Summary
- Star Wars Outlaws is being outsold by 2023's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.
- Ubisoft’s stocks dropped sharply following the launch of Star Wars Outlaws in August 2024.
- Players dislike the game's combat and stealth mechanics.
In a disappointing development for Ubisoft's Star Wars Outlaws, the open-world game is being outsold by the 2023 release Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite receiving largely positive initial reviews upon its August 2024 launch, player feedback has been critical of the game's combat and stealth mechanics. Ubisoft has attempted to address these issues with subsequent updates, but these efforts have not managed to win over those who initially found the game lacking.
Financially, Star Wars Outlaws has struggled to meet sales expectations, a fact Ubisoft acknowledged in September. The company's stock experienced a sharp decline shortly after the game's release on August 27, 2024, intensifying concerns about Ubisoft's future and prompting discussions about potentially taking the company private. Despite these setbacks, Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment remain hopeful that Star Wars Outlaws can recover through its planned post-launch DLC.
Adding to the challenges, a recent report from VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring highlighted that Star Wars Outlaws is not only underperforming but is being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Respawn Entertainment’s sequel, which launched to critical acclaim in April 2023, has continued to sell well, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. In Europe, Star Wars Outlaws ranked as the 47th best-selling video game of 2024.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is Outselling Star Wars Outlaws
Several factors may explain why Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is outperforming Star Wars Outlaws. As a sequel to the successful Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Survivor benefited from an established fanbase and received rave reviews upon its release. Furthermore, an update released by EA and Respawn in 2023 for the PS4 and Xbox One versions helped reignite interest in Cal Kestis’s story.
On the other hand, Star Wars Outlaws has faced difficulties in capturing a broad audience, despite ongoing efforts by Massive Entertainment to enhance the game through patches and story DLCs. The first expansion, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, released in November, introduced a storyline involving Kay Vess and Lando Calrissian. The upcoming second DLC, Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune, slated for Spring 2025, will feature the return of the beloved character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
