The creative director of Star Wars Outlaws shares how Ghost of Tsushima and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey shaped the game’s open-world experience. Dive into the influences behind this galactic adventure.

Crafting a Galactic Epic: The Making of Star Wars Outlaws

Drawing from Ghost of Tsushima’s Samurai Spirit

Amid Star Wars’ resurgence with hits like Disney’s The Mandalorian and The Acolyte, its gaming side shines with Star Wars Outlaws, following the success of Star Wars Jedi Survivor. In an interview with GamesRadar+, creative director Julian Gerighty revealed that Ghost of Tsushima, a samurai action game, was a key influence.

Gerighty was inspired by Ghost of Tsushima’s immersive world, where story, characters, and gameplay blend seamlessly. Unlike games with repetitive tasks, it delivers a cohesive experience, which Gerighty sought to mirror in Star Wars Outlaws. He aimed to immerse players in the fantasy of being an outlaw in the Star Wars universe, capturing the essence of a scoundrel’s journey with a narrative as engaging as the samurai tale in Ghost of Tsushima.

This approach ensures players feel fully immersed in the Star Wars galaxy, living the story rather than just playing through it, with a focus on a captivating and seamless narrative.

Learning from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey’s Vast World

Gerighty also drew inspiration from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, particularly its expansive, exploration-driven world with RPG elements. He admired its freedom and vastness, which encouraged players to explore and discover. This vision shaped Star Wars Outlaws, creating a similarly engaging and open environment.

Collaborating with the Assassin’s Creed Odyssey team proved invaluable. Gerighty frequently consulted them on managing world size and ensuring traversable distances were balanced. This partnership helped him adapt successful elements from Odyssey while tailoring them to fit Star Wars Outlaws’ unique galactic setting.

However, Gerighty prioritized a more focused experience over a sprawling, 150-hour epic. His goal was a concise, narrative-driven adventure that keeps players hooked from start to finish, blending accessibility with compelling storytelling.

Embracing the Scoundrel’s Life

The development team centered Star Wars Outlaws around the scoundrel archetype, inspired by Han Solo. Gerighty explained that the allure of being a rogue in a galaxy brimming with possibilities drove the game’s design, uniting its elements into a cohesive experience.

This focus lets players dive into varied activities—playing Sabacc in a cantina, racing a speeder across planets, piloting a ship through space, or exploring diverse worlds. Seamless transitions between these moments enhance the thrill of living a scoundrel’s adventure in the Star Wars universe.