The team at the Massive Entertainment video game studio in Malmo, Sweden, has been hard at work on a hotly anticipated title drawn from George Lucas’s iconic Star Wars franchise. The process of creating “Star Wars Outlaws” has been a journey for the developers, taking them from mere fans to craftspeople on the beloved epic. Game developer Mathias Karlson mentioned that they had to transition from being fans to working alongside Lucasfilms to bring something new and fresh to the franchise.
The anticipation is building ahead of the August 30 release of “Star Wars Outlaws”, an open-world game set between the events of the “Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi”. The studio’s operations director, Alf Condelius, spoke about growing up with Star Wars and how the project has been like reconnecting with his childhood. The journey of creating this game has been almost therapeutic for the team, invoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder that only Star Wars can provide.
The Swedish studio, owned by Ubisoft, partnered up with LucasFilm to bring “Star Wars Outlaws” to life. The collaboration began in 2020, with the goal of creating a video game where the player has ultimate control over their experience. Creative director Julian Gerighty expressed the desire to give players the freedom to choose their path, from which vehicle to drive to which criminal group to align with, making the outlaw adventure truly immersive.
While there are already numerous Star Wars games in existence, “Outlaw” aims to provide players with extra power and agency in the game. Gerighty mentioned that they were given creative freedom to introduce new elements to the Star Wars universe, rather than being confined to a specific era. Players will take on the role of Kay Vess, a daring character set to pull off the heist of the century. With her leather jacket, tattoos, and trusted companion Nix, Kay Vess navigates through planets and crime bosses in search of freedom.
The game’s aesthetics and sound design pay homage to George Lucas’s trilogies, drawing inspiration from Wild West and samurai films. Cloe Hammoud, the creator of the game worlds, mentioned that designers from 57 countries worked together to create a cinematic realism that mirrors the atmosphere of the films. By using similar visual styles and objectives, the team aimed to bring players closer to the Star Wars universe and immerse them in a truly authentic experience.
“Star Wars Outlaws” offers approximately 60 hours of gameplay and is suitable for players of all ages. The game will be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox X/S, allowing fans to dive into the Star Wars universe in a whole new light. With its emphasis on player choice and immersive storytelling, “Outlaw” promises to be a unique addition to the world of Star Wars gaming.
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