"Star Wars Outlaws Faces Further Sales Decline"

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 disappointing turn for Star Wars Outlaws, Ubisoft’s ambitious open-world title is being outsold by 2023's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Despite receiving largely positive initial reviews upon its August 2024 launch, players have expressed significant dissatisfaction with the game’s combat and stealth mechanics. Ubisoft has attempted to address these concerns through subsequent updates, but these efforts have not been enough to win over early detractors.

The disappointing reception has led to underwhelming sales for Star Wars Outlaws, the first truly open-world Star Wars game. Ubisoft acknowledged in September that the title did not meet its sales expectations. The company's stocks took a sharp hit shortly after the game's release on August 27, 2024, exacerbating concerns about Ubisoft's financial health and sparking discussions about potentially taking the company private. Despite these setbacks, Ubisoft and developer Massive Entertainment remain hopeful that Star Wars Outlaws can recover with the help of planned post-launch DLC.

Adding to the challenges, a recent report by VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring revealed that Star Wars Outlaws is not only underperforming but is being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Respawn Entertainment’s sequel, which launched to critical acclaim in April 2023, has managed to outsell Star Wars Outlaws, though specific sales figures have not been disclosed. In Europe, Star Wars Outlaws ranked as the 47th best-selling video game of 2024.

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, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor benefited from an established fanbase and received glowing reviews at its launch. Additionally, an update for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor released last year for PS4 and Xbox One reignited interest in protagonist Cal Kestis's journey.

On the other hand, Star Wars Outlaws has struggled to capture a similar 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, featured protagonist Kay Vess teaming up with Lando Calrissian. The upcoming second DLC, Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate’s Fortune, scheduled for Spring 2025, will bring back the beloved character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.