If Star Wars Outlaws 2 is Dead, That’s Bad for Video Games

If the whispers about the cancellation of a possible sequel to the Star Wars Outlaws by Ubisoft turn out to be correct, the ripple effects across the video game industry might lead to choppy waters for future AAA games derived from colossal IPs. The original Star Wars Outlaws, intended to be a major new series for Ubisoft, was hampered by weak sales and mediocre critical reviews of its sci-fi adventure game, potentially pushing Ubisoft back towards their established franchises.

Given the lack of an official announcement from Ubisoft, it seems quite plausible that the cancellation of the game Star Wars Outlaws might be under consideration, as leaked information combined with public data suggests a potential shift in Ubisoft’s approach to their Intellectual Property (IP) strategy. Given the immense popularity of the Star Wars franchise, it would not be shocking if Ubisoft were reconsidering such a large-scale project for that galaxy far, far away, as its performance fell short of various key targets, causing some speculation among fans about whether they will scale back on such ambitious projects.

After the recent disappointing sales of AAA games based on popular franchises like Star Wars and DC Comics, it wouldn’t be surprising if Ubisoft decided to avoid attempting another Star Wars Outlaws sequel and instead focus on successful series such as Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry. Ubisoft claims that the poor sales of Star Wars Outlaws were due to problems with the brand image and early bugs that affected initial reviews. On the positive side, Ubisoft has praised the performance of Assassin’s Creed Shadows despite its high budget. It is unclear if Ubisoft might cancel a potential sequel to Star Wars Outlaws because of stiff competition from the long-established Assassin’s Creed series; however, companies often choose to stick with safer options after a significant failure.

Big IP Failures Could Spell a “Same Old, Same Old” Strategy for Ubisoft and Others

When a business encounters potential financial loss, it may revert to familiar strategies. The Star Wars Outlaws project, despite being associated with one of pop culture’s heavyweights, was a significant flop, and Ubisoft might have unwittingly learned the lesson that sticking to what is proven can be beneficial. Although recent installments have received mixed reviews, both the Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry series have been positively recognized, starkly contrasting Ubisoft’s approach towards Star Wars Outlaws. It’s uncertain if Ubisoft will solely focus on their previously successful franchises in the future, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them steer clear of more innovative attempts with third-party IPs and potentially inspiring other studios to do the same.

Over time, people have often expressed strong opinions about game developers heavily relying on popular series such as Call of Duty, FIFA, Assassin’s Creed, among others. However, when ventures like Star Wars Outlaws flop and well-known brands still prove profitable, it leads one to ponder where the balance between innovative games and financially sound decisions might be found.

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2025-07-25 22:05