Summary
Ubisoft just showed more footage fromStar Wars Outlaws, showing some of the situations Kay Vess will be navigating as she deals with various criminal syndicates in a bid to build her reputation and secure her freedom. It’s long been established thatthe upcoming open-world title will take place between the events ofThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi, with Kay interacting with characters such as Jabba the Hutt as part of her dealings with the criminal underworld, and Lando Calrissian, who was seen briefly in a trailer at Summer Game Fest 2024.
The latest trailer shown at theUbisoftForward event referred to the game’s reputation mechanic, which sees Kay building either agood or bad relationship with different factionsthrough her actions by ominously stating, “Beware of who you cross.” Accompanying this narration was an image of an Imperial trooper in shinier metallic armor - rather than their usual white one - watching Kay from afar.
Star Wars Outlaws: Release Date, Preorder Bonuses, Setting, & Characters
Ubisoft announced the release date for its upcoming Star Wars Outlaws game with a new trailer that gave a better look at its setting and characters.
No, That Wasn’t Captain Phasma In Star Wars Outlaws
Phasma Created Her Armor Decades After Star Wars Outlaws Takes Place
InStar Warscanon, there was only one main Stormtrooper character who had proper chrome armor, and that was Captain Phasma of the First Order. Phasma created her armor in 25 ABY, decades afterThe Empire Strikes Back, which took place in the year 3 ABY on theStar Warstimeline, as revealed in the canon novelStar Wars: Phasmaby Delilah S. Dawson.Phasma’s armor is one of a kind, as she created it by polishing it with chromium that had been salvaged from an old Imperial yacht on Naboo, using the material to protect her from blaster fire and radiation and as a symbol of past power while combining it with a First Order armorweave cape to represent the newer First Order.
WhileStar Wars Outlawsis visiting some locations from the sequel trilogy, such asThe Rise of Skywalker’s Kijimi, and its new Ashiga Clan is part of the
Militto species that first appeared inThe Force Awakenswith the introduction of the character Sarco Plank,everything in the newer canon materials so far suggests that the metallic-looking stormtrooper inStar Wars Outlawscould not be Phasma, from the timeline placement to the fact that if she was active in 3 ABY, the character would be much older than she was in the sequel trilogy.
Star Wars Outlaws Preview: Rogue Fantasy Done Right
Star Wars Outlaws is every bit the rogue fantasy it promises at first glance, with a cheeky protagonist and lots of promise underneath.
The Death Trooper Has Been Shown In Other Star Wars Trailers
Could One Have A Personal Connection To Kay Vess?
The type of trooper in question is a Death Trooper,potentially the same one seen in the previousStar Wars Outlawsstory trailer. The shape of their armor aligns, with one particular shoulder piece sticking out at an angle. Whereas the previous shots of the Death Trooper took place at night and made the armor look a deeper shade of glossy black, the new footage took place in daylight, which made the armor appear slightly more gray and metallic by comparison in this one particular shot. Other gameplay sequences show Kay using a stealth takedown on a Death Trooper in daylight where their armor appears far darker - matching their appearance in some daytime sequences inRogue One- with the Death Trooper referred to specifically inUbisoft’s breakdown.
The real question this poses, however, is just what significance this particular Death Trooper seems to have to Kay Vess. While it could be written off as a representation of the Empire’s more elite troops hunting Kay - potentially tying into the game’sGrand Theft Auto-esque Wanted system, where different types of Imperial units will begin to chase Kay as her Wanted level increases -the narration in the new Ubisoft Forward footage hints that there may be more of a story involving Kay and this specific trooper, potentially involving some kind of betrayal.
In an interview withScreen Rantat Summer Game Fest,Star Wars Outlaws' creative director, Julian Gerighty, stated thatKay Vess is “not perfect,“as she is “just a rookie thief that finds themselves catapulted into this incredible adventure.” While this was referring to designing a relatable character for the game, it also suggests that Kay could have made several mistakes and crossed people - other than the game’s primary antagonist, Sliro - long before the events ofStar Wars Outlawsunfold.
Fortunately, players won’t have to wait too much longer to find out exactly how this all ties into Kay’s story, asStar Wars Outlawslaunches on August 31 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store. Pre-orders for the title are available now.
Source: Ubisoft/YouTube (1,2)
Star Wars Outlaws
Set between the events of The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Star Wars Outlaws is an open-world action-adventure game where players hop into the scoundrel boots of Kay Vess, a woman who travels the galaxy Looking for a better life. Together with her furry partner Nix and new allies she meets along the way, Kay will navigate the various landscapes, towns, and planets across the galaxy while outsmarting both Crime Syndicates and the Empire.
