While there aren’t any plans for a Star Wars Outlaws sequel just yet, fans can’t help but wonder what a second installment might look like, especially regarding choices made in the first game. A big question hangs over how a potential sequel would manage the player’s reputation with significant criminal organizations that were so central to the gameplay and storyline in the original title.
The debut of Star Wars Outlaws marked a new chapter for the franchise, breaking free from EA’s exclusive grip on the IP. Developed by Massive Entertainment in collaboration with Ubisoft, this game took place between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, diving into the life of Kay Vess, a skilled thief and smuggler. Her journey through the dangerous Star Wars criminal underbelly promised intrigue, though the game’s initial release didn’t entirely meet expectations. Falling short in sales, it didn’t quite hit the mark with fans either, who pointed out flaws, especially with its stealth mechanics. To their credit, Massive has persevered, releasing patches and updates to improve gameplay. Still, discussions about a sequel remain speculative at best. If they do decide to revisit the Outlaws universe, they’ll need to tackle the challenge of integrating its faction reputation system into any new narrative.
Kay gets caught up with powerful factions and gangs, all vying for power and struggling against each other. Players had the freedom to choose alliances or treacheries during missions, encapsulating the spirit and underhanded tactics typical of the Star Wars universe’s seedy side. Should Massive decide to develop a follow-up, they’d need to figure out how to reasonably reflect players’ previous choices while continuing Kay’s narrative journey.
For a sequel to stay true to its roots and player decisions, several options for addressing reputation could be considered. One way might be to refresh all reputations as neutral through some cleverly devised plot twist, though this might detract from the sense of autonomy and ownership players felt in shaping Kay’s alliances or rivalries.
Alternately, it could follow in the footsteps of successful franchises like Mass Effect or The Witcher, implementing a save transfer feature to maintain the continuity of player-led decisions. This would be a more complex development path but could preserve the nuances of each player’s unique journey.
A third path could involve giving players the reins to decide their starting relationships with these factions in a sequel. This allows them to tweak dynamics as they see fit, with the game responding to their adjustments. However, offering both this option and a save transfer feature would double the workload, something developers might wish to avoid in favor of a fresh start.
As it stands, the hope for a Star Wars Outlaws sequel is just that—hope. But should it happen, addressing these considerations would be crucial to honoring the narrative choices that players have come to cherish.
