Ubisoft unveiled a new short-term roadmap for Star Wars Outlaws on Friday, following a surprising announcement regarding a significant shift in its development approach due to disappointing sales figures.
A spokesperson from Ubisoft characterized the launch of Outlaws as “softer than expected” in a recent investor statement. They pledged to release updates aimed at enhancing the game’s polish and “improving the player experience,” hoping that these adjustments will lead to stronger sales during the holiday season.
On the roadmap shared via X (formerly Twitter), the development team outlined its priorities, starting with immediate bug fixes followed by quality-of-life enhancements throughout October. This preparation supports the launch of the first story expansion, titled Wild Card, set to debut on November 21. Following this initial release, the team will offer another update to enhance combat and stealth mechanics, as well as introduce new contracts for protagonist Kay Vess.
“Our team is currently working hard to address your feedback and deliver new content,” the post stated. “Additional title updates will be rolled out in the coming weeks.”
Our team is currently working hard to address your feedback and deliver new content.
More title updates will be heading your way in the coming weeks along with the release of our first story pack on November 21st.Stay tuned for more information soon. pic.twitter.com/3mapFT2Pyx
— Star Wars Outlaws (@StarWarsOutlaws) September 27, 2024
The release of Outlaws in late August received mixed feedback from critics and gamers alike. While many praised the world-building, there were sentiments that it fell short compared to other Star Wars titles and even some of Ubisoft’s previous open-world RPGs. Players voiced concerns about the stealth gameplay, particularly sections featuring an “instant fail” mechanic that required restarting. Performance issues have also marred the experience, prompting the developers to work continuously on updates since launch.
In light of the feedback regarding Outlaws, Ubisoft has decided to postpone the release of its upcoming title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, to February 14, 2025, to allow for further refinement. Furthermore, PC gamers got some positive news: both Shadows and Outlaws will soon be available via Steam, moving away from the Ubisoft platform.
Additionally, Assassin’s Creed Shadows will abandon the season pass model. Outlaws previously sparked controversy due to its season pass, which provided access to an exclusive Jabba the Hutt mission not available through other means while increasing the price from the standard $70 to $110 for the bundled game and season pass, covering two planned DLC story expansions and offering three days of early access.
CEO Yves Guillemot further announced that the company will conduct a thorough audit of its development processes in an effort to adopt a more “player-centric approach.”