Star Wars Outlaws™ Available Now – 10 Things to Look Out For

Star Wars Outlaws™ is out now on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC via Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store, letting you play as Kay Vess, a cunning scoundrel seeking the means to start a new life. Along with her loyal companion, Nix, Kay must free herself from the bounty that follows her; to do so, she needs to assemble a crew to pull off one of the greatest heists the Outer Rim has ever seen.

In Star Wars Outlaws, you will visit new and familiar locations across the Star Wars™ galaxy, from the windswept savannah of Toshara, to the sandy dunes of Tatooine, into the wilds of space, and more. With so much to explore in this expansive open world, we asked the Star Wars Outlaws developers at Massive Entertainment what they think players should look out for during their journey.

Visit Cantinas

Make sure to visit each cantina that you come across. "I would recommend that whenever you land at a new location, go to the local cantina," says Lead Gameplay Designer Fredrik Thylander. "See what rumors you can pick up and interesting characters you can meet; this is the heart of the scoundrel underworld."

"The cantinas are special," says Associate World Director Cloe Hammoud. "You'll see some really cool aliens there. There are so many different opportunities for players, and some cantinas have rooms that are not accessible to the public." As a hint, sometimes having a good reputation with certain syndicates can help you to get into these back rooms, and if you don't, you may also be able to sneak in.

Eavesdrop

As you explore the galaxy as Kay, be sure to listen in on other characters' conversations. "Eavesdropping can lead you to a stash or some credits hidden somewhere," says Hammoud. "Look around and listen to the voices in the city, because there's always something to find," adds Art & World Director Benedikt Podlesnigg. "Look for the small little spots (like alleyways) in cities; look for people chatting at the markets."  
In addition to finding credits, you can also dive deeper into the daily life of the galaxy by overhearing conversations. "Where I think the game really shines is when you slow things down and take the time to discover the micro stories from the people chatting and cantinas that you can eavesdrop on and pick up on, and then decide to go track those stories and lose yourself in this beautiful galaxy that we're a part of," says Creative Director Julian Gerighty.

Ride Kay's Speeder Everywhere

As you explore on land, use your speeder to fully take advantage of each new location, and be sure to upgrade it. "Upgrading the speeder can be thrilling; you can do some really cool jumps and use ramps in the open world," Hammoud says. "There are a few places that you can only get to with your speeder, so try to explore with the speeder exclusively in some areas and see if you can jump, bunny hop, or boost your way into a secret location," says Lead Concept Artist Samuel De Vos. "There is this ledge on Akiva you can take your speeder on that gives you a great vista of the whole forest on the planet. And if you are skilled enough, find your way around the lake on Akiva - there are many cool hidden treasures to be found there."

Solve Problems and Find Treasures with Nix

Hammoud advises players to use all the tools that the game offers to solve challenges and puzzles, and sneak into syndicate territories. There's your data spike to pick locks, different modules on Kay's blaster that let her stun stormtroopers, get through shields, or gain access to doors, and most helpful of all, there's Nix. Use him to steal items from people, attack or distract enemies, push buttons, access places Kay can't reach on her own, and more.

Nix can also help you find hidden treasure. "I think people should pay attention to Nix," Thylander advises. "When you don't expect it, he's gonna poke at your attention. And if you follow him, he can lead you to some hidden places that you might not find on your own."

Syndicate Vaults

Speaking of hidden areas, look out for vaults in syndicate territory. "Look closely around the syndicate districts," says Podlesnigg. "You can sneak into secret areas; they have very nice things stashed in their vaults. When you break into them, you can get really cool rewards."

Look For Hints and Experts

As you explore the open world, look around for things that stand out, and investigate them. "Sometimes you may see small hints in the world, like a light blinking in the distance, that will make you ask, 'how do we get there?'" Podlesnigg says. "And even if it's not easy to get to these locations at first, maybe you need to upgrade your speeder, or maybe you need to get a different tool, which is great because that gets you deeper into the Expert system and you're unlocking new gear and able to do new things." As Kay explores the galaxy, she can look for elusive experts that can help her pick up new skills. For example, as seen in the Star Wars Outlaws Gameplay Showcase video, Kay can find an expert gunslinger on Tatooine, who she must convince to help her upgrade her skills with a blaster.

Explore Space

Make sure to fully explore the orbits around the planets and moon in Star Wars Outlaws. "Space is also a location that you can explore, and should explore thoroughly," says Gerighty. "We had an approach where we level-designed space and created points of interest, adventures, and contracts. So there's a lot more depth to space than just the high-adrenaline dogfighting or the massive battles that you're gonna get into."

Games and Additional Activities

You can take a break from quests and missions by joining a game of Kessel Sabacc, betting on Fathier races, or playing arcade games. "Keep an eye out for the arcade machines, the games within the game that you can really lose yourself in," says Narrative Director Navid Khavari. "The team has put so much thought and care into them that they actually feel organic to the Star Wars galaxy, from the aesthetics to the sounds to even Kay's reactions."

"The distractions we have along the way are incredible to stumble upon," Gerighty adds. "There are things that I still keep discovering and enjoying, like finding a hidden high-roller back room in one of the cantinas."

Look For Easter Eggs

The developers of Star Wars Outlaws say there are plenty of Star Wars Easter eggs in the game, so fans should keep their eyes peeled. "This game was built by a group of people who are so passionate about honoring Star Wars that no stone is left unturned," Khavari says. "If there was an opportunity for an Easter egg, it was going in. One thing I'll hint at is to just make sure that when you're in Jabba the Hutt's palace, that you are looking around as you travel through." Thylander offers another Easter egg clue: "There is, in a city, some debris in an unassuming alley. And in between two pieces of debris, you can squeeze through and behind it, and you will see some droids in their off time."

Create Your Own Adventure

The path you take, the syndicates you side with, and your actions are up to you. "The most important thing for me is to remind people that they are the directors of this adventure," Gerighty says. "This is truly an open-world experience where their decisions, their agency, their relationships and reputation with the different syndicates are going to shape a unique adventure throughout the galaxy of Star Wars, and I think that's very precious."

Lastly, be sure to immerse yourself in the Star Wars galaxy. "I hope players can embrace the escape of playing Star Wars Outlaws," Khavari adds. "Really give yourself over to the experience and just enjoy jumping into that fantasy that I think so many have dreamed of and take some time to go off the beaten path. Get on your speeder or get in the Trailblazer and just explore, and I think you'll be happy."

Star Wars Outlaws is available now at the Ubisoft Store. Ubisoft+ Premium subscribers have access to the Ultimate Edition, which includes the Season Pass, Rogue Infiltrator Bundle, Sabacc Shark Bundle, and digital art book. For more on Star Wars Outlaws, check out the post-launch roadmap, our accessibility spotlight, and visit starwarsoutlaws.com.