As a professional gamer who has spent countless hours traversing digital galaxies, I can say with genuine excitement that the promise of Star Wars Outlaws is one of the most compelling prospects on the 2026 gaming horizon. The idea of a truly open-world Star Wars experience, where my choices as a scoundrel dictate the narrative across a multitude of planets, feels like the ultimate playground. The initial trailers from 2023 weren't just hype—they were a siren call to the smuggler in all of us. But a vast galaxy is only as good as its worlds, and my attention is laser-focused on one planet in particular: the frostbitten, crime-ridden gem known as Kijimi. This isn't just another backdrop; it's a character with a rich, tragic history, and it's poised to be the beating, illicit heart of our upcoming adventure.

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The confirmed inclusion of Kijimi in Star Wars Outlaws is a masterstroke for world-building. For fans, this planet carries the weight of cinematic history and devastating finality. My first real encounter with Kijimi, like for many, was on the silver screen in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I remember the frantic energy as Rey, Poe, Finn, and C-3PO navigated its shadowy alleys, teaming up with the enigmatic Zorri Bliss. It was a place of urgent business and fleeting alliances, a perfect snapshot of the galaxy's gritty underbelly. Now, in 2026, I won't just be passing through on a Resistance mission—I'll be living in it, shaping my own story within its snow-packed streets. The timeline placement of Outlaws, set squarely between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, means we’re stepping onto Kijimi at the absolute peak of its criminal infamy during the Galactic Empire's reign. This is the era the films only hinted at, and we get to live it.

To understand why Kijimi is such a perfect setting, you have to dig into its layered past. It’s a planet defined by stark contrasts:

  • Ancient Sanctity vs. Modern Crime: A thousand years ago, it was a sacred site for the Dai Bendu monks, a place of peace and contemplation. Their monastery, built in the heart of what would become Kijimi City, stood as a testament to a quieter time. 😇

  • Centuries of Conflict: This peace was shattered by relentless raids from mercenaries and bandits, a cycle of violence that eventually drove the monks away. This turbulent history laid the foundation for the planet's future—once holy ground, now contested territory.

  • The Imperial Era: By the time our game begins, Kijimi has fully embraced its new identity. The Empire's grip has made it a notorious hotspot, a sanctuary for spice smugglers, bounty hunters, and all manner of outlaws who operate in the shadows of Imperial oversight. It’s the galaxy's worst-kept secret. 🕵️‍♂️

The most thrilling implication for gameplay is our inevitable entanglement with the planet's infamous spice smuggling factions. Zorri Bliss's operation is still years in the future, but the infrastructure and rival gangs are already here. I fully expect my character, Kay Vess, and her faithful companion Nix to be navigating a complex web of allegiances and betrayals here. Will we work for a syndicate? Start our own? Or play them all against each other? The potential for emergent, player-driven storytelling amidst the snowdrifts and neon signs of the Thieves' Quarters is immense.

Era Kijimi's Primary Role Key Events/Figures
~1000 years BBY Sacred Dai Bendu Site Construction of the monastery in Kijimi City. 🙏
Centuries of Conflict Raided Territory Monks displaced by mercenaries and bandits. ⚔️
Galactic Empire Era Criminal Hub & Smuggler Haven Peak activity for spice rings; Setting for Star Wars Outlaws. 💰
First Order Era First Order Outpost / Hidden Resistance Zorri Bliss leads smuggling ring from Thieves' Quarters.
~35 ABY Destroyed World Annihilated by Emperor Palpatine's Final Order fleet. 💥

This knowledge of Kijimi's fate—its utter destruction by the resurrected Emperor Palpatine's planet-killing Star Destroyer—casts a profound, melancholic shadow over our upcoming explorations. In 2026, when I guide my speeder through Kijimi City, I'll be walking through a world that I know is doomed. This isn't a spoiler; it's a narrative layer that Ubisoft Massive can leverage for incredible emotional depth. Every bustling market, every hidden smuggling den, every character we befriend or betray in Outlaws exists in a place that will one day be cosmic dust. It makes the experience feel precious and urgent. We are not just visiting a location; we are preserving a memory of a world, making our mark on a chapter of history that the wider galaxy would rather forget.

For a game titled Outlaws, the setting is everything, and Kijimi is the quintessential outlaw world. It's a frozen jewel of desperation and opportunity, where the spiritual past is buried under layers of ice and moral compromise. As a gamer, I'm not just looking for pretty vistas (though Kijimi's snowy mountains and ravines promise to be stunning). I'm looking for a world that feels alive, with a history that impacts gameplay and a future that lends weight to my actions. Kijimi, with its tragic arc from monastery to massacre, offers all that and more. My blaster is charged, my ship is fueled, and I am ready to get lost in the cold, cruel, and captivating heart of the Star Wars underworld. This isn't just another planet on the map—it's where our legend begins. 🚀