Star Wars Outlaws: A Scoundrel's Guide to the Galaxy's Most Dangerous Syndicates

So there I was, a nobody scoundrel with a death mark on my head, trying to pull off the biggest heist in the galaxy. Star Wars Outlaws dropped back in 2024, and two years later I'm still hopping between planets, dodging Imperial patrols, and—more importantly—trying not to get on the wrong side of every crime syndicate in the Outer Rim. Because let me tell you, in this game, your reputation is everything.

The reputation system is the beating heart of Outlaws' underworld. You're not friends with these people. As game director Mathias Karlson puts it, 'You're not friends, you're not employed, you're not pledging allegiance, you are someone surviving and trying to grow a name [and a] reputation in this world.' Think of them as a means to an end. What can they do for me right now? And what will they do to me if I screw them over? That's the constant calculation. And with five major syndicates—four you can cozy up to, and one that just wants you dead—there's plenty of calculating to do.

The Hutts: What You See Is What You Get

Ah, the Hutts. Everybody's favorite giant slug crime lords. Led by Jabba the Hutt himself, flanked by Bib Fortuna, Salacious Crumb, and other cronies with names that sound like someone clearing their throat. They first appeared in 1983's Return of the Jedi, and they haven't changed much since. Narrative director Navid Khavari says, 'The idea with the Hutts is really what you see is what you get. They aren't afraid to use force, they take what they want and they're just incredibly powerful.' And by 'incredibly powerful,' he means 'will encase you in carbonite for looking at them funny.' I learned that the hard way.

Their look is pure Tatooine—dirt, wear, and tear. Associate art director Marthe Jonkers notes that 'the Hutts have probably the most dirt and wear and tear on their clothing of all the syndicates.' Even their Gamorrean guards look like they just rolled out of a sandstorm. But don't let the grime fool you; they're a galactic power, and you'll find them far beyond Tatooine. Cross them, and you might end up like Han Solo.

The Pykes: Spice, Money, and Fancy Hats

If you watched The Book of Boba Fett or The Clone Wars, you know the Pykes. But in Outlaws, they've gotten a makeover. 'They have a very distinctive look,' Jonkers says. 'They are Pykes, but they're different from the Pykes you've seen in different shows. We really went in a different direction with color palettes. So they have a lot more dark blues, but also we went really into more of a graphic design for them.' Their helmets and clothing feature patterns that indicate rank or unit. They're not a military, but they're organized. And rich. Incredibly rich, thanks to spice production and trading from their home world of Oba Diah.

In Outlaws, you'll deal with their underboss Gorak on the moon of Toshara. Khavari explains, 'The Pyke Syndicate is incredibly wealthy and powerful in this time period... we sort of center around their underboss, Gorak, who is very much in charge of Pyke operations on the moon of Toshara.' And Gorak? He's a big deal. Literally. 'He's much bigger than the regular Pyke characters that you will meet,' Jonkers says. 'He's definitely not the one who fights. He's the one who tells people what to do. He has also a lot of jewelry. He's very rich.' I tried to haggle with him once. He just jingled his necklaces and had me thrown out. Lesson learned.

Crimson Dawn: The Fashionable Shadow

Crimson Dawn, led by Lady Qi'ra (Emilia Clarke's character from Solo), is the syndicate that once auctioned off Han Solo frozen in carbonite. They're mysterious, operating in the shadows. Khavari says they're 'really focused on intelligence spreading' and 'aligning a little bit with [the] wider network' of organized criminals. And they're stylish. 'They're more fashionable, I would say, compared to the other syndicates,' Jonkers explains. 'The clothing is very practical but very clean as well, cleaner than any of the other syndicates really to show that they have access to better materials and it's maybe also part of their style.' They're like the hipsters of the underworld—always in black, always mysterious, and probably have a secret handshake.

You might find them in places that aren't entirely theirs—maybe they've taken over a joint and put their stamp on it. 'Maybe they took over someplace,' Jonkers says. 'Now you can see certain elements of them on top of something that used to be something else.' So keep an eye out for clean, fashionable criminals in unexpected places.

The Ashiga Clan: Ants with Samurai Swords

This is a brand new syndicate created by Massive in collaboration with LucasFilm. They're based on the freezing planet of Kijimi and are made up of the Melitto species—insect-like beings who have no eyes. 'They don't have eyes, so they use different senses and that was really interesting to design a whole syndicate that doesn't use eyesight,' Jonkers says. 'So all of their designs have a lot of tactile elements.' They navigate by feeling lines on the floor. And their style is heavily influenced by samurai movies, since Kijimi City itself is inspired by Japanese culture.

The clan follows a strict hierarchy under Queen Ashiga. Khavari says, 'Every single member of the clan is serving the wider group under the control of Queen Ashiga... In The Ashiga Clan, it's serving the Queen. And that's it.' Jonkers adds, 'They're very like a hive mind, and they have one very powerful queen who is in charge. So there are definitely references to that as well in the way they organize their locations, for example, which will remind you a little bit more of an ant hill.' I accidentally stepped on one of their floor lines and got chased by a bunch of eyeless samurai bugs. Not my finest moment.

Zerek Besh: The Creepy New Kids on the Block

And then there's the Zerek Besh. They're not part of the reputation system. They're the primary antagonists, led by a man named Sliro who puts a death mark on Kay at the beginning of the story. Khavari says, 'It's an incredibly wealthy organization. They have their own plans and are more of a new player to the galaxy and the syndicates.' They're actively hunting Kay, which is why she needs to pull off a heist to secure her freedom.

Their design is meant to be intimidating. Jonkers says, 'They look very threatening. That's definitely one of the starting points for their design. We really wanted an imposing silhouette for them. We wanted them to look intimidating and they have big helmets, not to get a bigger silhouette, but [because] it creates a bit of a distance between you and them because really you don't know who's inside.' So they're like the IRS, but with blasters and worse fashion. And they're led by Sliro, who remains mysterious for now.

So, Who Should You Trust?

Here's a quick cheat sheet for your underworld dealings:

Syndicate	Leader	Home Base	Vibe	Can You Build Reputation?
Hutts	Jabba the Hutt	Tatooine	Dirty, powerful, slug-tastic	✅ Yes
Pykes	Gorak (underboss)	Oba Diah / Toshara	Rich, organized, fancy hats	✅ Yes
Crimson Dawn	Lady Qi'ra	Shadows	Mysterious, fashionable, spies	✅ Yes
Ashiga Clan	Queen Ashiga	Kijimi	Hive mind, samurai bugs, honor	✅ Yes
Zerek Besh	Sliro	Unknown	Creepy, rich, wants you dead	❌ No (run!)

So there you have it. My survival guide to the galaxy's most dangerous criminals. Remember, in Star Wars Outlaws, your reputation is your lifeline. Piss off the Hutts, and you'll be sleeping with the womp rats. Piss off Crimson Dawn, and you'll never see it coming. Piss off the Ashiga Clan, and... well, they don't have eyes, so maybe they won't see you? No, they'll feel you. Trust me. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a heist to plan. And a certain giant slug to avoid.