Star Wars Outlaws Lars Homestead is Far More Than an Easter Egg

Star Wars Outlaws Lars Homestead is Far More Than an Easter Egg

As a gamer with a heart full of nostalgia for the original Star Wars trilogy, I must say that Ubisoft Massive has outdone themselves with Star Wars Outlaws. The Lars Homestead on Tatooine is a poignant reminder of the Galactic Empire’s oppressive rule, and it’s not just a nostalgic nod but a thoughtful integration into the game’s narrative.


The game Star Wars Outlaws was bound to include Easter eggs and references due to its extensive IP dominance, even in the most obscure Star Wars media, let alone those directly tied to the events of its three major movie trilogies. While the original trilogy might be admired for its nostalgic value or its effective storytelling, it’s the one with the least number of games currently focusing on it. Many recent games have delved into the period between the prequels and the original trilogy, thanks to its complex post-Clone Wars subtext. However, Star Wars Outlaws dares to set itself within the trilogy and must carry the burden of that choice.

Star Wars Outlaws has significantly enhanced the way easter eggs are handled, by strategically placing itself among the ranks of iconic films like The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Unlike other studios that may struggle with or treat these references casually, Massive manages to imbue them with a sense of intimacy and thoughtfulness within their narrative. One of the most powerful references is the Lars Homestead on Tatooine, which Ubisoft transformed into a moving and immersive experience in their open-world sandbox environment.

Star Wars Outlaws’ Lars Homestead is a Sad Reminder of the Galactic Empire’s Rule

Tatooine, a planet from Star Wars, is frequently spotlighted in Outlaws and happens to be one of the planets that Star Wars media revisits most frequently. Fortunately, when depicting Tatooine in Outlaws, there’s room to delve deeply into its iconic desert imagery because it’s essential for the story to do so.

It’s logical that Han Solo is found frozen in carbonite and on display at Jabba’s palace, while there’s also a significant Imperial presence in Mos Eisley and its surroundings. Additionally, since it’s part of the original trilogy storyline and needs to maintain continuity with the universe-building details, the Lars Homestead where Luke Skywalker grew up is included and can be explored.

In a different wording: Instead of cleaning or covering up the Great Chott salt flat, which could have emphasized its nostalgic value, the filmmakers opted to make this reference more profound. As Kay Vess and Nix approach, local dialogue sheds light on the Lars Homestead’s current state (now just rubble and ashes) and how its inhabitants have pondered and theorized about it since A New Hope.

It’s intriguing to view the moisture farm from the standpoint of characters who didn’t know Luke, Owen, or Beru and are eager to learn about its past. After all, Luke departs his home with his adoptive aunt and uncle’s remains still burning, and it’s appropriate that Massive doesn’t try to minimize or conceal this tragedy but rather uses it as a somber symbol of the galaxy’s condition. This makes the appearance of the Lars Homestead in Star Wars Outlaws deeply meaningful thematically.

Star Wars Outlaws’ Tatooine is a Hotbed of Nostalgia

In the grand scheme of the Star Wars Outlaws map, the Lars Homestead is just a minor detail. Yet, Tatooine is brimming with such references that fit well within the storyline and can be overlooked, as every other planet you can explore in the game has either more unique content or less iconic material compared to it.

For fans nostalgic about “Return of the Jedi”, visiting Jabba’s palace with its resident rancor, and finding a deceased Sarlacc in the desert, serves as an homage to those classic moments. Similarly, in “Star Wars Outlaws”, encounters with the colossal, terrifying Krayt Dragon lurking over Kay can be one of the scariest scenes, as it bursts out from beneath the sand and attacks players.

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2024-09-28 17:34