Ubisoft remains optimistic about Star Wars Outlaws despite underwhelming sales, but their plan to turn things around raises more concerns.

In a galaxy not so far away, Ubisoft’s highly anticipated Star Wars Outlaws launched to a reception as lukewarm as a Tatooine summer. Despite the hype and marketing blitz leading up to its release, the game has fallen short of both fan expectations and the company’s own financial targets.

But in a move that’s either delusional or confident (we’re not quite sure which), Ubisoft seems to think they can still turn things around.

Is the company’s confidence in Star Wars Outlaws justified? | Image Credit: Ubisoft/YouTube

In a recent press release updating their financial targets for FY2024-25, Ubisoft admitted that the game’s initial sales were “softer than expected,” despite “solid ratings.” It’s a bit like saying your Stormtrooper aim was “solid,” but you still managed to miss every single shot.

A New Hope for Star Wars Outlaws?

So, what’s Ubisoft’s grand plan to save Star Wars Outlaws from being relegated to the bargain bin of gaming history? According to the press release:

In response to player feedback, Ubisoft’s development teams are currently fully mobilized to swiftly implement a series of updates to polish and improve the player experience in order to engage a large audience during the holiday season to position Star Wars Outlaws as a strong long-term performer.

The game will be available on Steam on November 21.

Ubisoft thinks they can pull a No Man’s Sky or a Cyberpunk 2077 and turn things around with a few updates and a Steam release. Because if there’s one thing gamers love, it’s buying an incomplete game and waiting for patches to make it playable, right?

Now, don’t get us wrong. We’re all for developers listening to player feedback and improving their games post-launch. But there’s a difference between fixing a few bugs and trying to overhaul a game that should have been complete at release.

A Disturbance in the Force

Kay Vess and Nix in Star Wars Outlaws. | Image Credit: Ubisoft/YouTube

It seems like Ubisoft is starting to make a habit of this. Release a highly anticipated game, watch it underperform, and then promise to fix it with updates. It’s a strategy that might work in the short term, but it’s not exactly building goodwill with fans.

While games like No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 managed to turn things around eventually, they should be seen as cautionary tales—not blueprints for success. Sure, they managed to turn things around eventually, but not without burning a lot of bridges (and refunds) along the way.

And Ubisoft’s handling of Star Wars Outlaws raises some concerning questions about the state of the gaming industry. Are we now in an era where studios are content to push out incomplete games, hoping to make a quick buck before patching things up later? It’s a troubling trend that could erode fan trust and damage the reputation of both developers and franchises.

As we await the promised updates for Star Wars Outlaws, one can’t help but wonder if Ubisoft’s confidence is misplaced. Will they be able to pull off a miracle and turn the game into a “strong long-term performer,” or will this be yet another case of a studio overpromising and underdelivering?

Only time will tell, but if Ubisoft keeps releasing incomplete games and hoping for the best, they might find themselves on the wrong side of the Force.

What do you think about the company’s plans to save Star Wars Outlaws? Do you believe they can turn things around, or is this a case of too little, too late? Share your thoughts in the comments below!