Forging a New Galaxy: The Creative Journey Behind Star Wars Outlaws

In the vast expanse of the Star Wars universe, a new story is being forged not by Jedi or Sith, but by those who operate in the shadows. The upcoming action-adventure title, Star Wars Outlaws, invites players into a meticulously crafted open world set between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. This sprawling narrative follows scoundrel Kay Vess, her merqaal companion Nix, and the battle-worn droid ND-5 on an epic galactic heist. For narrative designer Navid Khavari and actor Jay Rincon, who brings ND-5 to life, the project represents a dream decades in the making—a chance to weave original characters into the iconic fabric of a beloved galaxy.

🌌 Playing in a Living Galaxy

For Khavari, a lifelong fan since childhood days with Kenner toys, working on Star Wars Outlaws is the culmination of a profound personal journey. "This is a dream," he reflects, emphasizing the surreal connection to a wider, living universe. Collaboration with Lucasfilm Games fostered a sense of belonging, where every narrative thread is woven with care into the expansive galactic tapestry. Rincon echoes this sentiment, describing the daily reminder of existing within this legendary setting as both incredible and invigorating. The pressure to contribute meaningfully is overshadowed by sheer excitement, a momentum that elevates every aspect of the creative process.

For Rincon, a poignant marker of success would be seeing a child playing with an ND-5 action figure, a tangible symbol of bringing joy through a character he helped shape. Khavari, still deeply immersed in development, finds reward in the burgeoning community—from cosplayers to fans already building replicas of ND-5. "The ultimate goal," Rincon adds, "is to bring joy and entertain within a franchise that has mastered that art."

🛠️ Crafting Characters from the Ground Up

The collaborative heart of Star Wars Outlaws beats in the partnership between narrative vision and performance. The team began with a clear contextual anchor: the era between two iconic films. Their mission was to introduce something novel within that established tonal blueprint. They honed in on the "scoundrel fantasy," deliberately moving away from the archetypes of Jedi, Sith, or Rebels. "These are people on the ground," Khavari explains, "not connected to some wider battle."

From this philosophy emerged Kay Vess—a cynical, lone-wolf thief—and her faithful companion Nix. The creation of ND-5 posed a unique question: What becomes of a Clone Wars-era droid after the conflict ends, especially one that finds itself in the galactic underworld? The answer was a character carrying the heavy baggage of a long, violent history.

The core focus became relatability and heart. Months of debate shaped each character's look and essence, with even droids receiving distinctive attire like jackets. However, Khavari notes, "Your script is not finished until they're saying the words." Casting performers like Humberly Gonzalez (Kay) and Jay Rincon was the crucial final step, where the characters truly began to breathe.

For Rincon, the process began with Khavari as his "gateway" to ND-5's extensive backstory. Daily discussions established not just the tone, but how this unique droid would fit into the galaxy's sonic and emotional landscape. "We're all well-versed in droids," Rincon says, referencing the melodic speech and sardonic humor of classics like C-3PO and R2-D2. The challenge was to operate within those iconic confines while carving out a distinct identity. This involved exploring the boundaries of a droid's emotional range—finding the balance between too much and too little humanity.

🎬 The Anatomy of a Galactic Heist

Crafting the heist narrative was, in Khavari's words, "so much fun" and "a joy." Moving from stories centered on a single hero to an ensemble piece was a key differentiator. Like classic heist films such as Ocean's Eleven, the narrative thrives on each crew member having a specific role and playing off one another. The joy came from crafting these archetypal roles and charting the characters' growth throughout the mission.

Kay's journey sees her evolve from a simple thief to embracing more of a gunslinger or bank robber persona. ND-5, often a strategic "voice in the sky," also embodies a tank-like role within the operation. The narrative follows Kay as she traverses the galaxy to assemble this eclectic crew, ensuring both surprising character development and a supremely satisfying payoff for the heist itself. The team invested significant time into both the gathering of the gang and the exhilarating execution of the plan.

⚙️ The Art of Bringing a Droid to Life

For Jay Rincon, embodying ND-5 was an actor's challenge of subtraction and precision. The audition process was shrouded in secrecy, and upon discovering his role, he faced the task of creating a memorable droid within a legacy defined by legends. With motion capture cameras tracking his performance, he had to eliminate the use of facial expressions—a primary tool for any actor. ND-5, a droid of few words and less melodic speech, further limited his vocal palette.

The solution was authenticity. Every emotional beat had to originate from a genuine, organic place, relying heavily on the connection between performers. Rincon had to know his character's story and purpose intimately, unable to rely on mechanical quirks or vocal flair. Over time, the character settled into his bones. "It's in your bones, and you kind of just transform on a daily basis," he shares, expressing pure joy in the process.

Khavari highlights Rincon's remarkable physical transformation, noting how the actor studied concept art to incorporate ND-5's weary hunch and specific gait, telling a story through movement alone. Rincon credits the character's iconic duster coat as a key physical anchor. "This is a droid that's seen a lot... It's not only you carrying things in your mind, but physically in your body. You wear that, and man, does that lead and dictate your performance immediately."

✨ Anticipating the Player's Journey

As development progressed, the team's excitement crystallized around the player's eventual experience. For Khavari, after playing through the expansive content, a primary hope is for players to feel a deep relatability to the characters. The goal was to craft personas that feel like "one of us," attainable and grounded, rather than distant, mythical figures. This philosophy is woven into the very DNA of the open-world, action-adventure design—an invitation to truly step into the Star Wars universe.

Rincon's hope is beautifully simple: "I can't wait for people to fall in love with the characters, like ND-5, as much as we have." After investing so much time and soul into the creation, these digital beings have become a piece of the creators themselves. The ultimate reward will be seeing that connection reflected in the faces of players around the galaxy, as they embark on their own outlaw adventures in a beloved, ever-expanding universe.