Star Wars Outlawsprotagonist Kay Vess will take inspiration from famous big-screen rogues like Han Solo and Jack Sparrow while still being relatable in her own way. Ubisoft first announced its open-worldStar Warsgame back in 2021, but fans wouldn’t know exactly what this project would entail until June’s Xbox Games Showcase. There, developer Massive Entertainment finally pulled back the curtain onStar Wars Outlaws. Players will get to explore the shady criminal underworld of theStar Warsgalaxy by performing smuggling jobs for various criminal factions and evading the forces of the oppressive Empire throughaGTA-inspired wanted system.
At the heart ofStar Wars Outlaws’ narrative is Kay Vess, a young scoundrel looking to make a name for herself in the Galaxy Far, Far, Away. In contrast to the Jedi and Sith that often serve as the main characters ofStar Warsvideo games, Kay is simply trying to earn a living amid the many criminal organizations populating the darkest corners of the galaxy, with just a small handful of allies like her faithful pet companion Nix and the mysterious Jalen - a benefactor who bears a suspicious resemblance to thefan-favoriteStar Warsgaming hero Kyle Katarn.
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Kyle isn’t the only classicStar Warscharacter Massive looked to while craftingStar Wars Outlaws’ cast of scoundrels and criminals, as Kay Vess herself takes some inspiration from Han Solo. In the latest issue of Edge Magazine,Star Wars Outlawscreative director Julian Gerighty revealed some of the influences his team drew from while designing Kay. According to him, Massive immediately thought of the legendary smuggler while crafting Kay’s personality, in addition to his fellow scoundrel Lando Calrissian. The team at Massive also looked at famous silver-screen rogues like Indiana Jones, James Bond, and even Captain Jack Sparrow ofPirates of the Caribbeanfame.
Julian Gerighty even revealed that as a child, he was more drawn to the outlaw nature of Han and Chewbacca than any of the other heroes in the originalStar Warstrilogy, and this fueled his desire to createa similar character inStar Wars Outlaws. Meanwhile, the staff at Massive wanted to make Kay Vess more relatable, and fine-tuned their initial concept to create a character that Gerighty describes as “a little fish in a colossal pond.” Indeed, Kay is said to be a rookie in the criminal landscape of theStar Warsgalaxy, making deals with powerful faction leaders and ending up in a situation that is far bigger than anything she might have prepared herself for.
Star Warsoften centers its characters around traditional archetypes, and likable scoundrels like Han Solo and Jack Sparrow are said to be a key influence forStar Wars Outlaws’new heroine Kay Vess.Outlaws’premise could even take Kay in a darker direction that the films shied away from with Han, making this new character all the more intriguing for fans to explore and play as whenStar Wars Outlawslaunches sometime next year.
Star Wars Outlawsis coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2024.
