November 22nd 2024.
In the world of gaming, there were two major releases that caught everyone's attention in the years 2023 and 2024. One was a sensational hit, while the other... well, let's just say it didn't meet the same level of success. This game in question was Star Wars Outlaws, and recently, a new patch has been released that has left many wondering where things went wrong and what this means for future Star Wars games. GameCentral, a renowned gaming publication, takes a moment to reflect on Outlaws' journey and the impact of this recent development.
Now, before we go any further, let's make one thing clear: Star Wars Outlaws is not a failure. It's not a bad game by any means, especially if you're a fan of the franchise. However, in terms of sales, it hasn't quite met the expectations of its publisher, Ubisoft. When it launched in August, it was only the second best-selling game of the month, losing out to the 11-year-old GTA 5. And to make matters worse, its first week sales were less than half of another Star Wars game, Jedi: Survivor, released by EA in the same timeframe.
It's safe to say that Ubisoft was counting on Outlaws to make up for their lackluster year. But instead, it fell short, leading to speculations about a possible buyout by Tencent. So, what led to this underperformance? And why did a high-quality game with a successful license fail to meet expectations? These are the questions that are on everyone's mind.
Let's reiterate that Star Wars Outlaws is not a bad game. It's not a Cyberpunk 2077-level disaster. In fact, it offers a unique open-world adventure that stands out from the usual Ubisoft games. It avoids the cliches of obnoxious mission markers, cluttered maps, and tedious tower-climbing. However, Ubisoft's response to the disappointing sales was to make drastic changes to the game, particularly in the stealth aspect, making it more optional. This seems like a knee-jerk reaction to complaints about a specific mission being too punishing for failing at stealth. But in reality, it only highlights the game's slightly underwhelming combat.
But the real question is, why did Star Wars Outlaws fail to capture the hearts of Star Wars fans? Why did it not offer anything new or unique in terms of the franchise? Many had been hoping for a game that would allow them to experience the thrill of being Han Solo, doing all the daring and exciting things he was known for before meeting Ben Kenobi. A mix of Elite Dangerous and Grand Theft Auto, a game that would be entirely different from any other sci-fi game out there. Outlaws came close to this dream, but it still fell short. It didn't offer anything new or groundbreaking in terms of gameplay or narrative. Sure, for Star Wars fans, the novelty of an open-world game set in their favorite universe is appealing, but for everyone else, it's just another Ubisoft game.
But perhaps what's more disappointing is that Outlaws wasn't even a game that anyone asked for. For years, fans have been hoping for a Han Solo simulator or a bounty hunter simulator where they could create their own character and travel the galaxy in search of their targets. Even a tie-in with The Mandalorian would have been something, but for some reason, EA scrapped that idea.
It's been almost 50 years since the franchise was born, and there is still so much potential for Star Wars video games. Many concepts have either not been explored or have been poorly executed. Even something as simple as gun combat, which has been a staple of Star Wars since its inception, has never been quite like how kids imagined it, making pew pew noises in the playground. So, while Outlaws may not be a bad game, it certainly isn't the dream game that fans have been hoping for. And for a franchise as beloved and long-running as Star Wars, that's a missed opportunity.
In the year 2023, there were two big releases that had everyone talking - one was the highly anticipated game of the year, and the other was a game that came out a year later in 2024. Recently, a new patch was released for Star Wars Outlaws, a game that has faced its fair share of criticism. GameCentral takes a closer look at what went wrong and what this could mean for future Star Wars games.
To say that Star Wars Outlaws was a complete failure would be unfair. It's not a bad game, especially if you're a fan of the franchise. However, in terms of sales, it did fall short of expectations, much to the disappointment of its publisher, Ubisoft. In fact, when the game launched in August, it was only the second best-selling game of the month, losing out to the 11-year-old GTA 5. And its first week sales were less than half of what EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor managed to achieve in the same time frame.
Given the popularity and significance of the Star Wars brand, Ubisoft had high hopes for Outlaws to make up for what had been a lackluster year for the company. But instead, its underperformance has only increased the possibility of a buyout by Tencent.
So, what exactly does this new patch for Star Wars Outlaws entail? With a significant update and a Steam launch, there is still hope that the game's reputation could improve. But why was there a need to salvage it in the first place? And how did Ubisoft go wrong, despite having a great game and a proven license?
Let's be clear, Star Wars Outlaws is not a bad game. And it definitely didn't have a disastrous launch like Cyberpunk 2077. For Star Wars fans, there is an added charm to the game, but even on its own, it's a fantastic open-world adventure that breaks away from the typical Ubisoft formula of overwhelming mission markers and cluttered maps.
In response to the disappointing sales, Ubisoft decided to make some major changes to the game, particularly reducing the emphasis on stealth, making it an optional feature. This decision seems to have been influenced by complaints that a particular mission was too harsh on players who failed at stealth. However, this seems like a knee-jerk reaction that only highlights the game's slightly underwhelming combat.
But the real issue that hurt Star Wars Outlaws, apart from its lack of marketing, was that it didn't offer anything unique to Star Wars fans. It didn't have that distinct Star Wars element that sets it apart from other sci-fi games. For years, many have joked about their dream game being a Han Solo simulator. Not necessarily controlling the character, but just experiencing the kind of adventures he had before meeting Ben Kenobi. In our minds, it would be a mix of Elite Dangerous and Grand Theft Auto - a game that doesn't exist yet and would be one of a kind.
Outlaws is probably the closest we've come to a GTA-style game in the Star Wars universe, but it's still not quite there. It doesn't introduce anything new or innovative in terms of gameplay or narrative. For Star Wars fans, the novelty of having a competent open-world game set in their favorite universe is appealing. But for others, it's just another Ubisoft game.
More importantly, Star Wars Outlaws wasn't a game that anyone asked for. For years, fans have been wishing for a Han Solo simulator and a bounty hunter simulator, where they could create their own character and go on missions throughout the galaxy. Even a Mandalorian tie-in would have been a hit, but for some reason, EA decided to cancel that idea.
It's a shame that a franchise that will be celebrating its 50th anniversary soon, still has so much untapped potential when it comes to video games. There are countless concepts that have never been explored or have been executed poorly. Even something as simple as gun combat has never quite lived up to the expectations of generations who grew up pretending to shoot lasers in the playground.
In conclusion, Star Wars Outlaws may not be a bad game, but it's not the dream game that fans have been hoping for. With so many missed opportunities and untapped potential, it's clear that the Star Wars franchise still has a lot to offer in the world of video games.
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