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 concerning development for Ubisoft, their open-world game Star Wars Outlaws is reportedly being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, released in 2023. Despite receiving largely positive early reviews upon its launch in August 2024, Star Wars Outlaws has faced significant backlash from players, particularly regarding its combat and stealth mechanics. Although Ubisoft has addressed these issues in subsequent updates, the initial negative reactions have proven difficult to overcome.
The disappointing reception has led to Star Wars Outlaws underperforming in sales, failing to meet Ubisoft's expectations as announced in September. Following the game's release on August 27, 2024, Ubisoft's stocks experienced a sharp decline, heightening concerns about the company's financial health and sparking discussions about potential privatization. Despite these setbacks, both Ubisoft and the game's developer, Massive Entertainment, remain hopeful that Star Wars Outlaws can recover, buoyed by planned post-launch DLC.
A recent report from VGC and former GamesIndustry.biz journalist Christopher Dring further dampened this optimism, revealing that Star Wars Outlaws is not only underperforming but is being outsold by Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Respawn Entertainment's sequel, which garnered excellent reviews upon its April 2023 release, has outsold 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 well-received Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Jedi: Survivor built on an established fanbase and received widespread acclaim upon its release. Additionally, EA and Respawn's decision to release an update for Star Wars Jedi: Survivor on PS4 and Xbox One last year helped reignite interest in the adventures of Cal Kestis.
On the other hand, Star Wars Outlaws has struggled to capture a similar audience, despite ongoing efforts by Massive Entertainment to improve the game through updates and story DLCs. The first expansion, Star Wars Outlaws: Wild Card, released in November, introduced a collaboration with Lando Calrissian. The upcoming Star Wars Outlaws: A Pirate's Fortune, slated for Spring 2025, will feature the return of the beloved character Hondo Ohnaka from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
