Unleash Your Inner Rebel: Star Wars Outlaws Introduces Dynamic Wanted System
Ubisoft's upcoming game, Star Wars Outlaws, introduces a wanted system that will remind players of the popular Grand Theft Auto franchise The new gameplay footage shows how the system works and how players will need to navigate the game's galaxy while avoiding or fighting off different factions and bounty hunters
The recently announced Star Wars Outlaws from Ubisoft has been showcased in a 10-minute gameplay walkthrough at Ubisoft Forward, unveiling an interesting feature similar to the well-known wanted system from GTA. With its open-world gameplay, Star Wars Outlaws is the first of its kind, showcasing Lucasfilm's determination to expand beyond EA's Star Wars exclusivity.
Following the story of the protagonist Kay Vess and her alien companion Nix, Star Wars Outlaws takes players on an adventure across the galaxy, swindling and scamming their way through the game. Combining elements of stealth and third-person blaster gameplay, players can explore the vast open world on speeder bikes and even take off into space in real-time. Star Wars Outlaws also draws inspiration from other popular games, with players being able to form and manage relationships with different crime factions, similar to Fallout, while the cover-based blaster combat is reminiscent of Gears of War. Additionally, Kay's use of rope to descend off a small cliff is similar to Nathan Drake's iconic move, but it's unclear if Outlaws will incorporate more Uncharted-style traversal like its Star Wars Jedi cousin.
In the gameplay footage, a familiar system from Grand Theft Auto is reintroduced - the multi-leveled wanted system. As a result of a tense meeting with a crime boss and an imperial officer in a private cantina room, Kay Vess finds herself on the Empire's wanted list. Her face appears on screens throughout the saloon, and upon exiting, the entire screen turns red with the word "Wanted" displayed boldly. As Kay races towards her ship, the Empire's logo appears in the upper left corner of the screen, with three flashing red bars out of six filled in. The opposite side of the screen reads "Escape the Empire," urging players to do just that.
In a thrilling space battle above the planet, a fourth bar lights up on the Empire's logo before Kay is able to jump into hyperspace, gradually losing all wanted levels. It remains to be seen whether this system is just a visual aid to support the narrative or if it's an actual dynamic feature in the game. Regardless, it's fitting for Kay's story as an outlaw and adds an interesting layer to gameplay. Players will surely be curious to discover alternative ways to evade the Empire in the open world beyond simply jumping into hyperspace.
As the release window for Star Wars Outlaws draws nearer, fans of the franchise are eagerly anticipating the first-ever open-world Star Wars title. With the recent positive reception of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor and the exciting gameplay footage of Outlaws, the future looks bright for Star Wars gaming enthusiasts. Scheduled to be launched on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2024, the wait for this highly anticipated game will undoubtedly be worth it.
