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 concerning development for Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft's ambitious open-world game is being outsold by 2023's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite receiving largely positive reviews upon its August 2024 launch, player feedback has been critical, particularly regarding the game's combat and stealth mechanics. Ubisoft has attempted to address these issues through subsequent updates, but these efforts have not significantly improved the game's reception among its initial detractors.
The financial performance of Star Wars Outlaws has been disappointing, falling short of Ubisoft's sales expectations as announced in September 2024. Following the game's release on August 27, 2024, Ubisoft's stock experienced a sharp decline, intensifying concerns about the company's future and prompting discussions about potentially taking Ubisoft private. Despite these setbacks, both Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment remain hopeful about turning things around with the game's planned post-launch DLC.
Recent reports from VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring have further highlighted the challenges facing Star Wars Outlaws, revealing that it is not only underperforming but also being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Although specific sales figures have not been disclosed, Respawn Entertainment's sequel has clearly resonated more with gamers. In Europe, Star Wars Outlaws was ranked as the 47th best-selling video game of 2024, underscoring its struggle to capture the market.
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 benefits from an established fanbase and received widespread acclaim upon its April 2023 release. Additionally, EA and Respawn's decision to release an update for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on PS4 and Xbox One last year helped reignite interest in Cal Kestis's journey.
Conversely, Star Wars Outlaws has faced challenges in attracting a broad audience, despite ongoing efforts by Massive Entertainment to enhance the game with updates and story DLC. The first expansion, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, released in November 2024, introduced a collaboration with Lando Calrissian. Looking ahead, the second DLC, Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune, slated for Spring 2025, will feature the return of the popular character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars. These additions aim to bolster the game's appeal and hopefully reverse its current sales trajectory.
