Star Wars Outlaws Rooted in Samurai Legacy

Star Wars Outlaws’ creative director reveals how Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin's Creed Odyssey inspired the game's development. Read on to discover how these influences shaped Star Wars Outlaws' open-world adventure.

Star Wars Outlaws Shares A Glimpse Into The Making Of A Galactic AdventureInspiration from Ghost of Tsushima

with Disney's The Mandalorian and this year's The Acolyte, its gaming counterpart isn't left behind. With last year's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, this year's Star Wars Outlaws has quickly become an eagerly awaited release for many fans. In GamesRadar+'s interview with its creative director, Julian Gerighty, he revealed a surprising fact: his greatest inspiration for Star Wars Outlaws is a samurai action game, Ghost of Tsushima.

Gerighty shared that his creative vision for Star Wars Outlaws was greatly influenced by Ghost of Tsushima because of its dedication to immersing players in a meticulously crafted world. Unlike other games that rely on repetitive tasks, Ghost of Tsushima offers a pure and cohesive experience where the story, world, and characters align perfectly with the gameplay. This approach resonated with Gerighty, who desired to replicate that level of immersion in the Star Wars universe, allowing players to fully engage with the fantasy of being an outlaw in a galaxy far, far away.

By drawing parallels between the samurai experience in Ghost of Tsushima and the scoundrel's journey in Star Wars Outlaws, Gerighty emphasized the importance of creating a seamless and captivating narrative. This vision aims to ensure that players feel like they are truly living in the Star Wars universe, rather than just playing a game set in it.

Influences from Assassin's Creed Odyssey

Gerighty openly discussed how Assassin's Creed Odyssey influenced his game, particularly in terms of creating a vast, explorative environment with RPG elements. He admired Assassin's Creed Odyssey for its freedom of approach and the vastness of its world, which encouraged exploration and curiosity. This admiration translated into Star Wars Outlaws, where Gerighty sought to create a similarly expansive and engaging world.

Gerighty had the advantage of consulting directly with the team behind Assassin's Creed Odyssey and this ability was invaluable for him. He frequently reached out to them for advice on various aspects of game development, such as managing the size of the game world and ensuring that traversal distances were reasonable. This collaboration allowed him to incorporate successful elements from Assassin's Creed Odyssey while tailoring them to fit the unique needs of Star Wars Outlaws.

Despite his admiration for Assassin's Creed, Gerighty was clear that he wanted Star Wars Outlaws to offer a more condensed and focused experience. Instead of a sprawling 150-hour journey, he aimed for a narrative-driven adventure that players could realistically complete. This decision was influenced by his desire to create a game that was accessible and compelling, ensuring that players remained engaged from start to finish.

Crafting the Player Fantasy of Being an Outlaw

For the development team behind Star Wars Outlaws, the allure of the scoundrel archetype, personified by Han Solo, became the focal point of the game. Gerighty elucidated that the notion of being a rogue in a galaxy brimming with awe and opportunity was the guiding tenet that coalesced all facets of the game's development.

This emphasis on the outlaw fantasy enabled the team to craft an experience that was both expansive and immersive. Players can partake in diverse activities, such as playing Sabacc in a cantina, traversing a planet on a speeder, navigating a ship through the cosmos, and exploring disparate worlds. The fluid transition between these activities was meticulously designed to amplify the Sensation™ - Interactive Story of embodying a scoundrel's adventure within the Star Wars universe.