Star Wars Outlaws is no run-of-the-mill open-world experience playing it safe with one of the biggest IPs in the galaxy today. Rather, Ubisoft’s ambitious open-world title reads like a love letter to the franchise from lifelong fans. We spoke with Narrative Director Navid Khavari and Game Director Mathias Karlson to take a peak behind the curtain.
After playing a full hour of Outlaws over Summer Game Fest, I was able to speak with two of the leading men at the helm at Ubisoft. One thing above all else quickly became clear: They deeply care about Star Wars. For Khavari, a lifelong fan having once adorned his office desk with Yoda figures, long before a conversation with Lucasfilm ever seemed possible, this project is an absolute dream come true.
For Karlson, an open-world savant, the opportunity to transfer his talents to one of the most beloved franchises of all time is not one he’s taking lightly, and you could just sense the passion every time he began speaking about Outlaws. Both exude confidence in what the dev team has accomplished while never forgetting to remain humble, they know the stakes and acknowledge the pressure, but are all too eager to cross the finish line knowing they’ve cooked up a feast for Star Wars fans. All roads lead to Kay Vess Outlaws began with its protagonist.
Before there was a narrative mapped out, planets locked in, or even a place on the greater Star Wars timeline set in stone, there was Kay Vess. “At its heart, Star Wars is a story abo.