Is Star Wars Outlaws' New Game Mode the Next Gwent Killer?

The cinematic trailer for Star Wars Outlaws, which premiered at the Xbox Games Showcase, was a delightful surprise for fans of the gritty criminal underworld depicted in this era of the Star Wars universe. However, it was even more astonishing to see the extensive gameplay showcased at the Ubisoft Forward event. The game's premise is straightforward, making it easily accessible for those who enjoy this aspect of the Star Wars universe. Moreover, the Grand Theft Auto-like reputation system and enemy gang factions complement the IP perfectly.

Kay Vess, the protagonist of Star Wars Outlaws, uses a blaster pistol with three bolt modules, allowing players to swap between them during combat. The game features a seamless transition between regular blaster fire, intense speeder chases on each planet's open world, and dogfights in space while aboard the player's ship. It will be intriguing to see how player choices impact the narrative. However, the cinematic trailer hinted at a potential Sabacc mini-game that was not highlighted in the gameplay walkthrough, leaving fans eager for more information.

Star Wars Outlaws Has Explicitly Shown Sabacc and Now Needs to Double-Down on It

It is expected that Star Wars Outlaws will feature Sabacc as its own mini-game, particularly since it was prominently shown in the cinematic trailer with Kay playing the game. The fact that Kay's involvement in speeder combat was also part of the gameplay walkthrough reveal further supports this expectation. Including Sabacc as a mini-game would not only be faithful to the Star Wars universe's take on Poker, but it would also be an effective way to portray Kay as a scoundrel character. In fact, the game's open-world format could allow for even more opportunities to incorporate Sabacc as a mini-game, potentially allowing players to use Nix to cheat and swipe credits from unsuspecting opponents mid-game. Overall, including Sabacc in Star Wars Outlaws would be a logical and satisfying addition for fans of the franchise.

Sabacc, like other mini-games such as Poker and Dominoes, adds to the immersive recreation experience in the Star Wars Outlaws universe. A potential twist in Sabacc is the possibility of players collecting cards to give their character an edge in the game. Another interesting addition could be a casino mini-game or card collection feature along the lines of Pazaak from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, further immersing players in the galaxy. Perhaps Ubisoft could take inspiration from CD Projekt Red's Gwent in developing the game.

Gwent's success as a mini-game in The Witcher 3 offers great inspiration for Star Wars Outlaws to incorporate mini-games like sit-down matches of Corellian Spike at local cantinas or hideouts on different planets. While players may find it challenging to indulge in leisurely card games while being chased by the Galactic Empire, some downtime during their frenzied journey would be a welcome break and reinforce the classic scoundrel archetype. Star Wars Outlaws will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S in 2024.