I still remember April 9, 2024 like it was yesterday. I woke up, grabbed a cup of coffee, and scrolled through my usual gaming feeds, only to find the internet in full meltdown mode. Ubisoft had apparently let the cat out of the bag a bit early — the release date for Star Wars Outlaws had leaked, and the source was none other than Ubisoft Japan's own YouTube channel. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! The description for the upcoming story trailer, which was scheduled to go live later that day, spilled the beans: August 30, 2024. It was one of those moments where you just sit back and think, "Well, there goes the surprise."

Within hours, Ubisoft made it official. The big reveal arrived alongside a highly anticipated story trailer, confirming that Star Wars Outlaws would launch on August 30, 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and S. As a lifelong Star Wars fan, this was music to my ears. An open-world adventure set in the golden age of the galactic underworld, smack dab between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi? Sign me up. That era has always been a sweet spot for scoundrels, bounty hunters, and all sorts of shady characters, so getting to dive into that as Kay Vess felt like a dream come true.

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The story trailer promised we'd get to explore the criminal underbelly of the Star Wars universe during a time when the Empire's grip was tightening and the Rebellion was still fighting for its life. Kay Vess, a cunning scoundrel, and her adorable sidekick Nix were front and center. I remember watching the trailer multiple times, pausing on every frame to catch little details. The developers at Massive Entertainment — the same studio behind The Division and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora — were billing this as the first ever open-world Star Wars game. That's a bold claim, but honestly, it had my hype levels through the roof.

Then came the details about the different editions, and that's when things got really interesting. The leak and subsequent confirmation mentioned Gold and Ultimate Editions of the game, each including a Season Pass and three days of early access. For someone like me, three days of early access is basically an early Christmas present. The pre-order bonuses included the Kessel Runner Bonus Pack, which featured cosmetics for the Trailblazer spaceship and Kay's speeder. I'm a sucker for cosmetic goodies, so that was definitely the icing on the cake.

Here's a quick rundown of what we were looking at:

  • Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S

  • Release Date: August 30, 2024

  • Setting: Between Episode V and Episode VI

  • Main Characters: Kay Vess and Nix

  • Developer: Massive Entertainment

  • Special Editions: Gold and Ultimate (Season Pass + 3 days early access)

  • Pre-order Bonus: Kessel Runner Bonus Pack

I also found out more about Kay Vess through interviews with narrative director Navid Khavari, creative director Julian Gerighty, and Lucasfilm senior creative executive Matt Martin. They talked about how Kay fits into the wider Star Wars universe, and it became clear this wasn't just a reskin of existing open-world formulas — it was a labor of love designed to let players live out their smuggler fantasies. The team emphasized that the timeline placement allows for a unique blend of familiar faces and brand-new stories, which only added fuel to my excitement.

Fast forward to 2026, and looking back, Star Wars Outlaws has cemented itself as one of the most memorable launches of this console generation. The rocky leak on April 9, 2024 might have stolen a bit of Ubisoft's thunder, but in the end, the game delivered the goods. I've spent countless hours exploring the seedy cantinas, dodging Imperial patrols, and pulling off heists with Nix by my side. It's the kind of game that makes you feel like you're living inside a Star Wars movie, and I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

So, whether you caught the leak live or waited for the official announcement, one thing was clear: Star Wars Outlaws hit the ground running and never looked back. For this old-school Star Wars fan, it was well worth the wait.