Ubisoft CEO Admit Star Wars Outlaws Flopped Due To Rough Release

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot attributed the underwhelming performance of Star Wars Outlaws to what he described as "choppy waters" within the sci-fi saga's fan community.

Speaking to shareholders during a recent Q&A, Guillemot did not address the game's technical problems, bugs, or criticism of its repetitive gameplay. Instead, he remarked, "Outlaws launched during a period when its parent brand was navigating some turbulence."

It's true that the Star Wars brand has faced challenges recently, with Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker receiving a lukewarm response and Disney+ spinoffs like The Book of Boba Fett and The Acolyte failing to attract the expected viewership. However, blaming the game's mixed reception solely on broader fandom issues has struck some fans as an oversimplification.

For instance, Guillemot made no mention of the game's own technical shortcomings at launch. IGN's Star Wars Outlaws review, which scored the sci-fi adventure a "Good" 7/10, pointed out repetitive combat and "a few too many bugs at launch."

The game was also embroiled in controversy before its release, as Ubisoft faced accusations of "pushing an agenda," which sparked polarized discussions around both the developer/publisher and the title itself.

In May, Star Wars Outlaws received its first story expansion with the A Pirate’s Fortune DLC, available on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. This add-on lets players team up with Hondo Ohnaka, leader of the Ohnaka Gang. Hondo is a familiar face to fans of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and readers of the 2017 Star Wars: Darth Maul comic series, and he has even appeared as an animatronic character at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge theme park attraction. This time, he becomes an ally to protagonist Kay as she confronts Stinger Tash and the Rokana Raiders, explores a mysterious tomb, and engages in smuggling operations for the Miyuki Trade League.

Star Wars Outlaws is scheduled to launch on Nintendo Switch 2 on September 4.