In a surprising turn of events, *Star Wars Outlaws*—the first major open-world title set in the Star Wars universe—has been outperformed at retail by *Star Wars Jedi: Survivor*, a game released the previous year. Despite relatively positive early reviews upon its launch in August 2024, player sentiment toward *Outlaws* has soured over time, particularly regarding its combat and stealth mechanics. While Ubisoft pledged to address these concerns through post-launch updates, many fans remained unconvinced, leading to disappointing sales figures.
The financial impact on Ubisoft was swift and significant. Shortly after the game’s release on August 27, 2024, the company's stock experienced a sharp decline, raising alarm among investors and prompting speculation about a potential buyout or private acquisition. Although Ubisoft and development studio Massive Entertainment remain hopeful that future content drops will help revive interest in *Star Wars Outlaws*, recent reports suggest otherwise.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor Continues to Outperform
According to a report from VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring, *Star Wars Jedi: Survivor* is outselling *Outlaws* despite being a 2023 release. While exact sales numbers have not been disclosed, data suggests Respawn Entertainment’s action-adventure sequel continues to draw more players. In Europe alone, *Outlaws* recently ranked only 47th in terms of best-selling video games for 2024.
One reason behind *Jedi: Survivor*'s continued success lies in its strong legacy as a follow-up to the well-received *Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order*. Positive reception upon its April 2023 launch, coupled with a late-2023 update bringing the game to PS4 and Xbox One players, reinvigorated interest in Cal Kestis' journey. This momentum helped keep the title relevant long after its initial release.
Challenges Facing Star Wars Outlaws
Meanwhile, *Star Wars Outlaws* has struggled to maintain traction. Despite ongoing support from Massive Entertainment—including regular patches and downloadable content—player engagement remains low. The first expansion, *Wild Card*, launched in November and brought Kay Vess together with iconic character Lando Calrissian. A second DLC, *A Pirate’s Fortune*, is scheduled for release in Spring 2025 and will feature the return of fan-favorite Hondo Ohnaka from *Star Wars: The Clone Wars*.
Still, unless the trend shifts dramatically with new content, *Star Wars Outlaws* may continue to lag behind its competition, leaving Ubisoft and fans hoping for a turnaround that remains uncertain.
