Star Wars Outlaws’ success lies in its approach to the Ubisoft open world formula.
Star Wars Outlaws' success lies in its approach to the Ubisoft open world formula.
Star Wars Outlaws and Ubisoft’s Open-World Formula: A Match Made in a Galaxy Far, Far Away
It’s no secret that every video game developer has its own signature style – something that immediately tells audiences who created the game. For Naughty Dog, it’s realistic visuals and engaging narratives. Activision’s Call of Duty studios have perfected the run-and-gun formula. And then there’s Ubisoft, who has carved a niche for themselves with their now-infamous open-world formula. It’s the kind of formula that makes you stop and say, “Yep, that’s a Ubisoft game alright.” Even the upcoming Star Wars Outlaws might not be able to escape its grasp.
For almost four decades, Ubisoft has been churning out games. And in recent years, they’ve become synonymous with open-world action-adventure titles like Far Cry, Assassin’s Creed, and Ghost Recon. While each franchise has its own unique features, they all share the same underlying formula – a heavy emphasis on crafting, gear upgrades, and towers that unlock parts of the map. And let’s be honest, these icons are practically flooding the screen! And while this formula has its merits, Star Wars Outlaws needs to approach it carefully to avoid falling into a formulaic trap.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room – Ubisoft’s open-world formula. It’s been a decade since Far Cry 3 revolutionized the formula, but it’s starting to show its age. Ubisoft has been milking this formula without any sGameTopicificant innovations or additions, and fans are starting to grow tired of it. Star Wars Outlaws is meant to be an expansive open-world Star Wars game, but with Ubisoft at the helm, it runs the risk of becoming too predictable and formulaic. That’s not to say the Ubisoft formula is all bad, but it should only serve as a foundation for Star Wars Outlaws to build its own unique identity upon.
Take watchtowers, for example. Climbing towers and unlocking portions of the map has become a defining feature of Ubisoft games. But let’s face it, it’s gotten stale over the years. Star Wars Outlaws needs to shake things up if it wants to keep players engaged. Imagine if each watchtower offered a unique gameplay experience – a stealth mission, a firefight, or even an epic space battle. We could even tie them into the lore of the Star Wars Outlaws galaxy, with these watchtowers being Imperial outposts that need to be infiltrated and hacked. The possibilities are endless!
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And it’s not just the watchtowers that need a fresh coat of paint. Crafting materials, a staple in Ubisoft’s formula, can be given new life in Star Wars Outlaws. Instead of just being used for basic upgrades, imagine if they were essential for enhancing Kay Vess’ ship, gear, and weapons. Suddenly, collecting those materials becomes more worthwhile and exciting.
Star Wars Outlaws has the potential to be a gamechanger in the Star Wars gaming universe, but only if it takes Ubisoft’s open-world formula and adds a few twists and enhancements of its own. Let’s hope Ubisoft can resist the temptation to rely on old habits and let Star Wars Outlaws shine on its own terms.
Star Wars Outlaws is set to release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2024.
