Despite eliminating the Legendary content, the Star Wars timeline is astonishingly vast, spanning approximately 25,000 years of intergalactic history. Gradually, Disney is working to flesh out as many of those years as they can, with recent projects delving into the High Republic era, the New Republic period, and a plethora of recent media focusing on the time between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. However, the Galactic Civil War depicted in the original trilogy is not being neglected either; last year’s Star Wars Outlaws was set squarely within this conflict.
The game “Star Wars Outlaws” faced a mixed response upon its debut, largely due to instability in its stealth mechanics, AI problems, and other fundamental gameplay concerns. However, this doesn’t imply that it lacked any positive attributes altogether. One of the standout features of “Star Wars Outlaws” was its setting, which was a significant strength given its placement in an era seldom explored in mainstream Star Wars content. Interestingly, there’s one key element of the “Star Wars Outlaws” setting that could serve as inspiration for a new Star Wars game set approximately 25 years prior.
Star Wars Outlaws’ Setting Should Inspire One Game Set During The Prequels
Star Wars Outlaws Explores a Lesser-Seen Period of Galactic Unrest
In the year 3 ABY (After the Battle of Yavin), the story unfolds, positioning it between “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” Following the destruction of the Death Star by the Rebel Alliance some time ago, the Empire retaliated with a devastating attack on Hoth, significantly weakening the Rebel forces. Now, the Empire is relentlessly pursuing any hints of rebellion and eliminating them swiftly from the galaxy. The Empire’s control over the galaxy has never been more absolute, and the tension has never been more palpable.
Despite the turmoil, the galaxy’s criminal network flourishes. With the Empire preoccupied and its forces stretched thin, gangsters such as the Hutts and Pykes are bolder than ever in their illicit dealings. This is the setting where the game Star Wars Outlaws places players, right in the thick of this rapidly expanding nest of robbers, smugglers, and assassins. This era is seldom explored in mainstream Star Wars productions, making the criminal underworld focus of Star Wars Outlaws particularly noteworthy.
Star Wars Should Explore Another Lesser-Seen Period of Growing Tension
Over time, the criticism leveled at the Star Wars prequels by fans has softened considerably, largely thanks to the wealth of engaging media produced around them. For instance, the animated Clone Wars series delved deeply into the events between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, but there have been relatively few canon projects that have filled in the gaps before this period.
During a span of about 10 years, spanning from ‘The Phantom Menace’ to ‘Attack of the Clones’, lies an intriguing era that could make an excellent backdrop for a game like ‘Star Wars: Outlaws’. This relatively unexplored phase witnesses a gradual increase in unrest concerning the Republic’s governance across the galaxy. Two years prior to the events of ‘Attack of the Clones’, Count Dooku forms the Confederacy of Independent Systems, leading numerous planets to break away from the Republic, thereby splitting the galaxy into two distinct factions.
Even though an all-out war doesn’t occur until the storyline of “Attack of the Clones”, there remains significant violence and rebellion, making for an ideal setting for a Star Wars video game. The escalating tensions provide an excellent backdrop for players to assume the role of a Jedi who is dispatched to aid a distant planet in the Outer Rim. Here, they witness the growing resentment towards the Republic and the Jedi Order firsthand. Alternatively, the game could allow players to embody a bounty hunter or smuggler capitalizing on the galaxy’s current turmoil, much like the characters in “Outlaws”.
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2025-03-12 15:05