Star Wars Outlaws in 2026: A Scoundrel's Look Back at Ubisoft's Open-World Gamble

I still remember sitting up when Microsoft pulled the curtain back on Star Wars Outlaws at the Xbox Games Showcase. The cinematic trailer dropped, the Star Wars logo hit, and I was proper gobsmacked. A Star Wars game made by Ubisoft, no Jedi hogging the spotlight, and the first-ever open-world Star Wars game? That was enough to get me hyped. Back then it was slated for 2024, and now, sitting here in 2026, I can look back with a bit more perspective. No cap: it was a bold swing, and the scoundrel fantasy still sticks with me.

The pitch was simple but tasty. Star Wars Outlaws is set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. That gap in the timeline is prime scoundrel territory: the Empire is still throwing its weight around, the crime syndicates are thriving, and nobody is saving the galaxy with a lightsaber. You play as Kay Vess, an emerging scoundrel who is chasing freedom and the means to start a new life. She has Nix, her little companion, and together they fight, steal, and outwit their way through the galaxy's crime syndicates. The dream is to join the galaxy's most wanted. Honestly, that hook had me at hello.

What I loved about the idea was that it felt like a proper Star Wars story from the gutter. You are not a chosen one. You are not a Jedi. You are a cheeky opportunist with a blaster, a ship, and a lot of nerve. The reveal promised distinct planets across the galaxy, both iconic and new. That was the bit that made my ears prick up. I wanted to see seedy cantinas, back-alley deals, and Imperial checkpoints that make you sweat. I wanted the fantasy of being a nobody in a galaxy full of stormtroopers and syndicates, trying to keep one step ahead of trouble. In 2026, that fantasy still feels like the game's strongest card.

When it launched in 2024, I booted it up on a rainy weekend with a cup of tea and zero plans. I came in expecting a bit of jank, because open-world games are always a faff at launch. And yes, there were rough edges. But the vibe was there. Sneaking around with Nix, causing a bit of chaos, and then talking my way out of it felt like pure scoundrel energy. The syndicate stuff gave the world a bit of bite, and the planets gave me that tourist-in-a-dangerous-galaxy feeling. I got clapped by a syndicate goon more than once, and I definitely made some cheeky choices that came back to haunt me. That is the point, though. You are meant to feel like a small fish in a big, nasty pond.

A few things that made it click for me:

• 🚀 The scoundrel fantasy: no Jedi, no prophecy, just hustle and nerve.

• 🐾 Nix: a tiny partner in crime who adds heart and handy tricks.

• 🌍 Planet-hopping: iconic and new locations that make the galaxy feel big.

• 🕵️ Syndicate trouble: fight, steal, and outwit your way through the underworld.

• ⚠️ Wanted status: the joy of being a menace and then having to lie low.

Now, in 2026, I would say Star Wars Outlaws is not a perfect game. It is a bit like a beat-up speeder: punchy, fun, and occasionally knackered. But if you are jumping in now, after the patches and the dust settling, there is a solid adventure waiting. It is not the Star Wars game that makes you feel like a Jedi hero. It is the one that lets you be a scoundrel, and sometimes that is exactly what you want. If you see it going cheap, it is worth a punt. May the Force be with you, and keep your blaster handy.