Star Wars: The Argument For and Against More Canon Games Like Outlaws

Star Wars: The Argument For and Against More Canon Games Like Outlaws

As someone who has grown up with the magic of Star Wars woven into the fabric of my youth, it’s been a rollercoaster to witness the franchise’s journey through various mediums. I remember waiting eagerly for each new movie release, devouring every book, comic, and animated series that expanded this universe I loved so dearly.


This year saw the launch of the open-world action game from Ubisoft titled “Star Wars Outlaws“. Set in the galaxy of “Star Wars”, between the stories of “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi“, this game revolves around the character Kay Vess, a thief, as she gathers a team for a mission-critical heist. Joining other “Star Wars” games such as “Jedi: Fallen Order” and the upcoming “Jedi: Survivor“, “Outlaws” is part of Disney’s expansion into the gaming sector. Despite receiving favorable reviews from several critics, its sales did not meet Ubisoft’s projected numbers.

The monotonous gameplay of “Star Wars Outlaws” played a part in its underwhelming debut, and so did the increasing weariness towards the “Star Wars” franchise itself. The continual release of new “Star Wars” movies, TV shows, and video games has become overwhelming, making it hard to stay updated with the series, and diluting the enigmatic allure of “Star Wars” lore. The poor sales of “Outlaws” raise questions about how the “Star Wars” franchise should approach canonical video games going forward.

The Pros and Cons of Games Like Star Wars Outlaws

The Pros of Canonical Star Wars Games

Creating a new “Star Wars” game that deviates from the established canon might push some enthusiastic fans away, since such a departure lessens the significance of the players’ actions. They are aware that the events portrayed in the game do not occur within the “Star Wars” universe they identify with. Instead of being a momentous occasion for the community, it could now be seen as just a playful “What-If?” scenario.

Fallen Order, have enriched the Star Wars universe by providing additional details about its lore. For instance, Jedi: Fallen Order expanded upon the Inquisitors from Star Wars Rebels and introduced this Jedi-hunting faction to fans who hadn’t watched the animated series. The portrayal of the Inquisitors in Fallen Order was so well-liked that it influenced aspects of the Kenobi Disney Plus series. This interconnectedness among the Star Wars entries gives the galaxy a more expansive feel and encourages fans to engage with various forms of Disney-produced Star Wars content.

The Cons of Canonical Star Wars Games

As a dedicated Star Wars gamer, I’ve found that while creating more canon games like Star Wars Outlaws is exciting, it does come with its challenges. The criticism towards Disney for making Star Wars feel more like the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been quite vocal among fans. With new canonical content being constantly released for the franchise, the timeline has become intricately complex.

Introducing a new game within the Star Wars universe brings a formidable challenge for the writing teams involved, both for the current project and any future endeavors. This is due to the fact that all contemporary Star Wars games are set between movies, making it hard to create tension. For instance, in Jedi: Fallen Order, while Cal Kestis’ adventure boasts captivating characters and engaging plot points, its impact is diminished because fans already know from the films that Cal won’t be able to establish a new Jedi order. Furthermore, the increasing number of Star Wars games makes it more difficult to craft fresh Star Wars stories. It becomes challenging to find an aspect of Star Wars that hasn’t been previously explored, and the extensive lore of the franchise also complicates the process of creating a story that doesn’t contradict other elements within the canon.

There’s growing enthusiasm among Star Wars fans for fresh games set within the Star Wars universe. Despite the fact that Outlaws didn’t fare well, Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor were both popular with Star Wars enthusiasts. However, as the gap between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens becomes increasingly filled with content, it might be beneficial for Star Wars games to consider a new strategy. If delving into an unexplored era of Star Wars history isn’t an option, developing a non-canonical game like the classic from the 2000s, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, could serve as an intriguing alternative in the interim.

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2024-11-18 19:43