns are loosened. At first, Kay Vess is stranded in the entertainment city of Canto Bight on Canto, and for the first hour or two you'll be very limited in where you can go, with little reason to explore the few places you can go. Even after you escape Canto and crash-land on Toshara, you still won't be allowed to roam.

Sure, you'll have access to your handy speeder, but you'll basically have to take it straight to the city of Mirogana. From that point, you'll mostly be restricted to the city until you reach the "New Tricks" mainline quest. Finally, you have freedom! It's at this point you're told to leave the city in search of a part to upgrade your blaster, and at the same time you're informed by your companion Waka that your ship, the Trailblazer, has been moved to the village of Jaunta's Hope.

This is when Star Wars Outlaws properly opens up, although you still won't be able to quite leave the planet. Completing the "New Tricks" quest lets you exit Toshara's atmosphere, but not its orbit. Still, there's literally hours of content and quests just on Toshara alone, so I suggest playing up until this point before really committing to exploration or completion.

This is also when you'll be able to begin tracking down new Experts in order to unlock important new abilities, like the Speeder Boost and Advanced Slicing Kit, that give you access to new areas and secrets.

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2. Take advantage of Nix's abilities

It seems you can't make anything Star Wars without also having a cute animal or droid companion, and Star Wars Outlaws is no exception. This time, your best friend is Nix, an adorable and highly intelligent furry critter that can help you in far more ways than you might expect. Nix is your most valuable asset when exploring Star Wars Outlaws, and it massively helps to know what they're capable of.

• Nix can access many areas that you can't thanks to small openings and gaps
• Nix can open and close doors, vents, and shutters for you, even from a distance
• If you spot items or loot in hard-to-reach places or want to snatch something without being caught, Nix can fetch almost any loose items and bring them straight to you
• This includes weapons, as Nix can pick up powerful weapons from gun racks or fallen enemies and bring them to you
• Nix is also able to sabotage alarm systems and set explosives and other traps to detonate on a brief timer, often with far more subtlety than you'd be able to on your own
• Nix can attack enemies to give you a starting advantage in combat (including letting you do a quick takedown)
• For the stealthier approach, Nix can distract enemies with a little show, moving them away from their position and occupying their attention for a brief time
• Finally, Nix can use their enhanced senses to "scan" the area around you, temporarily highlighting enemies and interactable elements

Nix isn't a get-out-of-jail-free card, as it takes them time to move and enemies can notice them, but they're still extremely versatile when it comes to assisting you in almost everything you do. You can also customize Nix with unique cosmetic accessories, or give them new abilities (like the ability to kick grenades away from you) by taking them out to eat and obtaining treat charms.

There are parts of the game where you simply won't be able to manage without Nix, but in basically every situation they're handy to have around. I find myself using Nix more and more as time goes on, so the sooner you explore Nix's abilities, the better.

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3. Use your Journal and acquired Intel

Star Wars Outlaws is happy to hand you out new quests and objectives just by way of its main storyline. But, much of what you'll do in Ubisoft's latest adventure is actually motivated by the intel and info you pick up along the way. As you explore Star Wars Outlaws, you'll find various datapads that contain notes and tidbits of info, or encounter people engaged in a private conversation on which you can eavesdrop, or make new discoveries simply based on the connections you'll create throughout the game.

Anything you see, hear, or do that can lead to rare upgrades, new secrets, and even entire quest lines is classified as Intel, and it's organized in your Journal. If you want to make the most of your time in Star Wars Outlaws, be sure to use your Journal, regularly checking it to follow new clues and track down new leads. The Journal organizes all your Intel in separate categories depending on their importance and difficulty, helping you prioritize what you should do next.

One piece of Intel may have you track down rumors of a new Expert, which in turn will become a series of quests you'll need to complete in order to gain that Expert's trust (and help). Another may be a hint of a hidden stash somewhere in the world that you have to track down. It's an interesting quest system, especially considering all the possible sources of Intel. Your Journal will also link to the map whenever you have location information, making it even easier to track things down.

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4. Pay attention to your Syndicate Reputation

One of the biggest systems in Star Wars Outlaws is your Reputation. Kay Vess has relationships with up to four of the galaxy's biggest Criminal Syndicates (the Pyke Syndicate, the Crimson Dawn, the Hutt Cartel, and the Ashiga Clan). Knowing your Reputation with these Syndicates can play a huge role in how successful you are in certain quests and just in general, honestly.

You're always able to check your Reputation with each of the Criminal Syndicates in the dedicated menu, and it basically ranges from "shoot them on sight" to "we love them, they have no restrictions." Each Criminal Syndicate will have various territories all over the playable planets, for example, and your Reputation with that organization will dictate whether or not you're allowed to roam inside and what kind of access you have.

An improved Reputation also means access to Criminal Syndicate-exclusive merchants, and as your relationship with a syndicate grows, so too does the stock the merchants can offer you and the discounts on that stock. You can even see a list of all the syndicate-specific merchants you've met on each organization's dedicated page.

You also get exclusive benefits and rewards for reaching new Reputation tiers with each organization. Accidentally wandering into the wrong territory when your Reputation isn't good enough is a fast way to get shot, though, so it's important to be familiar with how to check your Reputation. Of course, it's also important to know how to improve your Reputation.

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5. Master juggling the four Criminal Syndicates

There are many ways to bolster and tarnish your Reputation with the four dominating Criminal Syndicates in Star Wars Outlaws. Obviously, completing requests for syndicates will improve their trust in you, but it's more complicated than that. First, let's cover the negatives. If you're caught (emphasis on "caught") stealing or sabotaging inside syndicate territory, trespassing inside restricted areas, or fighting syndicate members, you'll lose a lot of rep.

The fastest way to make a syndicate dislike you is to betray them, though, and this is where quests and requests become more complicated. Many of the quests you'll have in Star Wars Outlaws will come from syndicates, either directly or indirectly, and the choices you make during those quests are important. Star Wars Outlaws will frequently force you to make decisions, often with major consequences.

For example, you may be given a quest to recover stolen syndicate property for the Pykes. During that mission, though, a member of the Hutts may approach you and offer you Credits to turn that property over to them instead. Completing the quest like normal will increase your rep with the Pykes, while betraying them may earn you a lot more money and positive rep with the Hutts, but lose you a lot of Reputation with the Pykes.

Sometimes, though, it's not as clear-cut, and you have to use your knowledge and intel to know which syndicates know about what. You may have an opportunity to recover crucial data from the Empire on the Crimson Dawn, for example. You can choose to sell that data to the Pykes or return it to the Crimson Dawn, scoring a huge amount of positive rep with the syndicate you choose. Either way, the other syndicate will be none the wiser since the data came from another source.

The consequences of your decisions can usually be guessed with common sense, logic, and what you know about the quest you're on or Intel you're pursuing, but there can still be unexpected results thanks to the actions of syndicate members. A Crimson Dawn agent may infiltrate a mission from the Hutts, for example, and force you to make a last-minute decision to either betray the Hutts or risk the ire of the Crimson Dawn. Because of all this, your Reputation with each Criminal Syndicate is likely to fluctuate frequently, even if you attempt to please everyone.

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6. Take advantage of quests to upgrade your gear

Kay Vess and Nix are a capable duo, but their enemies in Star Wars Outlaws are far more powerful and considerably better equipped. If you want to remain competitive and take on the more challenging jobs with ease, you'll have to upgrade your gear. There are a few ways to do this, too, and a lot of it comes down to Intel.

As you explore Star Wars Outlaws, you'll come across a lot of information and leads that could potentially guide you to better gear, valuable upgrade components, and new abilities. For one, you'll encounter Experts that — after earning their trust — will hook you up with a new ability and a variety of additional upgrades you can earn through completing specific missions.

You'll also discover information on specific components and upgrade parts that can be used to make your blaster, speeder, or ship better. These components may be found in hidden stashes, locked inside secure vaults, or even just available for sale by a specific merchant. Yes, merchants play a part, too, and your Reputation with a syndicate may be the only thing in the way of you purchasing a valuable component for your gear.

Finally, Vess can also equip new shirts, pants, and holsters that can provide special bonuses, like increased health or faster movement speed. This gear isn't particularly common and isn't something you can make on your own. Instead, you'll find unique gear spread all across Star Wars Outlaws in various treasure chests. You can also buy gear from certain merchants, with some stock again being exclusive to only the inner circles of the Criminal Syndicates.

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7. Use everything you can find in battle

Kay Vess is equipped with a trusty blaster, but it's hardly the most destructive weapon in the Star Wars universe. Unlike other Star Wars games, you're not playing as an extremely powerful Jedi or galaxy-renowned warrior. Vess is a thief, and can very easily be overwhelmed in combat by large numbers or even larger guns. To come out on top, you'll need to take advantage of everything at your disposal.

That means using environmental hazards like explosives to take out groups of opponents, commanding Nix to distract and confuse enemies, and (especially) picking up the weapons on fallen enemies. You can find blaster rifles and sniper rifles that give you a huge edge in battle, and although their ammo is limited and your mobility takes a hit, the increased firepower can be worth the trade-off.

Mostly, though, stealth is your friend. Vess can take down most opponents with quick (often goofy) takedowns, and many of her unique abilities are specialized in moving unseen and dispatching foes just as quietly. Just remember that, if all hell breaks loose, that abandoned blaster rifle could save your life.

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Star Wars Outlaws is a big game, but worth exploring

Star Wars Outlaws isn't a perfect game, with a mesh of bugs and other issues that keep it from our list of the best Xbox games of the year. It's still a step-up for Ubisoft versus the publisher's other recent games, however, offering a fun experience that's a refreshing change of pace compared to other Star Wars games. Playing as a scoundrel in the Star Wars universe can offer a lot of joy, especially with the Intel and Reputation systems.

If you're looking to dive into Star Wars Outlaws for yourself, this guide is your one-stop shop to get all the basics mastered. Those still on the fence can check out our Star Wars Outlaws review, which goes over all the pros and cons of this open-world action-adventure title. I've personally been really enjoying my time with Star Wars Outlaws, although the opening hours could stand to move along faster and I would've had an easier time had I already known the above.

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While Star Wars Outlaws PC system requirements aren't insane, they are a bit heftier than some other recently released PC titles. Because of this, I was curious to see how well Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's new open-world RPG handled on gaming handhelds such as Steam Deck, Legion Go, and ROG Ally. 

After spending time playing (or attempting to play) Star Wars Outlaws on each of these devices, I can say that the game really only runs on ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go. There are currently multiple issues preventing it from being playable on Steam Deck. That said, if you want to play on ROG Ally or Legion Go, you'll need to adjust settings to get it to run as smoothly as possible. Let's go over what settings you need to adjust. 

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox
  Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

Best Star Wars Outlaws settings on ROG Ally and Legion Go

I spent several hours playing Star Wars Outlaws on my ROG Ally X and Legion Go. The game can get pretty choppy at times, which is why it's best to leave ray tracing off or as low as possible. Most graphics settings will need to be on their lowest settings as well. 

Even then, the game won't run 100% smoothly, but it can be playable. To increase performance, it's best to do the following:

Best ROG Ally or Legion Go system settings 

• Set to max TDP: It is definitely going to drain the battery, but if you want this game to run as smoothly as possible, you need to put TDP up high. On ROG Ally, this is quickly done within Armoury Crate's Command Center side menu. On Legion Go, this is done within Legion Space. If you're worried about battery life, play while the handheld is plugged in and charging.
• Put VRAM to 6G: You'll find that Star Wars Outlaws runs a lot smoother if you up the VRAM allotment to 6G on your gaming handheld. For help with that, you can check out our guide on how to increase ROG Ally VRAM.
• Turn on AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF): AFMF uses AI to generate additional frames and significantly improves a game's overall frames per second (FPS). For help turning this on, check out our ROG Ally AFMF guide.
• Go to 120Hz refresh rate: This is a steady rate that shouldn't be too taxing. 
• Resolution at 900p: This is really a matter of preference, but you don't need to have the Ally at 1080p. It will help the system if you put the resolution to a lower setting. Resolution can be adjusted within Armoury Crate or Legion Space. 

Best in-game graphics settings for ROG Ally and Legion Go

• Run Star Wars Outlaws → Settings → Video
  • Vertical Sync: On
  • Display mode: Borderless Window
  • Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or lower (will be greyed out, must be changed in Armoury Crate/Legion Space or Windows)
  • Cinematic display mode: Whatever you want. Full-screen makes it easier to see more detail but 21:9 allows you to see more of the world at once
  • Monitor refresh rate: 120.00 Hz (will be greyed out, can be changed within Armoury Crate/Legion Space)
  • Cinematic framerate: Locked
  • Frame rate limiter: Off
  • Out of focus sleep: Off
  • Screen Calibration: Can be left alone or adjusted to your preferred light and contrast
  • Upscaler type: AMD FSR 3
    • Frame Generation: On
    • Ray Reconstruction: Off (this will really mess with performance if turned on)
  • Upscaler mode: Biased
  • Upscaler quality: Ultra performance
    
    
• Run Star Wars Outlaws → Settings → Graphics
  • Quality: Low
  • Advanced graphics:
    • Environment reflection quality: Low
    • Fog blur: On
    • Mcrodetail quality: Low
    • Particle quality: Low
    • Scatter density: Low
    • Shadow quality: Low
    • Shadow proxies: On
    • Spotlight shadows: Few
    • Spotlight shadow quality: Low
    • Deformable terrain quality: Low
    • Lens and cinematic effects quality: Low
    • Extra streaming distance: 0
    • Object detail: 75
    • Destruction quality: Low
    • Spotlight projection resolution: 128
    • Terrain tesselation: Low
    • Raytraced contact shadows: Low
    • Raytraced diffuse reflections: Low
    • Raytraced diffuse reflections resolution: Medium
    • Raytraced specular reflections: Low
    • Raytraced specular reflections resolution: Very low
    • BVH quality: Low
    • Volumetric fog: Low
    • Volumetric Clouds: Low
  • High contrast mode: Adjust these settings to your liking
  • Chromatic aberration: Off
  • Film grain: Off
  • Depth of field: Low
  • Motion blur intensity: 2
    • Camera motion blur intensity: 5
    • Per-object motion blur intensity: 5 
  • NVIDIA RTX Direct Lighting: Off
  • MSI Mystic Light: Off

What does Star Wars Outlaws look like on ROG Ally and Legion Go?

⬆️ Look at the above gallery to see screenshots taken on ROG Ally X. ⬆️

At the time of writing, I've spent over eight hours playing Star Wars Outlaws on my ROG Ally X. As usual, this 3D video game won't look as good on ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and Legion Go as it does on a powerful gaming laptop or gaming desktop. However, it looks good overall on these Windows 11 handhelds. Textures render decently, and pop-in isn't too bad. Choppiness can be an issue, but can be reduced with the right settings. 

Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck

⚠️ As of right now, Star Wars Outlaws does not run on Steam Deck. ⚠️

Since the PC version of Star Wars Outlaws isn't on Steam (only on Ubisoft Connect), players currently have to find a workaround to install Ubisoft's game on Steam Deck. I attempted various methods, including using an open-source launcher plugin called Decky Loader. 

However, even after I got the game installed on my Deck and booted it up, the program didn't support Steam Deck controller. What's more, while I can open to Outlaws's opening menu, the game always crashes if I attempt to actually start it. 

Now, it's possible that a Steam Deck fix could be coming down the line, but since this isn't a Steam title, it isn't guaranteed. In case that changes or in case you want to attempt it yourself, here are some guides I've written on how to install Decky Loader on Steam Deck as well as how to install Ubisoft Connect on Steam Deck using Decky Loader.

Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck warning

When playing on Steam Deck, a Warning notice will appear after starting Star Wars Outlaws. It reads: 

WARNING The game is currently installed on a mechanical hard drive which might result in unexpected and unwanted issues (streaming issues, low resolution textures...). It is recommended to install Star Wars Outlaws on an SSD. 

You can bypass this notice by tapping on the Continue button with your finger. But once again, even at lowest possible settings, the game will crash if you attempt to run it on Steam Deck. 

Star Wars Outlaws gaming handheld FAQ

Get playing in a galaxy far far away

Ever since I got my Steam Deck, I've mostly only wanted to play my PC games with a gaming handheld. Since Valve released its system, I've been able to get an ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, and a Legion Go as well, and I find that each of these devices has its uses. More often than not, I find myself playing PC games in bed with one of these three systems before going to sleep. It makes for very convenient and comfortable gaming. 

Of these three, my favorite device to play Star Wars Outlaws on is the AMD Z1 Extreme ROG Ally or ROG Ally X. I was easily able to download Ubisoft Connect right on the system, and it's far more powerful than Steam Deck anyway. Additionally, since ASUS's handhelds support VRR, they reduce screen tearing better than Legion Go does. 

Star Wars Outlaws is strictly single player

There's just a few days left until the official Star Wars Outlaws release date, on which fans will finally get access to the highly anticipated open world action/adventure game. Unlike most titles set in the galaxy far, far away, Outlaws stands out for its focus on the universe's shady underworld and the powerful crime syndicates that operate in its shadows. Over the course of its expansive storyline, you'll fill the boots of scoundrel Kay Vess as she explores the galaxy with her trusty critter companion Nix and ND-5, her trench coat-wearing commando droid partner in crime.

Offering players plenty of chances to get mixed up in action-packed battles, explosive dogfights, tense stealth missions, and exploratory expeditions, Star Wars Outlaws looks to be one of the best Star Wars games in years — something that's only been reinforced by its favorable review scores. Whether or not it has multiplayer, though, is something that fans have been wondering for quite a while, especially since ND-5 looks like he'd be a blast to play as in co-op.

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

Unfortunately for multiplayer hopefuls, however, it's now been confirmed by reviews that Star Wars Outlaws doesn't have any kind of multiplayer component whatsoever. That means there's no way to play with friends cooperatively, and there's not a PvP mode, either. Notably, this lines up with a comment game director Mathias Karlson made in an interview with Eurogamer last year: "We're super focused on delivering a single-player experience."

Will Star Wars Outlaws get multiplayer?

Something important to highlight is that while Star Wars Outlaws doesn't have multiplayer now, there hasn't been any hard confirmation that the game will never or can't get a mode at some point in the future. Theoretically, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment could add something like co-op to Outlaws in DLC or a free update, and may even do so if there's a strong enough demand for it.

With that said, it's also important to note that there haven't been any announced plans for this at the time of writing, so multiplayer isn't something I would expect. All I'm saying is that the door doesn't seem to be completely closed, which is good news in and of itself for folks hoping to journey across the galaxy with a player two.

Even if Star Wars Outlaws never gets multiplayer, there are a handful of other great modern Star Wars games available that do feature it prominently — and all of them have incredibly low barriers to entry. Thanks to CDKeys deals (read our CDKeys FAQ for more on the retailer), Star Wars Battlefront II is just $9.09 on PC and $14.59 on Xbox, and it's the perfect shooter to play if you like the sound of large-scale Battlefield-style Star Wars battles. Interested in tense spaceship dogfighting? Check out Star Wars Squadrons, which is $4.59 on PC and $11.89 on Xbox. For the MMO crowd, there's also the popular and free-to-play Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Star Wars Outlaws is headed to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 later this week on August 30, and will surely be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games you can play in 2024 if you're a huge Star Wars fan. Prices for editions of the game start at $69.99, though you also have the option of checking it out through Ubisoft+ Premium if you're a PC player.

Nobody knew what Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment were cooking up back in 2021 when the publisher first announced The Division studio was making a Star Wars game until last year, when it was officially revealed as Star Wars Outlaws during Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase. Excitement for the open-world single player title sharply rose shortly afterward, and has only continued to climb as fans await the arrival of this journey through the galaxy's shadowy criminal underworld.

With the Star Wars Outlaws release date now mere days away, many PC gamers around the world are trying to figure out if their rig is up to snuff. If you're one of them, don't worry — below, I've provided a detailed overview of the game's system requirements and recommended specs, as well as details about how you can make upgrades and how it will perform on handheld gaming devices. Without further ado, here's everything you need to know.  

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

Star Wars Outlaws PC specs, system requirements

Ahead of Star Wars Outlaws' full launch later this week, Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment have shared the game's official minimum requirements and recommended specs, as well as recommendations for hardware your PC should have if you're planning to enjoy Kay Vess' adventure on higher resolutions like 1440p and 4K. All of this information — taken directly from Ubisoft's system requirements and recommended specs pages — can be found in the below tables.

Star Wars Outlaws system requirements

Recommended specs for higher resolutions

Overall, Star Wars Outlaws' minimum requirements and recommended specs for 1080p shouldn't be too hard to meet as long as you have a modern PC, though they're a bit more advanced than other new games like Black Myth: Wukong. If you want to jump in at 1440p or 4K, however, you may need to make some significant upgrades. The recommendation for an NVIDIA RTX 4070 to play at 1440p is a particularly steep requirement, and good 4K performance is similarly difficult to achieve as it needs an RTX 4080 or an AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX.

The need for 16GB of RAM is also on the high side, though that's been getting more and more common in recent years. To run this memory in dual-channel mode like the requirements note you should, you'll need two sticks of RAM (8GB or higher) plugged into alternating slots on your motherboard (if numbering the slots from left to right, this would mean 2 and 4; 1 and 3 works in modern motherboards as well, but not in some older ones, and it can also interfere with memory overclocking). Doing this will speed up data transfer between your RAM and your processor.

At least Star Wars Outlaws is kind on the storage front, as 65GB is considerably smaller than what many other modern AAA titles require (the aforementioned Black Myth: Wukong, for example, needs a whopping 130GB). You will need to install the game on a faster solid-state drive (SSD) instead of a hard-disk drive (HDD), however.

How to tell if your PC can run Star Wars Outlaws

Now that you know what Star Wars Outlaws' minimum requirements and recommended specs are, the next step is comparing them to the hardware that's currently in your rig to make sure you'll be able to run the game. If you've never had to worry about this before, though, you may not know how to do this.

Don't fret, however, as viewing your system hardware is a quick and easy process that will only take a few minutes at most. Here's what to do:

1. Click the Windows button on the taskbar.
2. Type dxdiag in the taskbar.
3. Click dxdiag to see your PC's specifications.
4. Select the System tab for your component details relating to memory, processors, and Windows version.
5. Click on Display tab for GPU details.

How to upgrade your PC for Star Wars Outlaws

If the PC you're currently using doesn't have specs strong enough for Star Wars Outlaws, you'll either need to get upgrades for its components, put together an entirely new system, or purchase a pre-built gaming PC that has more performant hardware. No matter which route you decide to take, we have several guides that will make the process of buying and/or putting together what you need a breeze. I've linked all of them below:

• Recommendations: Best pre-built gaming PCs | Best gaming laptops
• Memory: How to upgrade and install RAM in a laptop | How to upgrade and install RAM in a desktop
• Storage: Best SSD for PC | How to upgrade laptop HDD to SSD | Tips to free up space on Windows 11
• CPU: Best CPU for your PC | How to install an Intel CPU in your PC
• GPU: Best graphics cards | How to install a new graphics card 
• Overall tips: How to build your PC the right way

Can my gaming handheld run Star Wars Outlaws?

So far, this article has focused solely on gaming desktops and laptops, but I know plenty of gamers are interested in playing Star Wars Outlaws on gaming handhelds, too. After all, open-world experiences are some of the most fun you can engage with while using devices like the Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go. To close things out, we'll have a look at what you can expect from the game on these systems.

Get ready for your next Star Wars adventure

Star Wars Outlaws is now just a few days away from its global launch, and in some regions, it's already possible to play it through Gold and Ultimate Edition Early Access. Therefore, now is the time to make some upgrades to your system or to get your hands on a new one if you need to. Make sure you carefully read through all the system requirements and recommended spec configurations for various different resolution and performance targets, and choose the hardware you buy from there.

Star Wars Outlaws is headed to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 later this week on August 30, and will surely be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games you can play in 2024 if you're a huge Star Wars fan. Prices for editions of the game start at $69.99, though you also have the option of checking it out through Ubisoft+ Premium if you're a PC player.

One of the most highly anticipated game releases of 2024 is Star Wars Outlaws, a huge new single player experience set in the galaxy far, far away. Ever since it was fully revealed in 2023, Star Wars fans have been looking forward to the project, as it promises to thoroughly explore the shady criminal underworld that's often overshadowed by the franchise's larger factions and conflicts. Along with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it will also stand out as one of the only modern story-driven Star Wars games when it launches.

The game's scheduled release is fast approaching, and as a result, many are wondering when they'll be able to get their hands on it and dive in. To help you figure that out, I've put together an extensive guide below that goes over Star Wars Outlaws' release date, launch times, when its Early Access period starts (and how to get in on it), when you can preload it, and more.

What is Star Wars Outlaws?

Our Star Wars Outlaws FAQ goes into everything you need to know about the game in great detail, but I'll give a quick-and-dirty rundown here. Published by Ubisoft and created by its development studio Massive Entertainment, it's an open world action/adventure title that blends free roam exploration, intense ground combat, stealth gameplay, questing, and spaceship dogfighting into one experience. First announced in 2021, its name and concept wasn't revealed to fans until 2023 at Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase.

Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Outlaws puts you in the shoes of scoundrel Kay Vess as she navigates the galaxy's criminal underworld during the height of the Empire's reign of tyranny. Though her adventure with her animal companion Nix begins in the city of Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica (you may recognize this location from The Last Jedi film), it quickly takes you all over the galaxy as Kay sets out to conduct a daring heist in the hope of securing herself a better future. Throughout the game, you'll meet and coordinate with a wide variety of characters, all while exploring several different worlds, making use of Kay and Nix's numerous skills, and doing everything you can to keep the Empire off your back.

Reviews for Star Wars Outlaws are live, with the game getting a "Generally Favorable" average score of 77/100 on the review aggregate site Metacritic. One such review is the one written for Windows Central by my colleague Rebecca Spear, who scored the game 4/5 stars and said that "it's not perfect, but overall, I've enjoyed my time with Kay, Nix, and ND-5. I'd even go so far as to say that this open-world adventure scratches an itch that the Star Wars Jedi games didn't satisfy. Massive Entertainment managed to beautifully recreate familiar locations while providing engaging activities to keep players entertained. From playing simple arcade games to breaking into mansions and racing around on a speeder bike, Outlaws delivers exciting action."

Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, with the Standard Edition of the game costing $69.99. Other editions are more expensive, but also include some desirable benefits like access to cosmetic extras and a season pass that will unlock new DLC expansions for you when they're released.

Star Wars Outlaws: Release date and launch times

Those looking forward to playing the game won't have to wait long now, as Massive Entertainment's open world project is now just a few days away from its global launch. Star Wars Outlaws has a scheduled release date of August 30, 2024, at which point you'll finally be able to begin Kay Vess' adventure in the galaxy far, far away.

Something important to note, though, is that if you're a PC player, you may be able to jump into Star Wars Outlaws late on the evening of August 29. This is because in some regions around the world, the game is releasing on PC late that night instead of very early in the morning on August 30. Console players will have to wait until midnight in their local time zone on August 30 to play, as this is when Xbox and PlayStation users will get access.

Ahead of Star Wars Outlaws' arrival, Ubisoft has revealed when specifically the title will unlock on each platform in each time zone. These launch times have been detailed in the table below.

Star Wars Outlaws Early Access start time

If you buy a Star Wars Outlaws preorder and get the Gold or Ultimate Edition, you'll get Early Access to the game exactly three days before it's scheduled to become available in your region on August 29 or 30. Alternatively, you can also choose to subscribe to Ubisoft+ Premium if you're a PC player, as this gives you ownership of the Ultimate Edition as long as you remain a Premium member. For the unaware, Ubisoft+ is an Xbox Game Pass-style service that provides subscribers with access to nearly all of the publisher's various games.

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

This means you could start playing Star Wars Outlaws as early as late on August 26 or early on August 27. Therefore, if Early Access is something you want, you should preorder one of the editions listed above or sign up for Ubisoft+ Premium as soon as possible. The start dates and times for Early Access have been listed in the table below.

Star Wars Outlaws: Launch countdown

The below countdown clocks display the remaining times before Star Wars Outlaws' full release and its Early Access launch on consoles in Pacific Daylight Time (PDT). Note that these are not global release timings, or start times for PC players; refer to the above section for those details.

Star Wars Outlaws: Preload date and time

As games have gotten bigger and bigger over the years, a nifty feature that many developers and publishers have made available is preloading. With preloading, players can download and install games several days ahead of their release, allowing them to start playing as soon as they unlock. It's useful for everyone, but it's especially valuable for anyone who happens to have a lackluster internet connection.

Preloading Star Wars Outlaws on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, or PS5 is possible now if you have Early Access, but preloads aren't yet available for everyone else. However, we do know when they will be. You'll find those details in the following bullet points.

• Xbox Series X|S: August 19, 2:00 p.m. UTC
• Windows PC: August 26, 10:00 a.m. UTC
• PlayStation 5: August 28, 12:00 a.m. local time

Star Wars Outlaws: Storage requirements

Massive AAA open world games like Star Wars Outlaws tend to be quite large these days, and it's not uncommon to see these titles get close to or even above the 100GB mark. Outlaws, though, has a surprisingly tame file size of just 50-65GB depending on which platform you're playing on. That should make it a relatively easy game to squeeze onto your hard drive, though you may still need to free up some space for it if you don't have much storage available.

If you are in need of some extra headroom, you can always uninstall games you're not currently playing. Alternatively, you can also upgrade your PC or console with one of the best SSDs on the market.

Star Wars Outlaws is headed to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 later this week on August 30, and will surely be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games you can play in 2024 if you're a huge Star Wars fan. Prices for editions of the game start at $69.99, though you also have the option of checking it out through Ubisoft+ Premium if you're a PC player.

It's been quite a while since Ubisoft first announced that a new Star Wars game was coming from The Division developer Massive Entertainment in 2021, but now the title — revealed to be Star Wars Outlaws in 2023 during Microsoft's Xbox Games Showcase — is just a few days away from its scheduled August 30 release date. The open world adventure is expected to be one of 2024's biggest games, and ahead of its launch, its review embargo has officially lifted and critical evaluations of the experience are now live.

According to the review aggregation site Metacritic, Star Wars Outlaws has an average "Generally Favorable" score of 77/100 based on 100 reviews conducted across Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC systems. Most reviews are positive with scores in the 75-85 range, though roughly a fifth of them convey more mixed feelings. Here are some scores and quotes that'll give you an idea of the range of opinions:

• Gamers Heroes (95/100): "Massive Entertainment created breathtaking environments across the galaxy, delivered a fast-paced combat system true to the scoundrel style, and crafted a story that rivals the modern movies. Star Wars Outlaws is, simply put, the Star Wars game of a generation."
• VG247 (80/100): "It’s not the best game I’ve played this year, but it’s certainly the best I’ve felt playing one in a long time. It’s got a just-one-more-mission moreishness that made it very difficult to file this copy on time and is such a liability for sleeping habits that it should come with a health warning."
• TechRadar (80/100): "Star Wars Outlaws serves up an extremely enjoyable open-world Star Wars experience that proves the wait for such a game was worth it. While there are a few frustrations, the mix of beautiful worlds, a crime-rich underworld, compelling and tense missions with multiple routes to success, a strong cast, and a fun narrative to boot, makes it a superbly fun experience."
• IGN (70/100): "Star Wars Outlaws is a fun intergalactic heist adventure with great exploration, but it’s hindered by simple stealth, repetitive combat, and a few too many bugs at launch."
• TheGamer (70/100): "Star Wars Outlaws is a frustrating experience to critique because its high points are numerous, from spending an entire hour infiltrating a deceptively vast imperial outpost to upgrading Kay’s skills by engaging with the open world in ways that feel natural and rewarding. There are times when I didn’t want to put this game down, which only made its glaring omissions all the more noticeable. A lacklustre story, a bizarre lack of polish for a production of this scale, and a main character that isn’t the step forward she should have been all hold the game back from excellence."
• Eurogamer (40/100): "Star Wars Outlaws, by comparison, feels like it's blagging it - much as Kay can, when regularly caught out by some far more worldly syndicate boss. The result is a series of quite painful comparisons: it lacks the branching, open stealth of an Arkham game, the systemic options of a Dishonored or the incisive, relentlessly satisfying speed of picking enemies off in Assassin's Creed. It lacks the linear polish and charisma of Uncharted. Lacks the animation flow to its yellow-ledge platforming next to a Horizon, or the sheer joy of taking platforming and making it into an actual game in itself, as in Star Wars Jedi."

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Takes on the game's story and writing as well as its combat and stealth systems vary quite a bit, though there are two aspects of the title that most reviewers agree on. The first is that Star Wars Outlaws' open world zones are gorgeous and a joy to explore, and are full of exciting secrets for attentive players to discover as they journey across the galaxy far, far away. The second is that it has some significant issues with performance and stability on PC, as well as a laundry list of gameplay-related bugs that intrude on and detract from the adventure.

In case you're wondering, Windows Central reviewed the game, too, with my colleague Rebecca Spear publishing her full thoughts earlier this morning. "If you like stealth mechanics, open-world RPGs, and Star Wars, then you really ought to check out Star Wars Outlaws," she wrote in our review, awarding the new release a score of 4/5 stars. "There are definitely some mechanics that could use a bit more polish, but overall, it's a very satisfying game. Focusing on the criminal underworld and giving players choices provides a strategic element that allows you to take in a very different side of a galaxy far far away, one that we haven't seen as much of in other Star Wars games."

All in all, Star Wars Outlaws seems to be a good game, and I'm looking forward to jumping in once I pick it up. It may be a while before I do so, however, as its $69.99 MSRP is rather steep and I'd also like to wait until some of its PC performance issues are addressed in patches. Notably, it's not on Xbox Game Pass, but PC players can play it through a $17.99/month Ubisoft+ Premium subscription. Opting for that route gives you access to Star Wars Outlaws' Ultimate Edition for as long as you're a member, and will allow you to play the game three days early (Early Access kicks off tomorrow).

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

I haven't decided if I'm going to subscribe to Ubisoft+ Premium for a month to play Star Wars Outlaws yet, but it's probably the only way I'll be checking it out without there being a discount on the full purchase. Luckily, deals on recently released games are surprisingly common these days, so I suspect it won't be too long before there's a decent sale.

Star Wars Outlaws is headed to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5 later this week on August 30, and will surely be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games you can play in 2024 if you're a huge Star Wars fan. Prices for editions of the game start at $69.99, though you also have the option of checking it out through Ubisoft+ Premium if you're a PC player.

I grew up playing classic Star Wars single-player adventures like the Kyle Katarn-centered Dark Forces and Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) series. Those games were amazing in their time, and I'm always hopeful that a new Star Wars RPG will recapture a similar excitement. As such, it's no surprise that I've been curious about Star Wars Outlawsever since Ubisoft revealed it, 

My interest in Outlaws especially peaked when I realized that this is technically the first open-world Star Wars game. Unlike the recent Cal Kestis' Star Wars Jedi games (which are hub-based), Outlaws has me playing as a scoundrel rather than as a Jedi, and, honestly, this is a focus that I've been dying to see in modern Star Wars games. 

I was traveling while playing Star Wars Outlaws, so I ended up running the game on both a gaming laptop (check out my Legion 9i (Gen 8) review) and my ROG Ally X. It took me roughly 30 hours to beat the main story and see credits roll. Here's what I think about this single-player adventure. 

This review was made possible thanks to a review code provided by Ubisoft. The company did not see the contents of this review before publishing.

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox): $69.99 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $105.59 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox
  Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $54.09 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

Star Wars Outlaws: What is it?

STORY: At the start of Star Wars Outlaws, players are introduced to Kay Vess, a poor thief living in the casino city of Canto Bight on the planet Cantonica (seen in The Last Ledi). Her best friend and partner in crime, Nix, is a small mammalian creature that can use its axolotl-like antennae to sense items and people nearby. The two have worked together since Kay was a child and have learned to survive by pulling off small jobs and pickpocketing. 

However, they soon get in trouble and are forced to steal a ship and get off world. The Zerek Besh syndicate leader, Sliro, who is one of the most powerful people in the galaxy, puts a hit on her, and soon, she has all kinds of people looking for her. Eventually, a man named Jaylen Vrax ropes Kay into a heist that he's been planning and promises that Kay and Nix won't have to run anymore if they pull it off. To make sure she stays on target, Jaylen assigns a threatening ND-5 Clone Wars droid to work with Kay. Now, it's up to Kay to travel to various planets and assemble a crew to pull off the big score. 

TIMELINE: This adventure takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi — meaning Luke, Leia, Han, and friends haven't defeated the Empire yet. The war raging between the Galactic Empire and the Rebellion provides plenty of opportunities for Kay, most of which center around smuggling, theft, and other crimes. Warring crime syndicates dominate in places where the Empire isn't involved, so Kay must regularly take on jobs from each of these gangs. However, many of the decisions she makes will increase her Reputation at one syndicate while lowering it at another. It's a dangerous game to play, but one that can pay off if done correctly. 

DIFFICULTY & ACCESSIBILITY: There are four difficulty levels: Explorer (Story), Adventurer (Easy), Outlaw (Normal), and Scoundrel (Hard). It's possible another is unlocked once the game is beaten. A decent range of accessibility options are also available, including customizable colorblind presets, menu narration, and customizable hearing presets. 

Star Wars Outlaws: Story and progression

The overall idea for a heist in the Star Wars galaxy is intriguing. However, Outlaw's plot wouldn't be able to stand on its own feet if it wasn't propped up in Star Wars nostalgia. 

After breaking into the powerful Sliro's vault and barely getting away, Kay is strong-armed by Jaylen Vrax into not only joining his heist crew but gathering the various needed members for the operation. To keep her on target, Jaylen assigns his antique Clone Wars-era droid, ND-5, to assist Kay, but gives the droid directives to shoot her if she attempts to go against Jaylen's wishes. ND-5 has no say in the matter since he's programmed to obey Jaylen regardless of his own feelings. 

Parts of the story, especially relationships between characters, feel contrived and rushed. Like a child, Kay quickly gives her loyalty to characters who she's just met but withholds her affections at times from others with no rhyme or reason. This makes her seem immature and clueless while also making parts of the plot inconsistent and unbelievable. I hoped that Kay would evolve as the story progressed or that she would at least grow on me, but this wasn't the case. 

I won't go into end-game spoilers, but even her actions at the end of the main plot felt amateurish and unreasonable. That said, based on what I saw at the end of my game, I wouldn't be surprised if there are multiple endings depending on the quests you finish or your syndicate Reputation levels. I personally rushed through the game to be able to get this review out on time, but there are several other side quests that I could complete. So, who knows? Kay might come off a little different in a better ending if there is one. 

Really, the best part of Outlaws' storyline is that it sheds light on how the war between the Empire and the Rebellion affects average citizens. Kay hates how controlling the Empire is, but she's also quick to point out that the Rebels always think whatever they do is justified, even if it causes harm to others. It's no wonder Kay decides to play the system by dabbling in syndicate politics, pitting groups against each other, and making a life for herself as a free entity. But this doesn't stop her from learning from those she meets.

As far as progression goes, the way skill trees and side quests are implemented in Outlaws feels far more natural than in most other open-world games. Rather than simply having a skill tree readily at my disposal, I have to locate Experts on the planets I travel to and then complete a quest for these Experts to unlock them. Once done, these people have about five skills they can teach Kay. Much like the lauded Skyrim progression system, Kay only unlocks skills if she puts them to use.

For instance, Bram the Bartender is the first Expert Kay unlocks. His Fast-Talk skill distracts a single enemy with chatter, giving me a chance to take them out before they alert anyone else. If I manage to use this trick successfully six times, I can also unlock Keep Talking, which allows me to distract multiple enemies with Fast-Talk. All in all, this system makes learning skills feel more earned.

Outside of personal growth, Kay can also upgrade her speeder bike, blaster, clothing, and ship. Doing so might increase her firepower, defense, health, carrying capacity, and more. Specific component quests lead to necessary upgrade items. When acquired, these need to be taken back to an appropriate mechanic or workbench in order to implement the upgrade. In a similar vein, Kay can also find new street foods for Nix that give him additional perks, such as the ability to push grenades away from Kay.

Aside from the initial tutorial quests, many upgrade side quests are optional. This, in turn, makes me want to pursue upgrades rather than feeling obligated to do so. 

Star Wars Outlaws: Gameplay and combat

It shouldn't be too surprising given that this is a Ubisoft game, but in some ways, Outlaws plays like a satisfying Assassin's Creed Star Wars game. I mean that completing missions requires a lot of stealth takedowns and sneaking around in vents. Additionally, climbing up rocky cliff faces, swinging across gaps using ropes, slicing (hacking into computers), and scaling massive shipwrecks are also regular activities. So, if you like Assassin's Creed games, there's a good chance you'll like this one. 

During the course of a mission, you might be tasked with infiltrating a syndicate-controlled area, sneaking around an Imperial Compound, or exploring a cave or shipwreck in search of important items. The various mechanics available to me all work well and provide a fun way to explore the Star Wars galaxy.

Kay's companion, Nix, is honestly one of the best parts about Star Wars Outlaws. He's extremely cute in a Toothless-Stitch sort of way with his extra wide mouth, cute expressions, and rounded head. He does adorable things during cutscenes that frequently make me smile.

His antennae allow him to sense when people or valuable items are nearby, which glow blue after he's used his powers. As such, I found myself using this creature's abilities often. Kay can also command Nix to pickpocket non-playable characters (NPCs), fetch distant items, press buttons to unlock doors, distract sentries, attack enemies, and more. The more creative you get with Nix, the easier a job can be. More often than not, I found myself sending Nix to distract someone so I could sneak up behind them and quietly take them out. 

Regarding lock picking and slicing, Kay has to participate in small mini-games for these actions to be successful. Lock picking involves listening to a pattern (accompanied by a visual light cue) and pressing buttons in rhythm to the beat. Meanwhile, slicing is basically Wordle with alien digits. You select from a list of characters and enter them in. The character will get X'd out if it doesn't belong in the code.  A character will appear yellow if it belongs in the code but is in the wrong spot. Lastly, a character turns green if it belongs where it was placed. After some simple trial and error, deducing the accurate code is easy and satisfying.

Some of the controls for slicing, lock picking, opening vents, and other activities don't feel very intuitive. It took me a while to realize that activating slicing involves pressing the RT button on my ROG Ally X rather than A. Then after the Wordle part is done, I have to press A to toggle whatever command I'd just unlocked rather than it just being done. I'm accustomed to the controls now, but it could be confusing for beginners until they figure these controls out.

Weapon-wise, Kay only has regular access to her blaster, her fists, and some grenades when on foot. However, if a felled enemy drops a weapon, she can pick it up and use it until it runs out of ammo. There is a good range of guns, including snipers, rifles, and grenade launchers, to keep things interesting. Enemies can also drop grenades and healing Bacta Vials, which are necessary for survival. 

I really started to enjoy myself after I found my way into an Imperial facility and accidentally got discovered by an officer. Within minutes, the whole place was on alert and looking for me. I attempted to hide out on the roof only to see a Lambda-class T-4a shuttle land beside me and release more Storm Troopers into the grounds (sadly, I could not sneak into the ship). I managed to take down one of these enemies and steal their weapon (which was more powerful than Kay's blaster). Then I squirreled away into a protected corner and took out several Storm Troopers until the place was cleared out.

However, this put me on the Empire's wanted list, which meant that even after leaving the facility, patrolling groups of Scout Troopers were on the lookout and would chase after me if I came anywhere close. To clear my wanted status, I was told to head to a Death Trooper outpost. Once there, I had to sneak into a facility while avoiding detection by the black-armored Death Troopers, steal a key card from the commanding officer, and hack into the nearby terminal. Once done, I was blissfully anonymous to the Empire once more. The whole experience was very exciting and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Syndicates and side quests

So, how do side quests work in Outlaws? You can find many the old-fashioned way by exploring and talking to NPCs. Additionally, syndicate brokers await in city areas, and taking on jobs from these individuals can increase Kay's Reputation with specific criminal groups (The Hutt Cartel, Pyke Syndicate, or Crimson Dawn). Typically, the harder the job, the better the rewards and the more Reputation points she'll get for successfully completing them. Additionally, some quests are trickier than others and cannot be repeated if Kay is caught.

Near the end of a mission, I'm often given a choice between throwing one of two gangs under the bus or at least lying to one of them. This might involve betraying the group I initially signed on with or completing the job to the end. Kay is a scoundrel, after all, so I get to choose whatever outcome seems best to me. The trick is, figuring out which group to backstab at which time to hopefully keep a decent rep among all of them. 

The Reputation tab in the game menu shows my current standing with various criminal groups. If my reputation is "Good" or "Excellent," the syndicate will send me gifts and I'm free to walk around on their turf. But if I have "Poor", "Bad," or "Terrible" standing, gang members will either attack me on sight or will immediately remove me from their areas if I'm found sneaking around. Even when I've got an "Excellent" Reputation, there are always restricted areas within a syndicate-controlled area, so stealth will be necessary if you want to, say, rob the criminal group of its treasure vault. 

Between infiltration missions, I spend my time traveling to different planets, taking on side jobs in cantinas, gathering intel, playing simple arcade games in shops, racing around insanely fast on my speeder, or exploring the world for hidden treasure caches and other secrets. Exploration is usually rewarded with plenty of valuables to sell at shops, upgrade parts, or good old credits. If I find useful intel, I can even sell it to one of the syndicates and increase my Reputation that way.

The speeder bike can go much faster than a horse usually goes in Assassin's Creed games. I was even able to upgrade mine with a booster, so sometimes I can haul like mad over cliffs and off ramps. This is helpful when I'm being chased by angry syndicate members or patrolling Scout Troopers.

As someone who loves animals, I've appreciated that Kay is able to pet just about all of the docile creatures I've come across. The animations I've experienced are different from one species to the next, which helps make the act of petting newly discovered animals more rewarding. 

Don't worry. You can also pet Nix at any time by tapping his control button and then selecting him. Thank you for that, Massive Entertainment. 

Space travel and dogfights

As for space travel, Outlaws doesn't allow players to control landings or take offs. However, I can engage in dogfights in space and explore asteroid fields or nearby shipwrecks. Kay's ship, the Trailblazer, handles easily and can turn around quickly enough without feeling sluggish. 

If I've unlocked a planet to travel to, jumping to light speed doesn't take very long and I can zip around the galaxy pretty quickly. The actual areas of space I can explore feel somewhat small and limited, though. But this prevents the game from feeling too wide open and empty like Starfield does. 

Star Wars Outlaws: Art and performance

Art style and effects are things that this game absolutely nails. To help players appreciate the scope of the planets and locations explored, the game defaults to cinematic 21:9 wide-screen. You can go into settings and change it to full screen, but this completely changes the feel of your viewing area. In the case of stealth, I found being able to see more at once is also more helpful.

I love that Outlaws fully embraces the original trilogy's late 1970s and early 1980s aesthetic. Everything from Kay's hairstyle to her clothes, gear, ship, and speeder bike looks like it was taken from that time period. Because of this, she fits into her classic Star Wars settings perfectly. Additional clothes, paint jobs, and gear can be unlocked as the game progresses, and many of these things provide additional perks while still looking like they fit into this galaxy.

Meanwhile, each planet that Kay visits is lovingly detailed with the familiar plant life, buildings, locations, creatures, characters, and objects seen in the movies. I won't list all the planets so as not to spoil anything. Instead, I'll stick to describing Tatooine since it's been shown off in trailers and promo pictures. I get excited when I traverse through in-ground moisture farms, walk through the Mos Eisley Cantina, or come across a Jawa Sandcrawler on Tatooine. Everything looks amazing, with lots of textured detail, effects, and great shading. I frequently find myself opening photo mode to capture the gorgeous scenes I discover.

The NPCs and the two main characters also look great, although Kay's facial expressions sometimes look a little wooden during lower-priority quests. On the flip side, there are times when high-resolution cutscenes are triggered during the main plot's key moments. These are absolutely beautiful to watch, filled with even more stunning detail than regular gameplay.

Stuttering, choppiness, and bugs oh my!

As I previously mentioned, my time playing Star Wars Outlaws has been split between my ROG Ally X gaming handheld and my gaming PC (a Legion 9i gaming laptop with an Intel Core i9-13980HX and an RTX 4090 L). The game plays relatively smoothly on both devices when playing at the system's default settings. However, I did encounter several instances of screen tearing, choppy gameplay, and stuttering cutscenes on both PC and gaming handheld. It wasn't consistent, but when it happened, it was notable. 

This is very unfortunate, given how powerful my laptop is. As such, choppiness and stuttering might be more pronounced on a lower-tier gaming laptop, gaming PC, or gaming handheld. 

Don't plan on playing Star Wars Outlaws on Steam Deck, though. For one thing, the game isn't available on Steam, so it can't be accessed that way. Even if you get the game installed using a workaround (like I did), it will simply crash when you attempt to start the game. With any luck, a fix will come down the line to make it playable on Steam Deck, but it's best not to count on it. 

• RELATED: Star Wars Outlaws PC system requirements

But what about other platforms? My colleague, Zachary Boddy, has also been playing Outlaws on Xbox Series X and says the game looks good and plays well on the console. As a reminder, Star Wars Outlaws is not on Xbox Game Pass. If you want to play Ubisoft's adventure, you'll need to purchase it outside of the Xbox subscription service. 

Overall, the game runs well on PC, but in my 30 hours with Outlaws, I've seen Kay get stuck in the walls of a building, had a Storm Trooper respawn as I was defeating them, seen assets pop in and out of a still frame, had Kay turn into a wall of hair, viewed excessive stuttering through a cutscene, watched as textures turned to low resolution despite my higher settings, and more. Each of these problems was fixed by either fast traveling to another location or restarting the game. While sometimes frustrating, none of the bugs I encountered prevented me from progressing, and none of them were bad enough to diminish my overall playing experience.

Ubisoft let me know that it is aware of several issues on both PC and consoles and is working on fixing them. For instance, apparently playing the game for long stretches on PC can sometimes make the textures turn low, so that's probably one of the things I encountered. With any luck, the problems I mentioned will be resolved by launch or shortly thereafter.

Star Wars Outlaws: Can you play on gaming handhelds?

During the course of my testing, I played Star Wars Outlaws for several hours on my ROG Ally X. As such, I found that the game is very well suited to playing on Windows 11 gaming handhelds with an AMD Z1 Extreme processor. 

• RELATED: How to increase ROG Ally VRAM

Star Wars Outlaws: Should you play it?

It's not perfect, but overall, I've enjoyed my time with Kay, Nix, and ND-5. I'd even go so far as to say that this open-world adventure scratches an itch that the Star Wars Jedi games didn't satisfy. Massive Entertainment managed to beautifully recreate familiar locations while providing engaging activities to keep players entertained. From playing simple arcade games to breaking into mansions and racing around on a speeder bike, Outlaws delivers exciting action. 

If you like stealth mechanics, open-world RPGs, and Star Wars, then you really ought to check out Star Wars Outlaws. There are definitely some mechanics that could use a bit more polish, but overall, it's a very satisfying game. Focusing on the criminal underworld and giving players choices provides a strategic element that allows you to take in a very different side of a galaxy far far away, one that we haven't seen as much of in other Star Wars games. 

Star Wars Outlaws is single-player, open-world action game set to release on August 30, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PC (via Ubisoft Connect), and PlayStation 5. It is not available on Xbox Game Pass.

• RELATED: Is Star Wars Outlaws on Xbox?

What you need to know

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was one of the biggest action-adventure games of 2023, and is often considered one of the best Star Wars games in recent years.
• Publisher Electronic Arts (EA) announced a last-gen release for it on Xbox One and PS4 just over a year ago, but has only just now given an official release date for it.
• It's coming next month on September 17, 2024, and is being sold as an entirely separate edition of the game that's $49.99 — a full $20 cheaper than the regular version's $69.99.
• EA is also offering an $80 cross-gen bundle that includes access to the last-gen and current-gen versions of both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, but its price doesn't appear to reduce if you already own any of the versions included in it.

One of 2023's biggest new games was Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — a sequel to the popular 2019 action-adventure title Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order that continues the story of Jedi Cal Kestis as he fights to survive amidst the height of the Galactic Empire's reign over the galaxy far, far away. It was a massive hit when it launched on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, and now, it's finally headed to last-gen Xbox One and PS4 systems soon.

Andrew Wilson, CEO of publisher Electronic Arts (EA), announced the game was coming to these consoles just over a year ago, but for the longest time, there's been no concrete follow-up on that commitment. That led me to believe the studio chose to quietly cancel its plan, but no: today, EA has finally given fans an update, confirming that Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is scheduled to arrive on Xbox One and PS4 in just over a month.

"The critically acclaimed Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is coming to Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on September 17, 2024!" reads a post made on the official EA Star Wars X (Twitter) account. It includes links to where you can preorder the upcoming last-gen version of the game, which is notably an entirely separate edition of it that costs $20 less — $49.99 instead of the regular $69.99 MSRP. By preordering, you'll get access to the Jedi Survival Cosmetic Pack that includes a skin, lightsaber set, and blaster set inspired by Obi-Wan Kenobi.

With its excellent visuals, storytelling, and Sekiro-like gameplay, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is unquestionably one of the best action-adventure titles you can play right now (check out our review for a deep dive). With that said, the game was fairly notorious for its performance issues at launch, and while they've improved substantially on Xbox Series X|S and PS5, PC optimization is still a mixed bag. This may explain why EA is publishing a separate Xbox One and PS4 release instead of updating the current game to be compatible with these systems.

By making a version specifically for Xbox One and PS4, EA and developer Respawn Entertainment have likely been able to make deeper and more significant downgrades to the game's presentation than they'd be able to otherwise. This is just speculation, of course, but it makes sense given the game's performance problems on modern gaming hardware. Downgrades are undoubtedly needed to make Star Wars Jedi: Survivor enjoyable to play on last-gen (we'll have to wait until September 17 to find out if it actually is).

The downside to this is that Xbox One and PS4 players will be stuck with a last-gen edition of it if they decide to upgrade to Xbox Series X|S or PS5, but there is a $79.99 cross-gen bundle available to purchase that gives you access to both the last-gen and current-gen editions of both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Something important to be aware of, however, is that the bundle's price doesn't seem to be reduced if you already own some of the games and game versions included in it.

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Another thing to know is that right now, it's not clear if you'll get access to the last-gen version of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor through EA Play (the regular edition of it is on the service). You can save 10% on it or the cross-gen bundle if you're subscribed to the service, though (or if you're an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, as it includes EA Play on Microsoft's consoles).

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Analysis: It's finally coming, but it's being handled terribly

While it's great to see that one of the best Xbox games and best PC games is finally headed to last-gen consoles, the way EA is actually handling the release isn't consumer-friendly at all. Selling an $80 cross-gen bundle instead of just offering folks who buy the Xbox One or PS4 version a simple (and ideally, free) upgrade they can take advantage of when they migrate to Xbox Series X|S or PS5 is pretty greedy, and the fact the price doesn't seem to be reduced if you already own some of the versions in it is ridiculous (we checked with accounts we own both games on).

$80 for both versions of both Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor isn't a bad deal at all, but I only recommend buying it if you don't own Fallen Order already. If you do, either get the upcoming standalone last-gen release of Survivor or just wait and buy the current-gen one if you're planning to upgrade to Xbox Series X|S or PS5 in the near future.

Star Wars Outlaws is indeed headed to Xbox

One of this year's biggest upcoming games is Star Wars Outlaws, an open world Star Wars action-adventure game that puts you in the shoes of smuggler Kay Vess as she makes her way through the depths of the galaxy's organized crime, all while the threat of Imperial authority looms. After its initial reveal last year, the highly anticipated title is now slated to launch on August 30, 2024 on a variety of platforms.

Our Star Wars Outlaws FAQ goes over commonly asked questions in extensive detail, but one of the most frequent is: will the game be on Xbox? It seems like something users on Microsoft's consoles wouldn't even have to worry about for third-party titles like this one, but a surprising number of these have actually missed Xbox in recent months and years for various reasons.

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Luckily, that's not the case here, as Star Wars Outlaws is indeed launching on Xbox when it releases later this month. Specifically, you'll be able to buy and play it on both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, and while it's not coming to Xbox Game Pass, it will be on Ubisoft+ Premium; notably, that tier of Ubisoft's service is accessible on Xbox, so you still have a subscription-based method of playing the game if you'd prefer that.

What other platforms is Star Wars Outlaws on?

You can play Star Wars Outlaws on Xbox, but where else is it available? If you'd prefer to use something other than one of Team Green's consoles, you'll be happy to learn that it will also be fully playable on both Windows PC and Sony's PS5. On PC, you have the option of getting it on the Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect, with the latter version included in Ubisoft+ Premium memberships.

If you're looking to buy the game at its lowest possible price, though, you'll still want to play on Xbox. That's because of some noteworthy discounts that CDKeys has on Xbox preorders of it at the moment (check out our CDKeys FAQ for more on the retailer), including the Standard Edition for $67.79 (was $69.99) and the Gold Edition for $102.39 (was $109.99).

Something that will likely disappoint many PC gamers is that Star Wars Outlaws isn't coming to Steam, but there's a chance that it might in the future. After all, many recent Ubisoft titles have eventually made their way to Valve's platform months or years after their release, so there's no reason to believe the same can't happen with this new adventure in a galaxy far, far away.

Star Wars Outlaws is slated to drop on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Ubisoft Connect), and PS5 on August 30, 2024, and looks to be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year. If you're on Xbox or PC, you also have the option of accessing it through Ubisoft+ Premium.

Star Wars Outlaws is not on Steam at launch

2024 is jam-packed with plenty of big game releases, but one that's poised to be even larger than most is Star Wars Outlaws. The open world adventure puts players in the shoes of a scoundrel named Kay Vess as she — alongside her trusty furry friend companion, Nix — navigates the galaxy's criminal underworld in the shadow of the fearsome Galactic Empire. First revealed to gamers in the summer of 2023, it's now just one month away from its scheduled August 30 release date, and it's got the potential to be one of 2024's top games (check out our Star Wars Outlaws FAQ for more details).

Since the game is officially coming to Windows PC (as well as Xbox Series X|S and PS5), it's no surprise that many players want to know if they'll be able to dive into Kay Vess' adventure on Steam. After all, Valve's PC gaming platform is the largest in the world, with over 132 million monthly active users reported. Steam's 20+ year lifespan, along with its abundance of popular community features and frequent deals, has made it the preferred storefront for most PC gamers.

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Unfortunately, hopeful users of the platform will be disappointed to learn that Star Wars Outlaws won't be on Steam at launch. Like most recent games developed and published by Ubisoft, it will instead release on both Ubisoft Connect and the Epic Games Store on day one. You'll also have the option of playing it through Ubisoft+ — an Xbox Game Pass-like service that gives you access to day one Ubisoft games on both Xbox and PC with a Premium subscription (you'll get three days of early access, by the way, since Ubisoft+ lets you play the Ultimate Edition).

Will Star Wars Outlaws come to Steam?

Star Wars Outlaws may not be on Steam at launch, but could it come to Valve's storefront in the future? Ultimately, there's no way to know for sure, but I'd say the chances of that happening are actually quite high given how Ubisoft has handled many of its recent game releases. While it's very rare to see a Ubisoft game release on Steam right away, many of its titles eventually come to the platform at a later date.

Assassin's Creed Valhalla, for instance, first came out in 2020, but ultimately released on Steam in 2022. The Crew Motorfest, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, and Skull and Bones are some other noteworthy examples, with the latter two games actually launching on Steam this August after coming out earlier in 2024.

With that said, it may be a long time before Star Wars Outlaws comes to Steam (if it does). It took two years for Assassin's Creed Valhalla to make its way to the storefront, and 2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage hasn't even been announced for it at the time of writing. This makes me think Ubisoft wants to leverage its biggest properties to drive growth for its Ubisoft Connect userbase and its Ubisoft+ subscription, and at the end of the day, it doesn't really get much bigger than Star Wars.

That is just speculation, though, and for all we know, Star Wars Outlaws could launch on Steam in as little as six months (I can see this happening if the game's initial sales performance on PC is weaker than expected). Only time will tell, but for now, I wouldn't bank on the open world RPG releasing on Valve's storefront any time soon.

Star Wars Outlaws is slated to drop on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via Ubisoft Connect), and PS5 on August 30, 2024, and looks to be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year. If you're on Xbox or PC, you also have the option of accessing it through Ubisoft+ Premium.

Not on Game Pass at launch, but maybe one day

New Star Wars games are always a big event — after all, it is one of the world's most popular fiction franchises — but that applies to Star Wars Outlaws with a far more literal meaning than it does for most titles. Marketed by publisher Ubisoft as the "first-ever open world Star Wars game," it looks to be the biggest game set in a galaxy far, far away yet, and also one of the biggest new games coming in 2024. Scheduled to launch on August 30, it will put players in the boots of smuggler Kay Vess as she adventures through the Galactic Empire-controlled galaxy with her critter companion Nix.

Our in-depth Star Wars Outlaws FAQ provides a comprehensive overview of everything you could want to know about the game, but there's one question lots of Xbox and PC gamers are asking in particular: will Star Wars Outlaws be on Xbox Game Pass? Microsoft's buffet-style subscription service gives players on these platforms access to hundreds of games in exchange for a monthly free, and it's an attractive and affordable option to play new games if they launch on it day one.

• DEAL: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month pre-paid cards are just $29.89 at CDKeys, giving you three months for the price of two before the price increase to $19.99 a month

Unfortunately, Star Wars Outlaws will not be on Xbox Game Pass on day one, so Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate players won't be able to play it through the service. There's always a chance it could come to Game Pass at a later date, but I find the possibility of that unlikely since it's actually coming to a different service...

Star Wars Outlaws will be playable on Ubisoft+

While Star Wars Outlaws won't be included in Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass catalog, you will be able to play it through Ubisoft+ — a service very similar to Game Pass with which you can enjoy all of the publisher's different franchises and titles. Specifically, you'll need to subscribe to the $17.99/month Ubisoft+ Premium tier to play Star Wars Outlaws, as this is the edition of it that includes access to day one releases. The benefits of Ubisoft+ Premium extend to Xbox as well as PC, so users on both platforms can use it to play the game.

It's important to note that you'll actually get access to the Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition with Ubisoft+ Premium, giving you three days of early access. With this, you can jump into Kay Vess' adventure on August 27, whereas most will have to wait until August 30 to play.

It's unclear if or when Star Wars Outlaws will make it to the standard, more affordable Ubisoft+ Classics tier, but if I had to guess, I'd say it'll be a couple years at the very least (2023's Assassin's Creed Mirage isn't on it yet, but 2020's Assassin's Creed Valhalla is; it's now on Game Pass, too). For those on Xbox and PC interested in playing the game right away through a membership instead of a full-price purchase, though, Ubisoft+ Premium is the way to go.

Star Wars Outlaws is slated to drop on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (via UPlay), and PS5 on August 30, 2024, and looks to be one of the best Xbox games and best PC games of the year. If you're on Xbox or PC, you also have the option of accessing it through Ubisoft+ Premium.

It's basically impossible to keep track of all the Star Wars TV shows, movies, video games, books, and other projects that come out of one of the most popular sci-fi franchises of all time, but there are some things we'll never forget. When it comes to video games, for me that means Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the original Star Wars Battlefront II, and... the new open-world Star Wars Jedi games.

For a little longer, you can save a ton on a physical copy of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on Xbox Series X|S, and I genuinely can't recommend it enough. $29.99 at GameStop for one of the best Star Wars games of all time and one of the best open-world games released in years is a bargain and a half, but you really will have to act fast.

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One of my favorite Star Wars stories in a long time

I really enjoyed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, but it was far from my favorite game that I played that year, and I stopped playing shortly after finishing the main story. When Star Wars Jedi: Survivor came out, though, I found myself playing it relentlessly for dozens of hours, eventually completing 100% of the game. Yes, its achievements, its missions, its collectibles, its database — I did absolutely everything I could in Jedi: Survivor.

I loved Star Wars Jedi: Survivor enough that it earned a place in my list of the top five best games of 2023, and I still stand by that. My colleague Samuel Tolbert clearly agreed, too, as he wrote that "With better exploration, fantastic combat, and emotionally-resonant story, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a must-play adventure" in his Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review.

In Jedi: Survivor, you'll continue the journey of Cal Kestis as he attempts to find his place in the galaxy. Kestis is still distraught by the trauma of what happened to the Jedi Order and his failures during the events of Fallen Order (which you don't strictly need to play before Survivor, honestly), but he discovers a faint ray of hope: a secret world hidden away from the Empire. It's an incredible adventure spanning several vast planets and featuring a diverse cast of beautifully written characters. The combat is excellent, the platforming and exploration is much improved; it's all amazing.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, and you can play it through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via EA Play. Or you can add one of the best Xbox games in years to your shelf with a physical copy that you'll always own for just $29.99 at GameStop. Well, at least you'll be able to do that for a few more hours. Act fast.

Star Wars has experienced something of a pop culture revival in the last few years and shows no signs of slowing down with a never-ending stream of new TV shows, video games, and more. Even Ubisoft is finally getting in on the fun, taking the wheel away from EA for a little bit with Star Wars Outlaw, the first open-world action-adventure Star Wars game.

It's an exciting game because it's one of the first that completely takes the focus off the Jedi so prevalent in most Star Wars stories, instead centering on the life of a scoundrel. During Summer Game Fest 2024, I was able to go hands-on with Star Wars Outlaw for a full hour, playing through an exploration-based mission, a space combat mission, and a stealth/action mission. I had a fun time, but I'm left with some lingering concerns regarding Ubisoft's open-world design.

• Check out our complete Xbox Games Showcase 2024 coverage
• Preorder Star Wars Outlaws for $69.99 at Best Buy (Standard, Xbox) | $109.99 at Best Buy (Gold, Xbox)
• Preorder Assassin's Creed Shadows for $69.99 at Best Buy (Standard, Xbox) | $109.99 at Best Buy (Gold, Xbox)

What is Star Wars Outlaws?

Star Wars Outlaws is a first from Ubisoft, a brand-new Star Wars video games franchise that is (for once) not published by Electronic Arts. Star Wars Outlaws follows scoundrel Kay Vess and her animal companion Nix on a journey across multiple infamous planets like Tatooine. Set before the events of Return of the Jedi, Kay Vess is set to attempt a major heist in the Outer Rim.

Unlike other Star Wars games, it's a decidedly low-stakes mission that doesn't feature the Jedi. Instead, Star Wars Outlaws follows the galaxy's criminal underworld, with Vess developing relationships with various crime syndicates during her journey. It's also apparently a true open-world Star Wars game, even more so than Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

That means we can expect Ubisoft to flex its open-world prowess with expansive and detailed environments, letting us explore the Star Wars universe in an all-new way. Star Wars Outlaws is expected to release on Aug. 30, 2024, for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, and is now available to preorder. If you want to learn more, you can check out our in-depth Star Wars Outlaws FAQ.

Finally, a Star Wars game not about Jedi

During Ubisoft Forward at Summer Game Fest 2024, Ubisoft showed off over 10 minutes of Star Wars Outlaws gameplay. I didn't actually see that trailer, as I was too busy previewing Assassin's Creed Shadows at the time. After I was done with that, I wandered to another room and was able to play an hour of Star Wars Outlaws. I explored a fallen starship in search of a functional nav computer, flew around space and tried not to blow up, and infiltrated a syndicate hideout to recover an important artifact.

Everything I played reminded me of what I felt when I first saw Star Wars Outlaws: wow, this is an interesting perspective for a Star Wars game. I love being a Jedi as much as the next person, but it's exciting to get a full-fledged, AAA Star Wars game that avoids all the "big" Star Wars topics and instead focuses on the grounded characters simply trying to survive in a brutal universe. Specifically, Star Wars Outlaws is laden with criminal organizations battling each other for dominance at the outer edges of the galaxy.

The gameplay reflects this. Kay Vess is athletic, resourceful, and possessed of diverse skills, but she's no superhuman. Her animal companion assists her with distractions and reconnaissance, but for the most part, Vess has to rely on her intellect and gear to stay out of trouble, including her trusty blaster pistol. In this way, Star Wars Outlaws plays unlike any other Star Wars game I've experienced, but it does feel very Ubisoft.

I'm hoping that won't end up being the game's downfall.

Hoping Ubisoft can stick the landing

I had fun playing Star Wars Outlaws, and when the demo was finished, I was interested in playing more. Through all three missions, though, I was plagued with this vague feeling of familiarity. Where Assassin's Creed Shadows gave me hope that Ubisoft had evolved in the right direction, what I saw of Star Wars Outlaws hinted that the stale, bloated open-world design we've come to expect from Ubisoft may be rearing its ugly head once again.

I should specify that I didn't get to see much of the open world, hence why this was more of a feeling. From trailers to my gameplay demo, the world of Star Wars Outlaws looks visually stunning and incredibly detailed, with smooth transitions from location to location, but the suggestion of side activities, the bevy of visible pick-ups and crafting resources, and the very Ubisoft-esque action gameplay all prevented me from being totally sold on Star Wars Outlaws.

I have no doubt that Ubisoft is going to deliver a positively gorgeous Star Wars world that will be a joy to explore, but I'm worried that the game itself will grow tiring over time, like so many other open-world Ubisoft titles. Environment traversal, information gathering, stealth, combat — so much of Star Wars Outlaws felt like classic Ubisoft in a Star Wars skin, and I'm not positive that'll be enough to elevate the final game to greatness with how many other amazing games are being released nowadays.

If anything, I think it's telling that after an hour of gameplay, I'm struggling to think of much more to say about this game. Want me to talk about exploring the world? It's a lot of climbing and clambering, with simple puzzles and nonexciting loot everywhere. Want me to talk about the combat? Takedowns feel stale and lifeless, and blasters lack punch. Want me to talk about stealth? Well, Vess may not have "eagle vision," but Nix sure does, which basically amounts to the same thing.

I'm willing to remain cautiously optimistic about Star Wars Outlaws, because this world is spectacular and I enjoyed some memorable moments successfully sneaking past enemies, taking advantage of Vess' various skills to accomplish my goals, blasting enemies away in my starship, and taking advantage of environmental hazards to come out on top. Star Wars Outlaws made me feel like a true scoundrel at times, and those moments made me hungry for more.

In order for Star Wars Outlaws to become one of the best Xbox games of the year, though, Ubisoft will have to prove that this isn't just another formulaic, cookie-cutter open world that doesn't properly reward you for exploring it. It'll have to prove that this game is dynamic and flexible, giving players the freedom to be the Star Wars scoundrel they want to be. Becoming a notorious criminal in the Outer Rim sounds amazing; just don't shove me in a gameplay box and make me chase after endless map icons.

What you need to know

• Star Wars Outlaws is an upcoming single-player, open-world, third-person, action game that centers around scoundrel, Kay Vess. 
• The game takes place between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. 
• Today during Ubisoft Forward 2024, a new Star Wars Outlaws gameplay trailer was shown off, giving us a look at how your actions influence your reputation among various criminal syndicates. 
• To provide a broad range, the gameplay trailer showed what its like walking through cities, exploring wilderness on speeder bike, and dogfighting in space.
• Star Wars Outlaws is set to launch for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5 on Aug. 30, 2024. However, those who purchase the Ultimate Edition or access the game via Ubisoft+ gain access to the game three days early on Aug. 27, 2024.
  
  BUY STAR WARS OUTLAWS - STANDARD EDITION:
• Buy for Xbox: $52.49 at CDKeys (DIGITAL) | $69.99 at Amazon | $69.99 at Best Buy
• Buy for PS5: $69.99 at Best Buy | $69.99 at Amazon 
• Buy for PC: $69.99 at Ubisoft

Today, during Ubisoft Forward 2024, a brand new gameplay trailer for Star Wars Outlaws was shown. We got to watch as protagonist (and scoundrel), Kay Vess, and her furry companion, Nix, explored planets and space. The actions you make affect how various crime syndicates perceive you. You can get yourself in pretty big trouble if your reputation isn't in a good place with certain groups. 

Gameplay showed what space dogfights look like while piloting Kay's ship. We also saw her sneaking around in high-security areas. At one point, she sent her companion, Nix, out to jump on a foe's face and then was able to knock her foe out while he was unable to see. 

It seems like we can expect a good mixture of stealth and action with this upcoming, open-world Star Wars game, which should allow us to tackle various missions in our preferred way. 

As for the story, Star Wars Outlaws is all about Kay and Nix attempting to make a new life for themselves. However, to gain the credits needed for a new life, they have to take on various odd jobs and improve their skills while working with various criminal syndicates. It's a dangerous world and they often find themselves in tough situations. The core part of the story revolves around our protagonist scoundrels taking part in a massive and dangerous heist. 

During the course of the story, players will travel to a mixture of familiar and new locations including Tatooine. As such, it's not surprising at all to learn that Jabba The Hutt and a few other familiar faces will be seen during the adventure. What of our main movie heroes? Well, Outlaws takes place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, so it's very possible that we could encounter additional fan-favorite characters from the movies while playing this game.

Star Wars Outlaws is set to launch on August 30, 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation 5. Anyone who has an active Ubisoft+ subscription or who purchases Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition can access the game three days early on August 27, 2024. For more information, check out our Star Wars Outlaws FAQ. 

Just two months away from launch

August isn't that far far away, which means we're drawing closer to the launch of Star Wars Outlaws. Kay Vess and her companions, Nix and ND-5, look like they provide an interesting mix of personalities to keep the story interesting. Plus, I love the idea of the game incorporating open-world exploration mixed with stealth mechanics, and dogfights in space. It should hopefully provide the varied gameplay that many of us appreciate in open-world games.

You may or may not know this, but Ubisoft has pointed out that Outlaws is the "first-ever open world Star Wars game" and that's true given that other Star Wars games of the last two decades have either been multiplayer games or else offer linear storylines. This is even true when considering the Star Wars Jedi series with Cal Kestis, since both Fallen Order and its sequel Survivor have large areas of exploration in them but technically operate more on a hub-exploration basis. 

I know a lot of people have been complaining about Kay's character design, but I personally love that Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment have decided to stick with a late-70s and early-80s aesthetic that matches the original Star Wars movies. Kay's feathered hairstyle, practical scoundrel clothing, and era-specific vehicles all help her authentically fit right into the original trilogy, visually. 

If you're excited for other titles releasing this year and beyond, check out our list of upcoming PC games and or list of upcoming Xbox games. For additional Star Wars Outlaws editions and pricing information, check out our Star Wars Outlaws buying guide. 

We're drawing closer and closer to the launch of Star Wars Outlaws, which is slated to release in 2024 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC gaming. But just what is this new game about? There are plenty of things to look forward to with Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment's upcoming action-adventure shooter set in the familiar sci-fi galaxy, so I've gathered up the most commonly asked questions and found answers to them. 

Without further ado, let's learn all about Star Wars Outlaws' actual release date, game editions, pricing, gameplay, platforms, and more. 

BUY STAR WARS OUTLAWS - STANDARD EDITION:

• Buy for Xbox: $52.49 at CDKeys (DIGITAL) | $69.99 at Amazon | $69.99 at Best Buy
• Buy for PS5: $69.99 at Best Buy | $69.99 at Amazon 
• Buy for PC: $69.99 at Ubisoft

What is Star Wars Outlaws?

Star Wars Outlaws: Characters

• Kay Vess: The main human protagonist, a scoundrel looking to rise up in the crime syndicate ranks to secure her freedom. 
• Nix: Kay's closest companion, a fuzzy (and rare) creature known as a Merqaal who helps Kay out of tight spots. 
• ND-5: Often simply called "ND," this is a no-nonesense BX-series droid commando who was battle-hardened by the Clone Wars. This droid accompanies Kay on the dangerous heist.
• Jaylen Vrax: Kay's dubious human acquaintance who offers the heist job to our heroine. 
• Sliro: A human leader of a major crime syndicate who is out to get Kay. 
• Jabba The Hutt: A powerful, slug-like gangster who holds a lot of sway in the criminal underworld.
• Salacious B. Crumb: A Kowakian monkey-lizard who is never too far from Jabba the Hutt. 

Star Wars Outlaws: Release date

Star Wars Outlaws: Editions, preorder bonuses and price

• Standard Edition — $69.99: This purchase gives you the base game.
• Gold Edition — $109.99: The base game, Seasons Pass with two "narrative expansions," an exclusive launch mission, and a character cosmetic pack. 
• Ultimate Edition — $129.99: This costly edition gives you the base game, Season Pass, Sabacc Shark bundle, Rogue Infiltrator bundle, a digital art book, and up to three days early access.

👉 For more information: Star Wars Outlaws buying guide.

Source: PC Gamer

Star Wars Outlaws: Gameplay

Does Star Wars Outlaws have multiplayer?

Star Wars Outlaws: Platforms

• 🎮 Related: Upcoming PC games | Upcoming Xbox games

Star Wars Outlaws: Is it on Game Pass?

• 🎮 Related: All Xbox Game Pass games

Star Wars Outlaws: Trailers

Here is a round up of official Star Wars Outlaws trailers, to help you get a better feel for the game.

Get ready for another Star War

Star Wars Outlaws is shaping up to be a fun single-player adventure filled with dangerous missions, stealthy mechanics, and exciting moments. Unlike the Star Wars Jedi series surrounding Jedi Cal Kestis, Outlaws takes a closer look at the criminal underworld in a galaxy far, far away. As such, players will get the chance to play a Han Solo-like character who often flies by the seat of her pants in order to try and make it through a tough world. 

It looks like there will be plenty of exciting missions and encounters with familiar characters while running through various planets. I'm personally looking forward to the freedom provided by exploring locations on speeder bike and foot, as well as on board a ship in space. 

Get ready to jump into this exciting adventure when it launches on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PlayStation on August 30, 2024. Of course, if you purchase the Ultimate Edition, you can get early access to it on August 27, 2024.

It's funny how May the Fourth started as a silly joke for Star Wars fans and years later has become an official time to celebrate adventures from a galaxy far far away. For me, the week of May the fourth has become the ideal time to catch up on Star Wars games I haven't played yet or revisit classics I haven't touched in years. 

To help with this, most Star Wars games on PC and Xbox are currently on massive discounts that reduce the price to $5 or less. Here are my favorite Star Wars game deals going on now. 

Where to find Star Wars game deals

• PC DEALS
  
• Star Wars Jedi Knight Collection (PC) — $3.49 at CDKeys (Steam code)
• Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC) — $1.59 at CDKeys (Steam code)
• Star Wars: Battlefront (PC) — $1.59 at CDKeys (Steam code)
• Star Wars: Battlefront II: Celebration Edition (PC) — $4.79 at Steam
• Star Wars Collection (PC) — $12.59 at CDKeys (Steam code)
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (PC) — $12.49 at Steam
• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (PC) — $3.99 at Steam
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (PC) — $31.49 at Steam
  
  
• XBOX DEALS
  
• LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga (Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One) — $15.99 at Best Buy
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Xbox Series X|S) — $29.99 at Best Buy
• Star Wars Outlaws (Xbox Series X|S) — Preorder $51.69 at CDKeys (Xbox code)
  
  
• WHERE TO FIND MORE DEALS
  
• Star Wars deals at CDKeys (Xbox and Steam codes)
• Star Wars deals at GMG (Steam codes)
• Star Wars deals at Steam (PC)
• Star Wars deals at Xbox

Best Star Wars game deals for PC

There are tons of Star Wars games available for PC, many of them classics from the 90s and 2000s. However, there are also plenty of releases from the last few years on sale as well. Here are the best Star Wars game deals for PC. 

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Best Star Wars game deals for Xbox

If you prefer to play on Xbox Series X|S, then here are the best Star Wars deals available for Xbox. 

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Star Wars day means game deal day

It's crazy to think that Star Wars Day is upon us once again! Thankfully, it's the perfect time to catch up on the latest games you haven't checked out yet. There are always the classics from the 90s or 2000s to enjoy if you want to relive your childhood or check them out for the first time. 

I know that the Dark Forces and Jedi Knight games starring Kyle Katarn heavily shaped my gaming preferences. Being able to play as a scoundrel-Jedi character fulfilled my wishes to simultaneously be like both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker. But there are also other awesome digital adventures out there like the latest Jedi: Survivor if you're looking for a modern action adventure.

As for those of you who like multiplayers, the Battlefront games are both classics that are fun to revisit. However, I do suggest avoiding the newer Battlefront Collection right now. It's far too buggy and badly reviewed to be worth playing unless they significantly update it. But Battlefront and Battlefront II on their own are still available and both on steep discounts right now. 

Happy Star Wars day and May the Fourth be with you!

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What you need to know

• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor first launched back on April 28, 2023. 
• The sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order saw critical praise for improved level design and storytelling, and was the best-selling game of April 2023 in the U.S.
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is joining EA Play on April 25, 2024, meaning it'll be available to play at no cost for EA Play, PC Game Pass, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

Subscribers to the highest tier of Microsoft's gaming subscription service can expect more Star Wars to play extremely soon.

Respawn Entertainment and Electronic Arts' Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is headed to EA Play on April 25, 2024, as shared via Xbox Wire. As EA Play is bundled in as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, that means anyone subscribed to the top tiers of Xbox Game Pass will be able to play this Star Wars adventure at no extra cost.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor first launched on April 28, 2023 for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5, with the game quickly garnering critical praise and commercial success. Despite launching late in the month, it was the best-selling game of April 2023 in the U.S.

Why is EA Play included in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?

Electronic Arts' EA Play subscription service has been included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass since November 2020 and March 2021, respectively, a move that the publisher credits with helping EA Play to grow. 

EA Play includes a library of Electronic Arts titles, including some of the latest sports games, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, and the Dead Space remake. There's no set length of time before a game will be added to the service, but it's usually around a year for the biggest single-player games, which is the case for the aforementioned Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was one of many great games in 2023

2023 saw the launch of a number of excellent games, and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor earned its place as of them. While the setting is nothing new, taking place between the events of Episodes 3 and 4, the story resonated in fresh ways. Instead of focusing on grandiose plots and planet-wrecking weapons, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor tells an extremely personal story that focused on questioning its confused cast of characters. 

In my review of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I wrote that "Everything here is just fun, and while the more personal tone of the story may not work for everybody, it's the kind of thing that will bring me back to the vast universe of Star Wars over and over again."

Is Star Wars Jedi: Survivor fixed?

While Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was praised at launch, its technical performance could be rough, especially on PC. The game has received a number of patches since it first launched nearly a year ago, with noted improvements to performance across all platforms.

Analysis: A great game more people need to play

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was one of my favorite games of last year, and I'm glad more people will now have the chance to play it, especially since I'm extremely doubtful Electronic Arts will be successful in bringing it to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. While we never got official sales figures, the game had "millions" of players just a couple of months after launch, so it's reasonable to expect that figure will only continue to grow. 

We're drawing ever nearer to the release of Ubisoft and LucasFilm Ltd.'s Star Wars Outlaws on August 30, 2024. As such, Star Wars Oultaws preorders are available with three versions to choose from: Standard, Gold, and Ultimate Edition. Anyone who purchases the Gold or Ultimate Edition will get extra bonuses and the ability to play the game up to three days early. So, what Star Wars Outlaws bonuses and version differences are there exactly? Let's dive in and discuss to find out which version is best for you. 

Best Star Wars Outlaws deals

• Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (Xbox) was $69.99 now $67.79 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (Xbox) was $109.99 now $102.39 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (Xbox) $129.99 at Xbox
  Star Wars Outlaws Standard Edition (PC) $69.99 at Ubisoft
• Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition (PC) was $109.99 now $52.49 at CDKeys
• Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition (PC) $129.99 at Ubisoft

Star Wars Outlaws preorder bonus

Those who preorder Star Wars Outlaws receive the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack, which includes cosmetics for your speeder and Kay's ship, known as the Trailblazer.

Star Wars Outlaws - Standard Edition

Much like many of the latest video games, Star Wars Outlaws has an MSRP of $69.99. This is a single-player adventure where you take on the role of a scoundrel named Kay Vess in the time period between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Kay and her furry friend, Nix, are keen to take on various seedy jobs to prove themselves, which is how they get involved with a secretive droid and an intense heist. You can learn more details at our Star Wars Outlaws FAQ. 

Get ready to travel the galaxy, see familiar Star Wars locations, fly the Trailblazer, and get into a lot of trouble. You're gonna need to use your stealth skills as well as your blaster skills to make it through this adventure. 

Star Wars Outlaws - Gold Edition

The Gold Edition of Star Wars Outlaws has a $109.99 MSRP, making it $40 more than the Standard Edition. But what extra goodies come with it? This extra cash splash gives you the season pass, which includes an extra mission involving Jabba the Hutt (available day one). If you think you'll want to spend a lot of time with Kay in a galaxy far far away then this edition might be a good choice for you. 

This edition also provides a cosmetic pack for Kay that is reminiscent of Han Solo's iconic clothes as well as a bandolier for Nix that looks an awful lot like Chewbacca's sash. So, you can dress up just like the scruffy-looking nerf-herder and his walking carpet.

The Star Wars Outlaws Gold Edition includes:

• Base game.
• Season pass including two narrative expansions, an exclusive mission at launch, and a character cosmetic pack.
• Up to three days of early access to the game.

Star Wars Outlaws - Ultimate Edition

The Ultimate Edition comes with a ton of extra goodies, making it the ideal choice for Star Wars fans or anyone who is really looking forward to Kay and Nix's adventure. with an MSRP of $129.99, it costs $60 more than the Standard Edition and $20 more than the Gold Edition. The digital art book and other bonuses can really add to the whole experience. 

The Star Wars Outlaws Ultimate Edition includes:

• Base game.
• Season pass including two narrative expansions, an exclusive mission at launch, and a character cosmetic pack.
• Sabacc Shark bundle.
• Rogue Infiltrator bundle.
• Digital art book.
• Up to three days of early access to the game.
  

Get excited for a new adventure in a galaxy far far away...

As we get closer and closer to the release of Star Wars Outlaws, I can't help but get excited, so I'm grabbing a Star Wars Outlaws preorder now. I've been playing Star Wars games since the days of the Dark Forces series with Kyle Katarn and it looks likely that Kay's adventure was inspired by these classics. We've had plenty of multiplayer Star Wars games of late but the only other single-player games have really been with Jedi-focused Cal Kestis. I'm really looking forward to diving into the Han Solo-style smuggler side of things.

I'll personally be purchasing the Gold Edition of Star Wars Outlaws. But if you're just interested in the base game than the Standard Edition is the perfect choice. You'll receive some cool cosmetics for preordering the game. Of course, if you're really excited for Outlaws, you might want to consider getting the Ultimate Edition and all of the extras that come with it. 

What you need to know

• Star Wars Outlaws is an upcoming Star Wars game being developed by Ubisoft Massive, the team that's worked on The Division franchise and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. 
• A new story trailer for Star Wars Outlaws shows numerous threats in the Outer Rim, including crime syndicates, Imperial forces, and even a Sarlaac.
• Star Wars Outlaws is slated to launch on August 30, 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.
• Players that grab the Gold or Ultimate editions of the game will be able to start playing three days earlier.

The next big Star Wars adventure is almost here. 

First revealed back during the Xbox Games Showcase in 2023 — with gameplay shown at Ubisoft Forward almost immediately after — Ubisoft Massive's Star Wars Outlaws places players in the shoes of rising rogue Kay Vess. Accompanied by her companion critter Nix, Kay Vess is navigating an open world full of danger in the Outer Rim. 

A new story trailer for Star Wars Outlaws shows even more of the dangers the duo face, and also confirms that the game is set to launch on August 30, 2024. You can check out the new story trailer for the game below.

Being at a disadvantage compared to many others in the Star Wars universe, Kay Vess and Nix rely on trickery and subterfuge to succeed, sneaking around and using surprise attacks to undercut more powerful foes. The pair also travel around in a starship, The Trailblazer, which will be used to go between different planets in-game. 

Star Wars Outlaws is coming to Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PlayStation 5.

Star Wars Outlaws preorders are going live

Preorders for Star Wars Outlaws are going up across different retailers, with orders now available directly from Ubisoft. There's a standard edition, Gold Edition, and Ultimate Edition available for $70, $110, and $130 respectively, with the Ultimate Edition being included day one in Ubisoft+. 

The Gold Edition nets players three-day early access and a season pass, the latter of which includes two DLCs (one mission and one pack of cosmetics) that will be available sometime after the game's launch. The Ultimate Edition includes everything in the Gold Edition, while also packing in even more cosmetics and a digital art book.

Analysis: Looking good, but I'd like to see more

I'm definitely down for an open world Star Wars scoundrel experience, and what the team at Ubisoft Massive has showed so far looks promising. I'd still like to see a bit more though, with some additional details on how big the game is and how the open world design works. 

Overall, we've seen a lot of Star Wars games cancelled over the last few years, so after the success of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, it's nice to see another big team get to take a crack at the galaxy far, far, away that I love so much.

What you need to know

• The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection consists of updated ports of 2004's Star Wars: Battlefront and 2005's Star Wars: Battlefront 2.
• The updated collection was released on March 13 for $35, and has racked up "Most Negative" reviews on Steam and a 2.5/5 stars rating on Xbox.
• Update I is the first patch for the collection from developer and publisher Aspyr, who also recently released the Tomb Raider 1-3 remasters.

Aspyr has released patch notes for Update I, the first in what is sure to be a long list of patches for Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. The much-anticipated re-release of classic Star Wars: Battlefront games for current generation consoles and PC has had a disastrous, bug-filled, and server-issue-addled launch. 

The Steam update is already available, and the Xbox patch is still pending certification. Aspyr has confirmed it continues to make server-side adjustments to improve multiplayer alongside the patch.

The rejuvenated versions of 2004's Star Wars: Battlefront and 2005's Star Wars: Battlefront 2 from Pandemic Studios were ported and updated by Aspyr and sold together as a $35 bundle that launched just days ago on March 13. However, the game only had three servers online at launch for its multiplayer components. Even as more servers were brought online post-launch, the title suffered from instability among numerous other bugs.

Update I for the collection brings new changes to multiplayer, control schemes, visual and audio, and other ongoing issues such as soft locks and respawn blockers. The full patch notes list the following fixes:

Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection Patch Notes

Battlefront 1 changes

• Fixed passworld-locked games from appearing in the Quick Match menu option during in multiplayer.
• Fixed a crash when entering the split screen menu in BF1, where Player 1 would be incorrectly assigned to Player 2.
• Fixed Invert Y-Axis option to be visible.
• Fixed the options for Flip X-Axis and Swap SL and RS to be unhidden.
• Fixed split screen games to be able to be started when only one controller is connected.
• Fixed an issue where the "L" button prompt would overlap the top arrow on the instant action menu.
• Fixed an issue in multiplayer mode where AI units would slide when not in direct sight of a human player.
• The colorblind mode selection screen no longer overlaps with the text at the bottom of the screen.
• Fixed the Battlefront 1 loading screen sounds.
• Fixed an issue where audio outputs would reverse.
• Fixed soft locks upon finishing the game at the Victory screen.
• Fixed a bridge in Bespin: Cloud City to allow a Droideka to roll on it.
• Fixed the "Load Fail" error that occurred when loading a profile.

Battlefront 2 changes

• Fixed a crash that would occur when attempting to build fleets while using Mouse and Keyboard in Galactic Conquest on BF2.
• Fixed bonuses to be able to be highlighted in the Bonus Selection screen in Galactic Conquest.
• Fixed Invert Y-Axis option to be visible.
• Fixed the options for Flip X-Axis and Swap LS and RS to be unhidden.
• Fixed split screen games to be able to be started when only one controller is connected.
• Fixed an issue where the zoom-in scope crosshair image would not appropriately fit widescreen displays.
• Fixed an issue where hit VFX and hit character animations could not be seen by clients in Hero Assault mode (long range).
• Fixed textures on Utapau map.
• Fixed an issue on the Kamino map in BF2 where the lights and bloom VFX were not displaying properly.
• Fixed an issue on the Endor: Bunker map in BF2 where a tree was clipping up through the middle of a walkway.
• Fixed an issue where a seam in the skybox was visible on some maps in Battlefront 2.
• Fixed an issue where the Naboo map in BF2 where the railing texture was missing.
• Fixed an issue on Space maps in BF2 where a small white cube was present at the base of all operable doors on Republic, CIS, and Rebel capital ships.
• Fixed an issue on the Galactic Conquest screen in BF2 where a player's name and credit count would be overlapped by the bonus boxes on the Bonus tab.
• Fixed an issue where the ESC menu would stay on screen if it was opened at the end of a match.
• Fixed an issue in Galactic Conquest where the hilt from the lightsaber icon would not show the leader bonus.
• Fixed units sliding after respawn on XL maps.
• Fixed the jetpack gauge to correctly align.
• Fixed the ammo counter reticle to fit inside the aiming reticle when playing split screen.
• Colorblind mode selection screen is no longer overlapped with text at the bottom of the screen.
• Fixed the Quit and Register Your Game buttons to align correctly.
• Fixed the music to play on several maps in the Hero Assault Mode
• Fixed a crash that occurred when an audio output device was disconnected.
• Fixed Blaster SFX for certain Hero characters' weapons to play at the correct volume.
• Fixed an issue where audio outputs would reverse.
• Fixed Naboo Area 3's respawn blocker.
• Fixed collision issues affecting multiple maps.
• Assault game mode is now present in the Mode section of the Pick Search Options menu.
• Fixed the reinforcements to correctly deduct 1 when the Republic or Rebels die on Death Star.
• Fixed the map and mode settings reset button.
• Fixed the "Load Fail" error that occurred when loading a profile.

Along with the listed changes, players will also notice that the Lightsaber animation for Kit Fisto has been fixed to properly animate and that Kit Fisto's Force power will no longer remain stuck to the client in multiplayer. Asajj Ventress' abilities in Hero Assault have also undergone a re-balance.

Aspyr Media responded to player backlash over the state of Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's launch state last week, stating the firm intends to continue efforts to stabilize the game and resolve its problems via post-launch support. Players can likely expect additional updates and server-side maintenance to continue on the game in the coming months. Whether these efforts will successfully turn around the community's opinions following the disastrous launch remains to be seen.

What you need to know

• Update: Developer Aspyr Media has responded to the backlash against Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection's tumultuous launch, explaining that "critical errors with our network infrastructure" led to the ongoing server issues and that it will continue working to improve it until it's "stabilized to prevent further outages."
• The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, a bundle of updated versions of 2004's Star Wars: Battlefront and 2005's Star Wars: Battlefront II, launched late on March 13. It's available for $35 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.
• The collection has had a disastrous launch so far, with both of its games plagued by server issues and numerous other bugs.
• As a consequence, it's fallen to a "Mostly Negative" rating on Steam, with only 20% of its reviews being positive at the time of writing. It has a 2.5/5 average review score on Xbox as well.
• The disappointing re-release of these fan-favorite Star Wars games comes just a month after developer Aspyr launched the positively received Tomb Raider 1-3 remasters. 

Update 3/14/2024 at 6:35 p.m. PT / 9:35 p.m. ET: Developer Aspyr Media has responded to the backlash against the launch of the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection, thanking players for their "support and feedback" while explaining that the ongoing issues are due to "critical errors" with its network, and that it "will continue our efforts" to stabilize it and resolve the problems it's causing. You can read the full statement below:

"We’d like to thank the Battlefront community for their overwhelming support and feedback for the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection release. 

At launch, we experienced critical errors with our network infrastructure.  The result was incredibly high ping, matchmaking errors, crashes, and servers not appearing in the browser. 

Since launch, we’ve been working to address these issues and increase network stability, and we will continue our efforts until our network infrastructure is stabilized to prevent further outages.

Please continue to report bugs, errors, or unexpected behaviors to our support team via our Request Form.

The Aspyr Team"

What was supposed to be a celebratory re-release of some of the best Star Wars games of all time has become something of a disaster for developer Aspyr Media.

The Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection — a $35 bundle that includes updated versions of Pandemic Studios' Star Wars: Battlefront and Star Wars: Battlefront II from 2004 and 2005, respectively — launched late on Wednesday evening, but was immediately plagued by some severe issues. Only three official multiplayer servers on each of the game's platforms were available for its opening hours, and while more came soon after, they've proven to be very unreliable thus far. There are widespread reports of frequent disconnects, along with significant desync problems, instances of "rubber banding," and bugs preventing players from joining teams and/or spawning.

As a result, the collection has immediately fallen to the dark side, nosediving to a "Mostly Negative" Steam rating on PC with only 20% of its reviews being positive. Things are looking similar on Xbox with a 2.5/5 star review score average, though the PlayStation version seems to be faring better with an overall rating of 4.19/5 at the time of writing (it's also on Nintendo Switch, but Nintendo's store doesn't have user reviews).

"As of right now the multiplayer (otherwise known as the only reason to buy this product if you already own the original games) is entirely unplayable, making this game a waste of money until that issue is fixed. Disappointing," writes Steam user KitsuneKami. Other reviews, like this one from nightnight, echo the sentiment: "Currently, game is totally unplayable. Even if you manage to get into a server, players cannot spawn. Not sure if it's a cheater/denial thing, bugged gameplay or both."

User Dinkleberg asserts that this is "probably one of the worst launches of all time," while Kevin sums things up perfectly with their assessment: "This was not like the simulations." Thanks for the laugh, Kevin. May the Force be with you.

Aside from a handful of bonus maps and heroes and the ability to play Hero Assault (AKA Heroes VS Villains) on all maps instead of just Mos Eisley, the main draw of the Classic Collection is its support for 64-player servers. These have double the number of slots compared to the servers in the classic games, but as user Sean Penn says, with "multiplayer completely broken, [you] might as well play the original." And right now, I'm inclined to wholeheartedly agree.

I jumped into the collection myself to play a few matches and a campaign mission or two as I was writing this, and to put it lightly, things didn't go well. I experienced all of the issues listed above, as well as several crashes and missing textures on the Hoth map. Each team's ticket count drains significantly faster than it's supposed to, too, resulting in games that only last five minutes or so. Single player is better, though story levels are missing cutscenes.

Overall, this launch has been a huge mess so far, and it's extremely disappointing to see after Aspyr's release of the excellent Tomb Raider remasters last month. And honestly, even if everything was working as intended, I'd hesitate to recommend the collection; sure, it's got 64-player servers, but there's no crossplay, its upscaled textures result in a 62.87GB file size requirement that surpasses Elden Ring despite the fact that the game doesn't really look any better, and it costs a whopping $35. The originals, meanwhile, are priced at $10 each and only take up 12.39GB combined.

For the time being, I definitely recommend holding off on the Star Wars: Battlefront Classic Collection. It may be worth picking up once Aspyr (hopefully) patches it up with some post-launch updates, though even then, I'd probably wait for a good sale — it's just not offering enough to justify that steep asking price. It's currently got a day one $3.50 discount on Xbox, but that's a very small markdown.

What you need to know

• According to a report from Bloomberg, Embracer Group is selling Saber Interactive to a group of private investors for $500 million. 
• Saber Interactive is a large publisher and developer, consisting of numerous studios around the world working on games like Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2. 
• Embracer Group continues to struggle financially, with the company laying off hundreds of workers and closing multiple studios over the past year.

One big company is breaking away away from Embracer Group. 

Embracer Group is selling developer and publisher Saber Interactive to a group of private investors for $500 million, per a report from Bloomberg, The deal will see Saber Interactive become a privately owned company with around 3,500 employees in different studios around the world. 

Saber Interactive, first acquired by Embracer Group for $150 million in 2020, provides support work on a large number of games, and is also the lead developer on two big upcoming titles. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is slated to launch on Sep. 9, 2024, while the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake does not currently have a release date, but is still in development according to Bloomberg. Saber Interactive took over the remake after Embracer Group took the project away from Aspyr. 

When I asked Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier if the deal included every team at Saber Interactive, including subsidiaries like Metro developer 4A Games, he responded by saying it would include "most but not all" and that some of the specifics weren't clear yet. 

What does this mean for Saber Interactive games?

The gaming industry is in turmoil right now, but Embracer Group in particular is slashing costs left and right, laying off hundreds of workers across studios like Eidos Montreal and closing down teams like Volition, the latter of which is now reborn as an independent team called Shapeshifter Games. 

With Saber Interactive breaking away, it seems like this team will have some financial security for at least a short while. Being owned by a private group also means escaping the ever-escalating demands of public shareholders, which could alleviate some financial stress.

Analysis: A spot of good news

Obviously things can twist and turn without warning, but in the short term, I'm less worried about the future of Saber Interactive. At bare minimum, the team won't be subjected to mindless cost-cutting by Embracer Group after the latter failed to secure investment from the Saudi-owned Savvy Games group.

I'm looking forward to Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 when it launches in September, and I'll dare to hope that the Knights of the Old Republic remake actually has a small chance of launching now. It won't be anytime soon, and it's a marginal change, but right now, coming off the back of layoffs and studio closures at now only Embracer Group but also Electronic Arts, PlayStation, and many others, any good news is a serious breath of fresh air.

What you need to know

• Electronic Arts is laying off 670 workers across different divisions, or around 5% of its current global workforce. 
• The layoffs will see studio Ridgeline Games close, as well as the cancelation of a Star Wars first-person shooter at Respawn Entertainment. 
• The upcoming Iron Man and Black Panther games are still in development.
• Electronic Arts laid off 774 workers back in March 2023, with an additional 50 laid off from BioWare. 

It's another day in 2024, which means there's more mass layoffs in the gaming industry. 

Wednesday's culprit is publisher Electronic Arts, which announced that it is cutting 670 workers, or about 5% of its current workforce, as shared by GamesIndustry.biz. As part of these closures, Electronic Arts is canceling an upcoming Star Wars shooter that was being developed by Respawn Entertainment. 

This game — which was announced back in 2022 alongside a Star Wars strategy game and a sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order — was still in early in development, but was rumored to feature a Mandalorian character, though not necessarily the titular Din Djarin from the show and upcoming film. 

Electronic Arts is also closing Ridgeline Games, a studio in Seattle, Washington that was founded in order to develop a campaign for the next Battlefield game. Criterion will now be leading single-player efforts for future Battlefield titles. 

The previously-announced Iron Man and Black Panther games, which are being developed by Motive Studio and Cliffhanger Games, respectively, are still in development. 

Electronic Arts already laid off hundreds in 2023

All of this comes as Electronic Arts already laid off 774 employees back in March 2023, which was (at the time) 6% of the company's workforce. An additional 50 employees were laid off from BioWare later in the year, with the studio declaring that it needed to be "agile" in developing Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the next Mass Effect game. Neither game currently has a release date. 

What does this mean for Electronic Arts and Star Wars fans?

The loss of a new shooter set in part of the Star Wars universe and being developed by Respawn Entertainment is a big blow to the hopes of anyone who likes everything about that premise. Electronic Arts is continuing to slim down its projects, so players should overall expect less games with a great focus on live-service projects. 

That doesn't mean there won't be any new games, of course. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor — also developed by Respawn Entertainment — was the ninth best-selling game of the year in the U.S. It seems overwhelmingly likely that Respawn will, at the very least, close out the trilogy with one final game starring Cal Kestis. The strategy game Respawn is co-developing also appears to still be in development.

Analysis: A rough year revs up

Just yesterday, I was writing about how 900 people at PlayStation were losing their jobs. Numerous companies have cut hundreds upon hundreds of workers, and we're not even in March yet. I pray the bleeding stops, but until it does, workers are going to have to rely on each other. I also sincerely hope more developers join unions (or start new unions if need be) in order to help scrape out better protections against this grim tide in the industry. 

What you need to know

• Nintendo held a Partner Direct today, announcing the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection.
• Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection releases on March 14th for Switch, Playstation, Xbox, and Steam.
• If you have never enjoyed what a true 64-player multiplayer sandbox should feel like, Battlefront 2 was the best to do it. 

Aspyr Media might as well be called the Star Wars remake/re-release studio. They have released a handful of games for modern platforms from the extensive Star Wars catalog. Unfortunately, they were supposed to be working on the Knights of the Old Republic remake, but if rumors are true, that development has hit rocky shores. 

Some of the fantastic games they have brought out can be found in the Star Wars Heritage Pack, which includes Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Jedi Knight Jedi Academy, Star Wars Jedi Knight II Jedi Outcast, Star Wars Force Unleashed, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic one and two, and Star Wars Racer. That is a ton of Star Wars all in one package, but they saved the cream of the crop for last. 

Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection features Battlefront 1 and 2 with bonus maps and modes and is available on every platform. 

Now this is pod racing, I mean 64-player FPS goodness.

I'm actually ecstatic to play Battlefront II again in 2024. I know what some of you might be saying: this is GoldenEye all over again, and nobody will play it for more than a few minutes. I don't think I agree with that sentiment. It comes down to controls and the feel here, though. If Aspyr made these games run at a smooth 60 FPS and the controls feel responsive, this collection might find a place alongside classic arena shooters such as Unreal Tournament, Team Fortress 2, and Counter-Strike. 

If you haven't checked out the trailer yet for the game, give it a watch. I highly recommend bumping it up to 4K because it looks pretty impressive for a 20-year-old game. 

Ah, the nostalgia. I put so many hours into Battlefront II back on my OG Xbox as a kid. I loved Star Wars and being able to play through scenes and environments from the movies was just the bee's knees. Here are some of the features coming in the Classic Collection.

• Fight in iconic battles from across the STAR WARS galaxy.
• Play the classic STAR WARS Battlefront games on modern consoles, online and offline in this complete classic collection. 
• This Classic Collection includes: STAR WARS Battlefront (Classic) -Includes Bonus Map: Jabba's Palace STAR WARS Battlefront II -Includes Bonus Maps: Bespin: Cloud City, Rhen Var: Harbor, Rhen Var: Citadel, and Yavin 4: Arena -Includes Bonus Heroes: Asajj Ventress & Kit Fisto.
• Traverse the Galaxy in Campaign Mode & Galactic Conquest Galactic Conquest: Devise your strategy, recruit your troops, and execute your tactical vision for conquering the galaxy. 
• STAR WARS Battlefront Campaign: Experience iconic battles from STAR WARS Episodes I-VI STAR WARS Battlefront II Campaign: Join the rise of Darth Vader’s elite 501st Legion of Stormtroopers.
• Massive Locations with up to 64-player Online Support -Fight on the ground: Wookiee Warriors, Jet Troopers, Droidekas and more in massive multiplayer action -Drive iconic vehicles: Speeder Bikes, AT-STs, AT-RTs, and more in offensive and defensive battles.
• Pilot legendary starships: TIE fighters, X-wings, and more in space and air dogfights 
• Expanded Hero Assault Hero Assault is playable on all ground maps including: Death Star, Kashyyyk, Kamino, and Naboo for the first time ever.
• Fight with heroes: Mace Windu, Yoda, Luke Skywalker, and many others! 
• Battle with villains: Darth Maul, General Grievous, Darth Vader, and many others!

When everybody plays, we all win.

I think the Star Wars Battlefront Classic Collection has a chance to actually have a decent-sized player base, and that is largely because it will be on so many platforms. I haven't seen any confirmation of cross-play yet, but it would be a very foolish decision for Aspyr to not have cross-play enabled in a re-release of a 20-year-old game. Looking at their previous releases though, it seems like they didn't have cross-play, but Aspyr needs to make that happen at least between Switch, Xbox, and PC if PlayStation doesn't want to join in on the fun. 

While the game doesn't appear to be coming to Game Pass, my Game Pass subscription frees up a lot of my budget so I can spend money on more niche/random games like this. If you don't have Game Pass yet, there are some deals below to get your subscription started.

Do you know that feeling you get when you go back and watch a movie from the 90s or early 2000s and the movie is just a good movie? It isn't trying to set up a 20-year cinematic universe or force corny jokes that won't be relevant in 5 years. I feel like this battlefront collection might be able to capture that feeling. Battlefront II was a complete game. It had amazing campaigns, ship combat, several different classes and playstyles and let Star Wars fans battle it out as their favorite heroes and villains. 

If nothing else comes from this re-release, I hope it shows current game development studios how to make a complete game that has the full package and a game doesn't need a battle pass or microtransactions to be fun. 

What you need to know

• Sean Shoptaw, Senior VP of gaming at Disney, recently offered his thoughts and insight about a range of topics during a recent interview with Axios.
• Shoptaw says the company is "very happy" with its licensing strategy, which sees Disney work with acclaimed developers to create games based on its franchises.
• The firm also isn't concerned about MachineGames' upcoming Indiana Jones game being "overly exclusionary" as an Xbox exclusive, and believes it will still reach "a broad set of folks."
• In regards to the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake that reportedly isn't being worked on right now, Shoptaw didn't say much, but did say KOTOR is "an incredibly popular game, one that we are incredibly proud of and think that there's still a lot of demand for."

While Disney has been a dominant force in the film and TV industries for as long as anyone can remember, one sector it's struggled in is the gaming market. Many of its in-house development studios were shuttered in the 2010s, culminating in a complete exit from game publishing altogether in 2016. Since then, the company's opted for a licensing approach, working with some of the biggest developers in the industry to bring its properties to life in interactive experiences.

This strategy largely has Disney in the background, and as such, insight about its gaming ventures nowadays tends to be quite rare. A recent interview from Axios with the entertainment firm's gaming lead Sean Shoptaw, however, offers a look at his thoughts and the company's strategy.

Overall, Disney is pleased with the success of its licensing approach, which as led to critically acclaimed releases like this year's Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. "We're very happy with where we are now strategically in the work that we're doing," Shoptaw said.

He leads a group of roughly 100 producers and executives that help oversee the licensing of Disney's franchises, ensuring that they land in the hands of studios they feel are a good fit. They're also doing "a lot of air traffic control" to try and keep new releases spaced out.

Some titles, though, such as Crystal Dynamics' Marvel's Avengers and Eidos-Montreal's Guardians of the Galaxy, didn't perform well commercially. But Shoptaw understands that creating games is an arduous process, and says Disney would collaborate with the developers behind these games again in the future.

"We would go back and work with those studios again. They're great studios, great partners," he told Axios. "Games are really hard to make. If you've got great IP. If you've got a great story. You know, it's still a challenge."

Shoptaw also touched on a variety of other topics, with perhaps the most significant bit of news being that Disney doesn't think making Bethesda and MachineGames' upcoming Indiana Jones game an Xbox exclusive restricts where it can be played to an unreasonable degree. Notably, as an Xbox exclusive, the game will be playable day one on both Xbox and PC via Microsoft's buffet-style Xbox Game Pass service.

"Xbox still being one of the bigger marketplaces for games, we didn't feel like we were going to be overly exclusionary," he said. "We felt like it's still going to reach a broad set of folks, and we felt, financially and strategically for the game, that made sense at the time."

Shoptaw didn't offer much about last month's news that the highly anticipated Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic remake is currently dead in the water, though it does sound like Disney may be interested in trying to keep the project alive. "Not a lot I can say on that point for some hopefully obvious reasons, but KOTOR is obviously an incredibly popular game, one that we are incredibly proud of and think that there's still a lot of demand for. I'll leave it there."

The gaming Senior VP also reaffirmed Disney's faith in Square Enix's upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4, as well as its commitment to diversity and making sure "that things that we see on screen are representative of our consumer base, our audience." Speaking on the large number of game industry layoffs in 2023, he also noted that the company is "super empathetic to what's going on, even with our own partners, in some cases," and that it tries to be "the best partner" and "as flexible" as possible.

All in all, there are some interesting — and telling — answers here. Though a Bloomberg report suggested there might be internal pressure for Disney to publish again through the acquisition of a huge gaming corporation like Electronic Arts, Shoptaw (who didn't address the rumor directly) made its satisfaction with its current licensing strategy clear. Also, even though he never mentioned Game Pass specifically, it stands to reason that its colossal subscriber base of 25 million across Xbox and PC assuaged concerns about Indiana Jones' reach as an exclusive. Oh, and as a massive fan of Star Wars: KOTOR, it's great to hear that Disney holds it in the same high regard that I do. Dare I allow myself to hope for a revival of its remake's development?

Star Wars is a cultural behemoth, a force of entertainment that saturates films, TV, books, and video games. With such broad reach even after the culling of the prior "Expanded Universe," it's fair to say there's a wide range of things to get from Star Wars. If you're looking to enjoy one of the best Star Wars stories of the past few years, then rejoice, because Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is just $34.99 at Best Buy right now. 

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Why should you buy Star Wars Jedi: Survivor?

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is an absolutely excellent game, with developer Respawn Entertainment pulling from the learning experience of making 2019's Fallen Order and applying a number of lessons. On top of all that, the writing team pulled out all the stops to create a heartfelt journey for protagonist Cal Kestis, something examines facets of the Jedi in a way most Star Wars media simply doesn't. 

This isn't to say I haven't enjoyed other recent Star Wars media. I'm reading through the High Republic books right now which have several great entries, and the Ahsoka series earlier this year exceeded a lot of my expectations! But Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is singularly unique, and if you have an Xbox Series X or PlayStation 5, you need to experience it now that it's just $35 at Best Buy. 

If you buy it from Amazon, you can even get a further discount and snag it for $30, but only on PlayStation 5, as the Xbox version is seemingly out of stock on Amazon.

In my review of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I wrote that "Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a fantastic action-adventure game and a testament to what developers can do when taking feedback. Everything here is just fun, and while the more personal tone of the story may not work for everybody, it's the kind of thing that will bring me back to the vast universe of Star Wars over and over again."

If you'll be doing more Best Buy shopping during Black Friday 2023, then make sure you read through our My Best Buy membership explainer. This subscription allows to you have early access to deals and further discounts on some Black Friday sales, so there's plenty of reasons to hop on board.

What you need to know

• Have you ever wanted to live out your fantasy of being a Jedi in the Star Wars universe... And also do you love Minecraft?
• Oh boy, do I have news for you — Minecraft and Star Wars are coming together in the form a full-blown adventure map DLC, complete with its own story.
• Begin your journey as a Padawan, learn the ways of the Force, and become a Jedi Knight in a familiar universe (surrounded by familiar characters).
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi is now available as an optional purchase in the Minecraft Marketplace on Xbox, Windows PC, PlayStation, Switch, Android, and iOS.

Minecraft already allows for infinite creativity, but the Minecraft Marketplace in the Bedrock Edition allows community creators to offer their creations for anyone to access. Texture packs, skins, new maps, and even full-blown adventure worlds can all be found in the Marketplace. Now, you can even be a Jedi in Minecraft, thanks to a new DLC.

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi was announced during Minecraft Live 2023, and it's now available to purchase in the Minecraft Marketplace. Want to know why you should be interested? Read on for more information (and a launch trailer).

The Star Wars: Path of the Jedi DLC isn't just an interactive map with a Star Wars theme. This features an entire narrative campaign, featuring new gameplay mechanics and abilities not found in vanilla Minecraft. You begin your journey as an inexperienced Padawan during the infamous Clone Wars. You must train underneath Jedi Masters like Yoda himself, honing your abilities with the Force and the lightsabers you create.

You'll visit familiar locations from the Star Wars universe, embarking on a quest to assist the Jedi in the galaxy-wide war consuming entire planets. Eventually, you'll rise to the rank of Jedi Knight, with enough power to go toe-to-toe against legions of droids, and even General Grievous himself. You even get your own personal astromech droid to customize alongside your lightsabers, as well as 32 different skins.

Apparently, there are multiple ways to play Path of the Jedi, offering a lot of replayability. Even if you don't hop into the new DLC to become a Jedi, you can still pick up a free Creator Item from the Marketplace: an R2-D2 shirt! The cost of entry isn't too steep, though. You can purchase Star Wars: Path of the Jedi right now for 1,510 Minecoins at the Minecraft Marketplace, which is a little less than $10. The DLC is for Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, and works across Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PS4|5, Nintendo Switch, Android, and iOS.

Minecraft is of course included in Xbox Game Pass, too, but the Path of the Jedi DLC is not. Either way, it's yet another way to mix up the classic gameplay we all know and love in one of the best Xbox games of all time. If you'd rather stick with that classic formula, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition recently got a new patch update across platforms.

What you need to know

• Minecraft regularly enjoys new DLC and content through partnerships between Mojang Studios and other companies.
• During Minecraft Live 2023, Mojang Studios revealed two new DLCs coming to Minecraft in the future.
• Star Wars: Path of the Jedi comes to the Minecraft Marketplace on Nov. 7, 2023, and lets players begin their journey as a Padawan training to be a Jedi Knight.
• In 2024, Planet Earth III will come to Minecraft: Education Edition and the Minecraft Marketplace to help players explore nature and meet a variety of animals.

The Minecraft Marketplace is packed with adventure worlds, maps, texture packs, skins, and much more, from Mojang Studios, community creators, and official third-party developers. During this year's Minecraft Live event, Mojang Studios revealed two new DLCs coming to Minecraft in the future. One will let players live out their fantasy as a Jedi in the Star Wars universe, while the other is an educational experience that will help players explore nature.

Neither DLC will be available to players immediately, but you can at least mark your calendars for when they will arrive. The first up is Star Wars: Path of the Jedi, an adventure world coming to Minecraft: Bedrock Edition through the Minecraft Marketplace on Nov. 7, 2023.

Next is Planet Earth III, a follow-up to Mojang Studios' previous collaboration with BBC Earth on Frozen Planet II for Minecraft. Like that previous game, this DLC is coming to Minecraft: Education Edition sometime in 2024 to help educate students and children on the beauty of nature and the importance of protecting it. It'll also be available through the Minecraft Marketplace for the Bedrock Edition for anyone to enjoy (likely for free, like other Education Edition DLCs).

Star Wars: Path of the Jedi will allow players to begin their journey as a Padawan, slowly working their way up to the rank of Jedi Knight. You'll learn various Force abilities, meet iconic characters from the Star Wars universe, and explore a variety of infamous Star Wars locations. This is a full-blown adventure world, so there will be a lot of unique content for players to enjoy not present in vanilla Minecraft. It'll be available from Nov. 7 as a paid DLC. Players will also be able to redeem a free Minecraft Creator item alongside its release.

Minecraft's Planet Earth III DLC is coinciding with the release of the BBC Earth series of the same name, airing this Fall. Of course, the DLC is actually arriving for Minecraft: Education Edition players and in the Minecraft Marketplace sometime in early 2024. Players will be able to explore a variety of biomes and meet multiple unique animals, immersing themselves in nature. The overarching message is the importance of protecting nature.

Stay tuned to Windows Central's coverage of Minecraft Live 2023 for more of the latest news and reveals for one of the best Xbox games you can play. There's a lot more information to come, as Mojang Studios announces the future for the Minecraft universe, including the next major Minecraft update and what comes next for Minecraft Legends.

What you need to know 

• Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic is one of the most popular and critically acclaimaed Star Wars media franchises, with a remake of the original game being announced at the Playstation Showcase in 2021.
• A rumor is currently circulating that the remake has been cancelled, and Reddit users have gathered compelling evidence including the trailer being delisted from Youtube, and posts being deleted mentioning the game from Playstation's X page.
• Suggestions have been made that as Saber Interactive are a subsidariary of Embracer group who are going through turmoil right now, that the game has been shelved. 
• UPDATE: On Sept 30 in response to the circulating news, a Sony representative stated that the removal of the KOTOR Remake trailer was purely down to music licensing issues, but fans were not convinced.
• UPDATE: Today Nov 17 on Jeff Grubb's podcast, he confirmed that nobody is working on Knights of the Old Republic Remake  “I just want to clear it up, this game is not being worked on right now."

UPDATE (NOV. 17, 2023)

Since Sony attempted to put the rumors to bed around the Knights of The Old Republic Remake by blaming music licensing issues for it's removal from Youtube and Twitter, the fans haven't been convinced. After all, how do you lose licensing to Star Wars music for an in development Star Wars game?

Today the rumor mill is grinding once again as Jeff Grubb, video game journalist and industry insider who's been reliable on many other 'leaks' has confirmed on his podcast Game Mess Mornings that KOTOR Remake isn't happening. “I just want to clear it up, this game is not being worked on right now,” Grubb said “Just full stop. This game is not being worked on in any way, at any studio.” He made the comments around 30 minutes into the show in response to a question from an audience member about his thoughts on the recent news that an Embracer representative refused to comment on the status of the KOTOR remake in Embracer Group’s financial presentation, as reported earlier this week by IGN.

UPDATE (SEPT. 30, 2023)

A Sony representative has made a statement following the coverage surrounding KOTOR Remake and gave this quote to Kotaku, "As part of normal business, we delist assets with licensed music when the licenses expire."

Far from settling the matter though, many have pointed out that the only music used in the trailer is the official Star Wars theme, which is still available to hear on the main Playstation Showcase video from 2021. The license for this 'running out' on an in-development Star Wars game seems a little odd, and Stephen Totilo who approached Sony for the quote has also added "I shared what I asked, what they told me and what I asked after that. In my follow-up I also flat-out asked if the game was still in development or not. No response."

ORIGINAL ARTICLE (SEPT. 29, 2023)

The Playstation Showcase in 2021 opened with a mic drop of an announcement, Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) was coming back as a remake, and would be available on Playstation and PC. Developed by Aspyr and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) the announcement was met with joy from fans who were hungry for the return of this legendary franchise. 

However, since then, the project has faced several setbacks and challenges, leading to rumors and speculation that it might be canceled. The latest evidence of this comes from the removal of the reveal trailer from YouTube and the deletion of any mention of the remake from PlayStation’s social media accounts. Could this mean that the KOTOR remake is no more?

Development troubles

As reported by Jason Schreier at Bloomberg in July 2022, KOTOR's development was already 'put on hold indefinitely' with Aspyr, over a disgreement between Aspyr and Sony/Lucasfilm over the quality and timeline of the game. The developers reported the game wouldn't be expected until at least 2025 but it was ultimately put on hold. The report also cited unnamed sources who said that the remake was plagued by technical issues, creative differences, and mismanagement. KOTOR Remake was ultimately moved to Saber Interactive, in August 2022. Since then, all has been quiet. 

All mentions of the game deleted?

Fast forward to present day, it seems that following a spout of silence from the developers on KOTOR, any mention of the expected remake is being scrubbed from official channels. These actions suggest that PlayStation and Embracer are trying to erase any trace of the KOTOR remake from the internet, possibly in preparation for an official cancellation announcement.

Star Wars KOTOR Remake Cancelled? from r/GamingLeaksAndRumours

The thread started on Reddit yesterday discusses the removal of the reveal trailer from the Playstation Youtube channel. Twitter user @Crusader3456 investigated further and found that while the trailer is still visible in the full PlayStation Showcase 2021 video, the individual trailer has been delisted.

In addition to this odd move, other commenters found that the official Playstation account on X also had deleted any mentions of the KOTOR Remake from it's posts. The only one remaining on the account currently mentions updates on other games. But as well all know, nothing put out on the internet is ever truly gone. Using the power of the Wayback Machine Crusader dug out the now deleted tweet of the trailer on the official page. 

Further evidence of the removed video is shown on this Playstation Blog post from September 2021, as the embedded video link is now broken. 

More bad news from Embracer Group?

This latest speculation comes as no surprise really, considering the parent company Embracer Group's initial spending spree on studios has come back to bite them recently. Only in the past few months have we also had the news from Embracer that they lost a $2 billion deal resulting in a share price dive. Following this, Saint's Row developer Volition has been closed down, layoffs have been made at Crystal Dynamics only a year after its acquisition, and Embracer appears to be weighing up its options with a sale of Gearbox.

Whilst we await official word on if Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic remake has indeed been canceled, many fans appear to be blaming Embracer Group already for the ill-fated development woes of the game. Time will tell if we get an official announcement in the days to come. 

What you need to know

• Electronic Arts shared its financial results for the Q1 FY24 period. 
• Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been a commercial success, with "millions" of players so far. 
• Electronic Arts is now working on bringing Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to Xbox One and PS4.

We still don't have specific numbers, but EA's latest Star Wars game seems to have been a huge success. 

The publisher shared its financial results on Tuesday, detailing everything for Q1 FY24, ending June 30, 2023. According to EA, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has been a commercial success with "millions" of players so far, contributing to the company's record net bookings of $1.578 billion, up 21% year-over-year. Net revenue for the quarter was $1.924 billion. 

The comments on Star Wars Jedi: Survivor's success echo EA's initial thoughts following the launch of the game, mentioning that it was a success with millions of players. Speaking on a conference call accompanying the earnings, EA CEO Andrew Wilson mentioned that due to the game's success, EA is working on porting Star Wars Jedi: Survivor to Xbox One and PS4.

Developing by Respawn Entertainment for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor launched on April 28, 2023 and was the best-selling game of April in the U.S. In my review of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I wrote that "With better exploration, fantastic combat, and emotionally-resonant story, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is a must-play adventure marred only by some performance issues."

Windows Central's take

I love Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite the technical issues, I stand by the idea it's one of the best games of the year. So bearing that in mind...this feels like an awful idea.

Respawn Entertainment is a talented studio, but the game's technical performance still isn't great on its existing platforms, and now it's being ported back over to machines that were mostly underwhelming when they first arrived in 2013? 

There's a reason most gaming publishers have been moving to drop Xbox One and PS4, those machines are just not capable of keeping up with where the majority of developers want to push games technologically. I'll give credit where due if it goes well, but this doesn't seem like a wise decision right now.

What you need to know

• Star Wars Outlaws, a game from Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment, was first revealed during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023. 
• To close out Ubisoft Forward 2023, the developers shared a look at Star Wars Outlaws gameplay. 
• Playing as the roguish Kay Vess, players have to think on their feet, using the environment and light weapons to stay ahead of much stronger foes. 
• Star Wars Outlaws is scheduled to launch at some point in 2024 across Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5.

More Star Wars!

To close out Ubisoft Forward June 2023 presentation, the team at Massive Entertainment shared a look at gameplay for Star Wars Outlaws. Playing as Kay Vess, players will have to use underhanded tactics, stealth, and any advantage they can find in the environment to survive a treacherous galaxy. You can check out the gameplay reveal below:

Throughout the gameplay demonstration, we see Kay using her blaster and fists to cut through members of the Pyke syndicate. After narrowly surviving some harrowing fights, we also got a bit of gameplay in space, flying up off the planet and engaging in dogfights before jumping to hyperspace.

Star Wars Outlaws is currently slated to launch at some point in 2024, where it'll be available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. 

Windows Central's take

That certainly looked good! I'm excited for more Star Wars, even though I still have a lot of questions about how Star Wars Outlaws will work and how big the game really is. Ubisoft Massive is definitely continuing to push their in-house Snowdrop engine, and it's genuinely impressive that the studio is working on this as well as Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. 

What you need to know

• Star Wars Outlaws is a new game being developed by Massive Entertainment and published by Ubisoft. 
• A cinematic reveal for Star Wars Outlaws was shown during the Xbox Games Showcase 2023. 
• The game (as indicated by the title) is focused on a cast of rogues and ne'er do-wells, not Jedi. 
• More will be shown during Ubisoft Forward on June 12, 2023, and the game is slated to launch in 2024.

Ready for more Star Wars?

Ubisoft and Massive Entertainment brought the most iconic galaxy far, far away to the Xbox Games Showcase 2023, revealing Star Wars Outlaws! More information is coming at the Ubisoft Forward event on June 12, but for now, we know it's aiming for a 2024 release window. You can check out the trailer below:

With a protagonist named Kay Vess, Star Wars Outlaws is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. As you might guess based on the title, Star Wars Outlaws appears to be focused on a cast of rogues and less-than-savory figures in the Star Wars universe, instead of being a game about Jedi Knights.

Given that release window, it's possible that this is one of the eight games Ubisoft plans to release before April 2024, but we'll have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Star Wars games have been a mixed bag over the last few years, with a number of great titles including the recent Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. With the team behind The Division being responsible for Star Wars Outlaws, it'll be interesting to see the tone, world, and gameplay that's in store.

We're covering the rest of the Xbox Games Showcase and Starfield Direct presentation with a LIVE blog on Windows Central, so you can see our reactions to the event as they happened.

Razer's Limited Edition Xbox controllers are some of the coolest you can find on the market, as they often sport incredibly unique and creative designs inspired by some of the world's most popular entertainment franchises. For Star Wars fans, one of the best Xbox controllers to get is the Boba Fett-themed controller and charging stand combo that released in December 2021. It's normally $179.99, but for a limited time, you can snatch one for just $109.99 on Amazon — a full $70 lower than the MSRP. That's 40% off, which is a fantastic discount.

The design of the controller and its accompanying charging stand is inspired by Boba Fett's iconic Mandalorian helmet and armor plates, complete with green and red paint, the deep black of Fett's visor, orange accents, a weathered appearance, a number display, the Fett family crest, and the iconic symbol of the mythosaur.

The controller itself has the same functions and features that players have come to expect from Xbox Series X|S controllers, including compatibility with Xbox Series and One consoles along with Windows and Mac devices (via Bluetooth or the Xbox Wireless Adapter), impulse triggers, and textured grips. Razer says you can expect 12 hours of life from its battery, and that it can be fully charged with the included Universal Quick Charging Stand in less than 3 hours.

In our Razer Universal Quick Charging Stand review, we said that it's "a high-quality, well-built package that promises to stand the test of time and look good while doing so." This design has been around for several years at this point, but as the saying goes, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I have spent over 55 hours exploring the many worlds of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. I've not just completed the entirety of its emotional, epic campaign — I have 100% the game, including completing all its side content, finding all its collectibles, earning all its Achievements, and even filling out the entire Databank. In all that time, one singular, objectively minor complaint has dominated the part of my brain that insists on being negative.

Cal Kestis' ankles are too weak. He's a powerful Jedi Knight, experienced in battle and in the ways of the Force, capable of tearing through an endless list of enemies and bosses, a master of parkour... and yet falling a single inch too far results in immediate death. The Empire doesn't need to hunt down Cal in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, they can let a medium-sized hill do it for them.

Many an ankle was broken during my journey

A large part of the gameplay in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is platforming, with Cal utilizing a vast array of different abilities and tools to navigate the confusing, broken, and hostile environments in which he finds himself. For the most part, following the lines and sticking to the trod path means you'll rarely encounter issues with this platforming, which has been improved a fair bit over the game's predecessor, Fallen Order.

Those who insist on shirking the obvious path in search of collectibles, lore, and secrets will have to find creative uses for these abilities — and will quickly encounter their limits. You see, Cal is capable of falling pretty substantial distances (at least relative to a normal human) without taking any damage at all, buttressed by his Force abilities and natural athleticism. This is all fine and dandy unless you deign to attempt a jump just a few inches beyond what Cal is used to... Then he dies. Instantly.

The lack of fall damage in favor of instantaneous demise leads me to believe that Cal stores his vital organs in his ankles and just a little too much trauma results in acute organ failure. You're able to squeeze a little more distance out of Cal's ankles by jumping and dashing (an ability you learn later in the game) just before you hit the ground to arrest his momentum, but it's still not enough.

After I finished the game, I committed to exploring until I had seen it all and collected everything I could. This meant taking advantage of every shortcut and trick I had at my disposal, as I didn't want my 55-hour playthrough to needlessly turn into a 70-hour trudge. This also meant frequently plummeting to my sudden death because I tried to jump down and return to an area I'd already been to but found that it was apparently just barely too high of a jump for Cal to survive.

A great example is a tortuous 30 minutes of gameplay, in which I was attempting to scale a plateau with a handful of collectibles on Koboh. In order to do so, I had to trek a sizeable distance away and take advantage of an advanced ability to scale a second, taller plateau with more collectibles on top. My real goal, however, was an area just below this. A hole in the plateau dropped into a lower area where a bird-like creature resided and I wanted to get to it so I could use this winged beast to glide to my true target.

It wasn't a far drop. I could see every detail on the surface below, and witness an enemy wandering around (presumably waiting for a snack-sized Jedi to fall from the sky). I had made similar jumps before, right? Besides, taking the "right" way to that area would take me far too long, as I'd have to go back the way I came, hike into the wilderness, and circle around the reverse side of this plateau before making the arduous climb up. Why would I do that when I could just jump down here?

Shocker, I died. Dashing before I hit the ground? Still died. I'm not sure if Cal would've rather spontaneously died than face the wrath of the angry Gorocco hanging out below (I wasn't going to mess with it, regardless) or if he was just generally done with my collectible quest, but he refused to make the jump. After numerous attempts of trying to figure this out (all of which still took considerably less time than it would've taken to go the disgustingly "correct" way), I spotted a tiny protrusion from the cliff wall bordering the hole, about a foot or two below where I was.

I jumped to the haphazard ledge, Cal barely hanging on, and then attempted to fall into the hole once again. You have got to be kidding me... It worked. That was what I needed to do? The difference between Cal surviving the fall with zero repercussions versus his ankles exploding a thousand violent deaths was a foot? I finally made it to the plateau and picked up the three collectibles stashed up there. Now to get down and get the nearby collectibles... Oh, it's just high enough that Cal instantly dies, and the only way down is another gliding creature that will take me in the opposite direction that I need to go. Great.

Struggling to find ways to criticize this brilliant game

I'm fully aware that I am absolutely nitpicking. To be honest, it's difficult to meaningfully criticize this game, which is going down as one of the best Xbox games of the year. Performance is not good enough in the current iteration (I experienced a multitude of crashes, dropped frames and lag, and long loading times on my Xbox Series X), but the situation is admittedly improving rapidly with post-launch patch updates.

There's also plenty of room to critique the game's movement and platforming controls, which (while improved over Fallen Order), still don't feel precise or consistent enough to justify the existence of the game's difficult, late-game Force Tear platforming challenges. I had so much fun playing this game, though, that it really is the ways in which the game arbitrarily limits you that frustrated me the most.

The emotional, endearing campaign following the journey of a weary Cal Kestis and his estranged companions, the brutal combat bolstered by countless abilities and tools, and the stunningly rendered and immaculately detailed worlds made it easy to forgive the frequent performance issues. Every time I watched Cal's lifeless body hit the ground after attempting a jump I was confident I could absolutely make, though, I felt like Star Wars Jedi: Survivor was telling me I wasn't playing the right way.

I had to take the scenic route every time, even when I'd seen it all before. Reaching 100% completion felt like a chore at times because of this. In the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, I hope Cal Kestis invests in an ankle brace to help reinforce his greatest weakness (his Achilles' Heel, if you will).

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is now available on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. If you want to learn more about this epic Star Wars adventure, you can check out our Star Wars Jedi: Survivor review.

Today is May 4, 2023, otherwise known as May the 4th or Star Wars Day! This otherwise unassuming day is always accompanied by internet-wide celebrations of the expansive Star Wars franchise, and that includes a host of deals and sales to help you get your Star Wars fix. Windows Central has scoured the web for some of the best Xbox-related Star Wars deals to save you time. If you're here, maybe the Force guided you.

Let's get started!

There's certainly no shortage of great Xbox and Star Wars deals on this illustrious Star Wars Day, including on games, accessories, movies, and more. Even the brand-new, critically-acclaimed Star Wars Jedi: Survivor isn't immune from these discounts, with players able to nab one of the best Xbox games of the year alongside a new Xbox Series S or even a bit of cash for your next Starbucks run.

If you prefer a different platform, you can also save plenty of money on Star Wars games in this ongoing Steam sale, giving you more ways to celebrate even if you're playing on a Windows PC. If you need some recommendations for which deals to take advantage of above, I suggest picking up some Star Wars movie (or an entire 9-movie collection for half off) and some of the older, original Xbox games, which can still offer a fantastic gaming experience even after all these years.